The House and Senate have introduced the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success (WORKS) Act for the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title II of which is the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, directly impacting and supporting adult multilingual learners of English (MLEs).

The House version, introduced by Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA-7) and Frank Mrvan (D-IN-1), is HR 2789 (see co-sponsors here), and Senate version, introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Todd Young (R-IN), is S 1400 (see co-sponsors here)

With 56% of the AEFLA-supported participants in English Language Acquisition and Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education programs, the passage of this reauthorization is vital for the adult education programs serving MLEs.

This bill brings these improvements to support adult MLEs and the adult ed programs serving them:

• Increases the authorized funding for adult education by 2029 to $1.35 billion.
• Supports the professionalization of the adult education field by strengthening state certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators.
• Incorporates digital and information literacy into adult education and workforce development programs.
• Provides support for college and career navigators at public libraries and community-based organizations.
• Expands the role of public libraries in the one-stop delivery system for workforce development.
• Encourages innovation through pilot projects to test new approaches to measuring performance and ensure WIOA performance metrics capture the full range of skills gains supported by adult education programs.
• Promotes the provision of integrated education and training concurrently with other adult education activities and services.

Contact your member of Congress today and ask for their support and co-sponosrship!