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News Archive
Dear Adult Education Advocates:
 Last week, the American Jobs Act was brought to the Senate floor where it died quickly. The only way both Democrats and Republicans envision passing job-spurring legislation is in piecemeal form—taking apart the American Jobs Act and voting on various aspects of the bill separately.
The Pathways Back to Work Fund, an individual measure designed to meet the needs of unemployed, low-skilled workers, includes adult education activities as an allowable use of funds, in addition to other activities that support education and training opportunities for unemployed, low-skilled adults and youth.
However, no one in Congress is talking about the Pathways Back to Work Fund as one of the individual measures that should be debated and passed. We need you to call your U.S. Senators today to change that conversation to include introducing and passing the Pathways Back to Work Fund.
Instructions:
Call your U.S. Senators. Say where you are from (city/state). Ask the Senator to urge inclusion of Pathways Back to Work Fund as part of any jobs legislation moving forward. If you work or volunteer at an adult education program, include your program name, # of students served, and # on waiting lists (if applicable). Use additional talking points, like the ones below, if you are given the opportunity to say more.
- Hello, my name is XX and I am <<teacher, ma nager, coordinator>> of XX Adult Education program in <Insert State>> and I serve <<insert # of students served and # on waiting list>> (if appropriate)
- Since Congress has been unable to pass a comprehensive jobs bill, they should focus on passing individual measures that serve the needs of the most vulnerable unemployed Americans through the Pathways Back to Work Fund. Provisions in this fund are designed to best meet the needs of unemployed, low-skilled workers.
- The $5 million Pathways Back to Work Fund includes adult education activities as an allowable use of funds in addition to other activities that support education and training opportunities for unemployed, low-skilled adults and youth.
- 14 percent of the nation’s adults have less than a high school diploma, and unemployment is 14 percent for workers without a high school diploma, compared to 4.2 percent for workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Provisions in the Fund can help low-skilled participants prepare for jobs in their region through adult basic education services or integrated education and training models that allow students to quickly obtain a marketable postsecondary credential.
- Helping workers build their skills through adult education services is a smart and cost effective strategy. Adult education has a lower cost-per-learner than K-12 or higher education, and provides substantial economic, social, and individual benefits.
- On behalf of <<insert # of students you reach>>, I urge the Senator to support inclusion of the Pathways Back to Work Fund as part of smaller jobs bill. It will provide funding for adult education and literacy activities for low-skilled adults, helping them to access the education and training they need to compete for jobs with family-sustaining wages.
Email the National Coalition for Literacy and let us know when you have made your calls and share any information you learn in your conversation with your Senators' staff.
Thanks for taking action on this today!
Sincerely,
The NCL Advocacy Team
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