Dear Colleagues, Would you like to see the federal government increase its funding support for adult education and family literacy? If so, now is the time to speak up. The Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-H) of the Senate Appropriations Committee is currently working on funding allocations for this fiscal year. The Senators on the subcommittee need to know that the funding provided through the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) is essential to the success of the adult education system, and that an increase in that funding is supported by the Senators' constituents. Initial decisions on funding allocations will be made over the next two weeks, so your Senators need to hear from you right away. This is particularly important if you live in one of these states: Mississippi: Senator Cochran is the Chair of the Appropriations Committee Vermont: Senator Leahy is the Ranking Member on the Appropriations Committee Missouri: Senator Blunt is the Chair of the Labor-H Subcommittee Washington: Senator Murray is the Ranking Member on the Labor-H Subcommittee Any state whose Senator serves on the Labor-H subcommittee (see the list of members at https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies) Eventually, though, the full Senate will vote on appropriations, so everyone in every state has an important role to play in promoting the importance of adult education and family literacy. You can find contact information for your Senators here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact Or you can use the online contact system provided by COABE at http://cqrcengage.com/coabe/home?0 In addition, Senators will be in their home states during the week of February 19, so you can contact them in their local offices. Below my signature line are some talking points that you can use to help make the case for increased AEFLA funding. This language comes from a letter that I submitted to Senators Cochran, Leahy, Blunt, and Murray yesterday on behalf of the NCL; much of the content is drawn from resources provided by World Education, ProLiteracy, and individual NCL members. Feel free to use it as is or adapt it to fit your specific circumstances, and to forward this message to your colleagues and others. Thank you in advance for your active advocacy for adult learners! I hope you'll report back when you have contacted your Senators, and that you'll share additional talking points through this member listserv. Cordially, Deborah Deborah Kennedy Senior Consultant / Owner, Key Words President, National Coalition for Literacy office: 202-364-1964 (September-May) office: 603-293-2402 (June-August) www.key-words.us www.national-coalition-literacy.org Talking points: Nationally, the average adult education expenditure is about $800 per adult learner per year (compared with over $10,000 per year for elementary and secondary school students). Additional WIOA Title II funding would increase the quality of adult basic studies programs and the number of adults they are able to serve while reducing other costs to the overall economy. Here are some of the possibilities that increased funding would permit: Programs could provide essential wrap-around services such as job search support, connections to healthcare, guidance for continuing education, and bridge programs that support access to career pathway programming, enabling adult learners to transition from dependence to self-sufficiency. Currently most programs are not able to provide these. Programs could incorporate technology components that accelerate learning and prepare adult learners to succeed in technology-rich workplaces and educational environments. Currently many programs have limited or no access to technology tools. Programs could establish partnerships with occupational training programs, employers, and one-stop centers to build effective career pathways. Currently many programs are not able to devote the necessary time and energy to such collaborative ventures. Programs could offer professional development to staff in providing effective contextualized (IET) instruction, teaching adults with disabilities, engaging and retaining learners, integrating English language learning and civics, and optimizing use of online instructional resources. Currently most program budgets are not able to accommodate such teacher training. This programmatic strengthening would enable adult learners to move more quickly through the adult education system and on to achievement of their educational and career goals, thus increasing the number of adult learners who could be served. It would also provide additional benefits: It would reduce overall health care costs. Limited literacy prevents adults from understanding health information and making health choices; $230 billion per year in health care costs is linked to low literacy. It would reduce unemployment and increase earning power and tax revenues. Low literacy costs the U.S. at least $225 billion each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime, and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment. It would reduce recidivism. Research shows that inmates who are educated are 43 percent less likely to return to prison.