[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.