[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Young):

[[Page S1343]]

  S. 1268. 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. Madam 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 
educational programs for adults seeking to advance their literacy, 
numeracy, and digital and information 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 18 percent of adults ages 16 to 65 
in the United States performing at the lowest levels of literacy; 28 
percent at the lowest levels of numeracy; and 23 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 more than 84,000 working-age 
adults have less than a high school education. Nearly 65,000 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 provide a 
critical foundation for improving the effectiveness and reach of adult 
education programs 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 and information literacy skills development, in communities 
across the country. 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 will require that at 
least one research center 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 
on Adult Basic Education 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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