U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today unveiled a set of recommendations for the reauthorization of the federal adult literacy education program, which serves 2.8 million American adults with limited proficiency in reading, writing, math and the English language. The current authorization for the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act expires Sept. 30, 2004. Congress has begun work on renewing the statute.

"Education is President Bush's top domestic priority. Every student in America deserves the highest-quality education, including adults with low literacy," Paige said. "Our goal is to align our adult education program with the principles of No Child Left Behind by promoting greater accountability, more flexibility, expanded options for adults and to use research to improve instruction and student achievement. I look forward to continuing our work with Congress in the weeks and months ahead to achieve these goals."

Paige said Americans need a strong foundation of academic skills in order to fulfill their roles as workers, parents and citizens -- particularly in light of the challenges of today's high-skilled economy.

To strengthen the existing system, the blueprint outlines the following principles:

1. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RESULTS
   States must establish effective programs that make accountability for results a priority by setting challenging expectations for students, using meaningful assessments, and aligning instruction to meet those expectations. Clear standards in core academic areas and appropriate performance measures will drive program improvement that benefits students. Through the administration's proposal, new local accountability systems will also ensure that the most qualified and effective organizations receive federal funds.
2. FUNDING WHAT WORKS
   The proposal's enhanced emphasis on research, as well as the support it will provide for new demonstration and development efforts, will build a stronger foundation of knowledge for the endeavor of adult education. The focus on understanding of how to teach adults reading, mathematics, and English effectively; how to integrate technology; and how to improve the delivery of services will lead to stronger student learning outcomes and more effective use of taxpayer dollars. The National Institute for Literacy, also proposed for reauthorization, will play an important role in helping gather and disseminate the findings of high-quality research on adult literacy instructional practice.
3. EXPANDING OPTIONS AND CHOICES FOR STUDENTS
   Adults who make a personal investment in learning deserve a broad array of high-quality program options that best meet their needs. Under the improved adult education programs, a more extensive range of agencies will compete to provide adult basic education services. Expanded employer involvement and use of technology also will create more learning opportunities for students and will create closer connections among educational programs to help students make transitions to postsecondary education and training. Enhanced partnerships with the one-stop delivery system under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) will also assist in connecting students, provider and employers more effectively.
4. REDUCING RED TAPE AND INCREASING FLEXIBILITY
   The reauthorized legislation will keep data collection burdens at a minimum, while still ensuring that policymakers have the information they need to assure accountability and program integrity. The proposal will create flexibility to facilitate new and innovative partnerships between adult education providers and other community agencies to make literacy services widely available.

Note to editors: For more information about the reauthorization of Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, visit http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE

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