More Resources Executive Order: Strengthening Adult Education

Yesterday, President Bush signed an Executive Order to strengthen adult education in America. He tasked U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings with leading an Interagency Adult Education Working Group to coordinate a joint approach at addressing the educational needs of adults. By bringing together all relevant Federal agencies, the Working Group aims to strengthen existing programs and improve adult participation in post-secondary education.

"College access is not just about access for high school students, it's about access for adult learners," said Secretary Spellings. "When 90 percent of the fastest growing jobs in America require a post-secondary credential or training, we have a duty to educate students of all ages and backgrounds to meet the needs of our new knowledge-based economy. I look forward to working with my colleagues to improve adult access to post-secondary education as an avenue to greater employment opportunities."

The Executive Order is on the heels of the one-year anniversary of Secretary Spellings' Commission on the Future of Higher Education final report, which called for increased adult access to post-secondary education.

To support States and colleges that are working to increase adults' access to a post-secondary credential, Secretary Spellings is announcing four grants totaling more than $2.8 million from the Department's Office of Vocational and Adult Education. The Ready for College: Adult Education Transitions Program will allow community college systems in four States to work with 25 local adult education programs to improve college readiness for out-of-school youth.

"We know that a high school diploma or its equivalent is no longer adequate to compete in the 21st century workforce," said Secretary Spellings. "We must work together to ensure Americans know about the services available to them to obtain a college degree. These grants will support State and local efforts to increase the rate at which adults successfully transition to and complete a post-secondary education."

Following are the grant recipients of the Ready for College: Adult Education Transitions Program:

Colorado Community College System: $875,009
Essex County Community College (N.J.): $737,808
North Carolina Community College System: $733,865
Kansas Board of Regents: $500,000

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