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AdvocacyProLiteracy Responds to State of the Union Speech The world's largest organization of adult literacy and basic education programs today praised President Obama for recognizing the need to invest in the skills and education of Americans in his State of the Union Address and called on the President to include the basic literacy needs of adults when that investment is made. ProLiteracy President and CEO David C. Harvey said there are 30 million adults in the U.S. who struggle with the simplest daily reading, writing, and math tasks. Adults at the low literacy level were among the first to lose their jobs when the economy faltered last year. "These individuals have difficulty finding jobs when the economy is strong; it's been particularly difficult for them to find jobs in today's economic climate. They need to improve their basic literacy skills to help their chances of finding work. I urge President Obama to remember these people as he supports education and workplace skill development," Harvey said. In his speech, Obama stated that "a high school diploma no longer guarantees a good job" as he called on the Senate to pass a bill similar to the American Graduation Initiative bill approved by the House late last year. That bill supports community colleges, which Obama said offered "a career pathway to the children of so many working families." "Community colleges also offer a career pathway for adult learners who have earned a high school credential through a literacy program," Harvey said. "The House bill the President referred to will make it possible for local literacy programs serving adults who need assistance with their writing, reading, math, computer, and English skills to develop programs with community colleges so that these adult learners can earn new work credentials and associate degrees. We hope a stronger requirement for collaboration between community colleges and local literacy programs will be included in a final bill." Harvey said one way to invest in workplace skills for adult learners and high school dropouts is for Congress to update and reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and for the President to include additional funding for WIA. WIA provides job training funds for adults, dislocated workers, and youth and is the major source of federal funding for adult literacy and basic education programs. It has not been reauthorized since 2003. "A reauthorized and well-funded WIA that provides for literacy instruction for adult learners at all levels and makes it possible for more adults to receive instruction is an investment in education that will help put people to work," Harvey said.
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