ProLiteracy Worldwide Calls on Congress to Increase Adult Education Spending by $25 Million

New President/CEO David Harvey challenges lawmakers to “invest in this country’s workforce”

Syracuse, NY
October 8, 2007

The new president of the largest organization of adult basic education and literacy programs in the world today strongly urged Congress to increase funding for adult basic education, family literacy, and English-as-a-second-language instruction by $25 million.

In a letter sent to members of Congress (see below), ProLiteracy Worldwide President and CEO David C. Harvey called on members of the Senate and House to support the $25 million increase in Title II of the Workforce Investment Act, as provided by the House in the FY 2008 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill. The bill is entering conference. Title II of WIA authorizes funds to states and localities to support adult basic education, family literacy, and English-as-a-second-language instruction. The appropriation for FY 2007 totaled $564 million.

“Current funding provides three million adults with the help they need to improve their ability to read, write, and do math, or to learn English. But there are 30 million adults in the U.S. who need these services, as shown by the National Assessment of Adult Literacy,” Harvey said. “Almost all of ProLiteracy’s 1,200 local member literacy programs in the U.S. report waiting lists. Our member programs desperately need a funding increase through WIA Title II to serve these additional students.

Harvey estimated that a $25 million increase in Title II funding would make it possible for as many as 30,000 more adults to access basic reading, writing, math, and English-as-a-second language services.

Harvey told lawmakers that an investment in adult basic education programs is an investment in the U.S. workforce and the country’s ability to remain competitive globally.

“I recently joined ProLiteracy Worldwide as the organization’s new President and CEO because I could no longer stand to see America ignoring the implications of adult illiteracy here at home,” Harvey said. He pointed to reports that indicate people need at least some college education to function in most of the fastest-growing jobs. “I would think the fact that 14 percent of our population struggles to understand a simple newspaper article and can barely use a TV guide would be all the encouragement Congress needs to support additional funding for programs working to change this situation,” he said.

Adults who improve their reading, writing, math, and English-speaking skills become better able to take care of their families; their health improves, and “They also become more involved in their children’s education, a key factor in breaking the low literacy cycle,” Harvey noted.

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Copy of letter sent:

The Honorable Representative [Name]
House Appropriations Sub-Committee
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative [Name]:

On behalf of ProLiteracy Worldwide and our 1,200 member programs across the U.S., I am writing to thank you for supporting the $25 million increase for Title II of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in the FY 2008 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill.

I strongly urge you to again support the $25 million Title II increase as the bill enters final conference. Current funding provides three million adults with the help they need to improve their ability to read, write, and do math, or to learn English. An investment in adult basic education programs is an investment in the U.S. workforce and in America’s ability to remain competitive globally. Adults who improve their reading, writing, math, and English-speaking skills become: better able to take care of their families, healthier, more engaged as citizens, and more involved in their children’s education -- a key factor in breaking the low literacy cycle in families.

At a time when 14 percent of the U.S. population struggles to understand a simple newspaper article and can barely use a TV guide, almost all of ProLiteracy’s 1,200 local member literacy programs in the U.S. report waiting lists. Our member programs desperately need a funding increase through WIA Title II to serve these adults who are eager to improve their lives and the lives of their families. A $25 million increase in Title II would make it possible for as many as 30,000 of them to learn basic reading, writing, and math skills, or English as a second language.

I recently became the president and CEO of ProLiteracy Worldwide because I could no longer stand to see America losing our competitive edge globally and at the same time suffering the effects of illiteracy here at home. Through advocacy, educational materials, training and technical assistance, and professional development, ProLiteracy supports 1,200 local member literacy programs throughout the United States and our partner programs in 65 developing countries around the world. Through these efforts, we help more than 1 million adults become literate each year.

I strongly urge you to support the $25 million increase for Title II of WIA as you enter conference for the 2008 Labor/HHS appropriations bill. Should you or your staff need more information, please contact Marsha Tait, senior vice president for public affairs at (315) 422-9121, extension 322, or by email at mtait@proliteracy.org.

Thank you for your efforts to support adult basic education, family literacy, and English-as-a-second-language instruction.

Sincerely,

David C. Harvey
President and CEO

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