Literacy and Adult Education

More than 40 million adults have basic skills needs or limited proficiency in English that interfere with their ability to participate fully in work, family and community activities. Current funding reaches only 2.8 million of these adults each year and thousands more are on waiting lists.

More than 77 percent of community-based literacy programs currently report waiting lists. Adult education and literacy programs play a key role in the success of other federal programs, including job training and welfare reform. They also help parents support their children's education and ensure that businesses are able to meet their workforce needs.

Subcommittee to Examine Adult Literacy

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness will hold a hearing to examine best practices for improving adult education and family literacy. This is the fourth hearing the committee is holding as it works toward reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act, which provides job training, education programs, vocational rehabilitation and other services to Americans.

WHAT:         
Hearing on “"New Innovations and Best Practices under the Workforce Investment Act"
 
WHO:            
David Beré, president and chief strategy officer, Dollar General Corporation, Goodlettsville, TN
Kathy Cooper , policy associate, Office of Adult Basic Education, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Olympia, WA
Martin Finsterbusch, executive director, VALUE, Inc.  (Voice of Adult Learners United to Educate), Media, PA
Donna Kinerney, Ph.D., instructional dean, Adult ESOL & Literacy Programs, Montgomery College, Wheaton, MD
Roberta Lanterman, program director, Long Beach Family Literacy, Long Beach, CA
Stephen Reder, Ph.D., university professor and chair, Department of Applied Linguistics, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Gretchen Wilson, Grammy winning recording artist and GED graduate, Nashville, TN

WHEN:         
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
10:00 a.m. ET
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:      
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
 

Schedule »

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