Adult Education and Family Literacy Act

Adult education is an important part of the new workforce investment system. Title II of WIA, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) restructures and improves programs previously authorized by the Adult Education Act. To give States greater flexibility in administering the program, the several prescriptive administrative requirements and restrictions on the use of funds are eliminated. For example, the Adult Education Act, as amended prohibited States from expending more than 20 percent of the State allocation for high school equivalency programs. The new law eliminates this restriction.

AEFLA focuses on strengthening program quality by requiring States to give priority in awarding funds to local programs that are based on a solid foundation of research, address the diverse needs of adult learners, and utilize other effective practices and strategies. Factors the State must consider in awarding funds include whether the program provides learning in real life contexts, employs advances in technology, and is staffed by well-trained instructors, counselors, and administrators.

To promote continuous program improvement and to ensure optimal return on the Federal investment, AEFLA also establishes a State performance accountability system. Under this system, the Secretary and each State must reach agreement on annual levels of performance for a number of "core indicators" specified in the law:

• Demonstrated improvements in literacy skill levels in reading, writing, and speaking the English language, numeracy, problem solving, English language acquisition, and other literacy skills.
• Placement in, retention in, or completion of postsecondary education, training, unsubsidized employment or career advancement.
• Receipt of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent.

States also use these "core indicators" to evaluate the performance of local grantees.

posted March 25, 1999