[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Young):
  S. 1126. A bill to amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 
and the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 to strengthen 
research in adult education; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the bipartisan 
Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act with my colleague, 
Senator Young. We are in urgent need of identifying and disseminating 
innovative and effective methods for supporting adult learners. Our 
legislation will ensure that there is a strong research base to improve 
the teaching provided for, and the learning of, adults seeking to 
advance their literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy skills.
  The most recent data from the Program for the International 
Assessment of Adult Competencies show an urgent need for action in 
adult education with an estimated 19 percent of adults ages 16-65 in 
the United States performing at the lowest levels of literacy; twenty-
nine percent at the lowest levels of numeracy; and 24 percent at the 
lowest levels of digital problem solving. This is a dire situation. 
These are essential skills for postsecondary education and the 
workplace. Beyond their value in the labor market, these skills are 
also correlated with health and civic participation, making adult 
education critically important to the health and well-being of our 
people, our economy, and our democracy.
  In Rhode Island, it is estimated that nearly 82,000 working age 
adults have less than a high school education. Over 55,000 have limited 
English proficiency. Yet, we are reaching just over 5,000 through the 
current adult education program. Clearly, we need more resources and 
innovative, research-based ways to reach more people.
  The Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act will support the 
key reforms to adult education in the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act by ensuring that adult education is included in our 
national education research priorities. Specifically, the Strengthening 
Research in Adult Education Act will amend the Education Sciences 
Reform Act to require the Institute for Education Sciences and the 
National Center for Education Statistics to collect data and carry out 
research on: successful State and local adult education and literacy 
activities, the characteristics and academic achievement of adult 
learners, and access to and opportunity for adult education, including 
digital literacy skills development, in communities across the Nation. 
It will also ensure that the Institute of Education Sciences draws on 
the expertise of adult educators when developing policies and 
priorities. Finally, the legislation would require that at least one 
research center would focus on adult education.
  These straightforward amendments to the Education Sciences Reform Act 
will go a long way to strengthening the research base that will support 
the improvement of adult education across the country. I was pleased to 
work with the adult education community, and particularly, the 
Coalition of Adult Basic Educators and the National Coalition for 
Literacy in developing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to 
support the Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act and to work 
with me to ensure that its provisions are included in the 
reauthorization of the Education Sciences Reform Act.

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