National Institute for Literacy

Policy Update

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REPORT FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

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Congress Considers New Literacy and Lifelong Learning Bills

May 12, 1997

Several new bills with important implications for adult education, literacy, and lifelong learning were recently introduced in Congress. Taken together, they would broaden educational access for Americans throughout life. Further, the recent bipartisan balanced budget agreement between Congress and the President included a $3.2 billion increase for education next year. The House and Senate appropriations committees will decided how to allocate this funding between various education programs, and may choose to spent some of it on these initiatives.

Children's literacy is the focus of the America Reads Challenge, while youth and adult education needs are addressed by the Employment, Training, & Literacy Enhancement Act and the Adult Basic Education & Literacy for the 21st Century Act. Older and nontraditional students' access to postsecondary education would be expanded through the College Access and Affordability Act.

AMERICA READS CHALLENGE

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Rep. Bill Clay (D-MO) introduced the America Reads Challenge, S. 664 and H.R. 1516, which would invest $1.45 billion over five years in a new America's Reading Corps. It includes hiring 25,000 reading specialists in schools with the great need. They would mobilize and coordinate one million volunteer reading tutors, who would provide after-school, weekend, and summer tutoring for three million children in grades K-3.

The proposal also includes the "Parents as First Teachers Challenge," which would provide $300 million in new grants to organizations and programs with a track record of success in helping parents help their children become successful readers. It does not prohibit helping children by helping parents improve their own reading skills. Senate cosponsor Patty Murray (D-WA) said, "While we want every eight-year-old to be able to hold up a book and say 'I can read this book,' that will not happen unless that child's parent can also say 'I can read this book to my child.'"

Prospects for this legislation improved greatly when full funding for it was included in the recent bipartisan balanced budget agreement.

ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY ACT

The Administration last week sent Congress the Adult Basic Education for the 21st Century Act, which streamlines existing adult education and literacy programs. Under this proposal, the federal government would provide states with more flexibility in administering programs and would support state and local efforts with national leadership and evaluation activities, national performance awards to states, and waivers.

The bill promotes high standards for learner achievement and includes strong accountability provisions, including a system of "performance goals" for student achievement that would be determined by each state. Performance goals for adult education and literacy programs could include the following:

• Establishing measurable goals for client outcomes;
• Providing learning in 'real life' contexts;
• Coordinating with other resources in the community;
• Offering flexible schedules and support services.

Key provisions of the proposal have been incorporated in H.R. 1385, the Employment, Training, and Literacy Enhancement Act, which was passed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on April 30. (See April 29, 1997 Policy Update for a summary of H.R. 1385.) The bill included the following provisions:

• Ensuring adult education provisions of the law are included under education legislation and the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Education, rather than opening up the possibility of being incorporated into job- training/Labor Department programs;
• Expanding performance goals and indicators to include more family and community skills;
• Ensuring that states continue to invest state funds in adult education and literacy even if federal funds increase.

The bill was also revised to include some provisions from H.R. 1336, Rep. Lamar Smith's Adult Education Support Services Block Grant. (See April 15 Policy Update for a summary of H.R. 1336.)

The full House of Representatives is likely to vote on the bill in May.

THE COLLEGE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY ACT OF 1997

Rep. Clay on April 24 also introduced H.R. 1435, which would improve older and low-income adults' access to a college education by expanding the federal Pell Grant program. In addition to increasing the size of Pell Grants, it would make an additional 215,000 families eligible for the program next year.

Pell Grants help ensure financial access to postsecondary education, including community colleges, by providing grants of up to $2,700 to low- and middle-income students. Many GED graduates use Pell grants to further their education on either a full- or part-time basis, and approximately one-third of all Pell Grant funding is for students attending community college.

H.R. 1435 would help older and low-income students by revising the way financial need is established, and by guaranteeing increases in the maximum grants by $300 a year through 2002. By doubling the amount of income allotted for living expenses and increasing the earning allowance from $1,750 to $4,299, the bill will make it easier for more students to qualify for aid.

The bill also allows student loan forgiveness for new teachers who take jobs teaching in low-income public schools, or in adult education, ESOL, or Even Start family literacy programs in states with a shortage of full-time instructors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION For a copy of H.R. 1516, S. 664, or H.R. 1385, call the House Document Room at 202/226-5200 or see http://thomas.loc.gov For more information on the America Reads Challenge, call 202/401-8888 To be added to the Policy Update mailing list or request copies of previous Policy Updates, call 202/632-1500 and choose option 6.