    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 39 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
    [Pages 1258-1260]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Executive Order 13445--Strengthening Adult Education

    September 27, 2007

        By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as
    follows:
        Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to use
    existing Federal programs that serve adults, including new Americans, to
    strengthen literacy skills, improve opportunities for postsecondary
    education and employment, and facilitate participation in American life.
        Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this order:
        (a) ``agency'' means an executive agency as defined in section 105
    of title 5, United States Code, other than the Government Accountability
    Office; and

    [[Page 1259]]

        (b) ``adult education'' means teaching or instruction below the
    postsecondary level, for individuals who are 16 years of age or older,
    designed to provide:
        (i) mastery of basic education skills needed to function effectively
    in society;
        (ii) a secondary school diploma or its equivalent; or
        (iii) the ability to speak, read, or write the English language.
        Sec. 3. Establishment of Interagency Adult Education Working Group.
    The Secretary of Education shall establish within the Department of
    Education for administrative purposes only, an Interagency Adult
    Education Working Group (Working Group), consistent with this order.
        Sec. 4. Membership and Operation of the Working Group.
        (a) The Working Group shall consist exclusively of:
        (i) the Secretary of Education, who shall serve as Chair;
        (ii) the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the
    Secretaries of the Interior, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing
    and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs; and
        (iii) other officers or full-time or permanent part-time employees
    of the United States, as determined by the Chair, with the concurrence
    of the head of the agency concerned.
        (b) The Chair, or the Chair's designee under subsection (c) of this
    section, in implementing section 5 of this order, shall convene and
    preside at the meetings of the Working Group, determine its agenda,
    direct its work, and establish and direct subgroups of the Working
    Group, as appropriate to deal with particular subject matters, that
    shall consist exclusively of members of the Working Group or their
    designees under subsection (c) of this section.
        (c) A member of the Working Group may designate, to perform the
    Working Group or Working Group subgroup functions of the member, any
    person who is a part of the member's agency and who is either an officer
    of the United States appointed by the President or a member of the
    Senior Executive Service.
        Sec. 5. Functions of the Working Group. Consistent with the policy
    set forth in section 1 of this order, the Working Group shall:
        (a) identify Federal programs that:
        (i) focus primarily on improving the basic education skills of
    adults;
        (ii) have the goal of transitioning adults from basic literacy to
    postsecondary education, training, or employment; or
        (iii) constitute programs of adult education;
        (b) as appropriate, review the programs identified under subsection
    (a) of this section and submit to the heads of the agencies
    administering those programs recommendations to:
        (i) promote the transition of adults from such programs to
    postsecondary education, training, or employment;
        (ii) increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and availability of
    such programs;
        (iii) minimize unnecessary duplication among such programs;
        (iv) measure and evaluate the performance of such programs; and
        (v) undertake and disseminate the results of research related to
    such programs;
        (c) identify gaps in the research about effective ways to teach
    adult education for postsecondary readiness, recommend areas for further
    research to improve adult education programs and services, and identify
    promising practices in disseminating valid existing and future research
    findings; and
        (d) obtain information and advice as appropriate, in a manner that
    seeks individual advice and does not involve collective judgment or
    consensus advice or deliberation, concerning adult education from:
        (i) State, local, territorial, and tribal officials; and
        (ii) representatives of entities or other individuals;
        (e) at the request of the head of an agency, unless the Chair
    declines the request, promptly review and provide advice on a proposed
    action by that agency relating to adult education; and
        (f) report to the President, through the Assistant to the President
    for Domestic Policy, on its work, and on the implementation of any
    recommendations arising from its work, at such times and in such formats
    as the

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    Chair may specify, with the first such report to be submitted no later
    than 9 months after the date of this order.
        Sec. 6. Administration of the Working Group. (a) To the extent
    permitted by law, the Department of Education shall provide the funding
    and administrative support the Working Group needs, as determined by the
    Chair, to implement this order.
        (b) The heads of agencies shall provide, as appropriate, such
    assistance and information as the Chair may request to implement this
    order.
        Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be
    construed to impair or otherwise affect:
        (i) authority granted by law to an agency or the head thereof; or
        (ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and
    Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.
        (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law
    and subject to the availability of appropriations.
        (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or
    benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by
    any party against the United States, its agencies or entities, its
    officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
                                                    George W. Bush
     The White House,
     September 27, 2007.

     [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., October 1,
    2007]

    Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on
    October 2.