Press Releases

September 10, 2012

Contact: Marty Finsterbusch, President
Phone: 610-721-6425(C)
Email: office@valueusa.org
OR
Contact: Jackie Taylor, Advocacy Chair
Phone: 685-680-7668 (C)
Email: Jackie@jataylor.net

National Coalition for Literacy Celebrates National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week

WASHINGTON  DC
For the fourth consecutive year, this week has been declared National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week by act of the US Congress. The House declaration (H.R. 756) was sponsored by Rep. Jared Polis [D-CO] with fifteen co-signers. A companion bill, S. Res. 546, was co-sponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) with eight cosigners. The week is declared to recognize and celebrate the contributions of adult education and family literacy programs and the achievements of adult education students across the country.

“We must focus now more than ever on making sure our work force is educated and highly skilled,” said Representative Rubén Hinojosa, US House Caucus on Adult Literacy Co-Chair. “National Adult Education and Family Week helps tremendously in shining the spot light on adult literacy. I, along with my co-chair of the US House Adult Literacy Caucus, Congressman Roe and joined by our colleagues in Congress will work together to make certain those entering the work force have acquired the 21st century skills they need to succeed, including the literacy skills necessary to earn a high school diploma, pursue postsecondary education, function in everyday life, and contribute to their communities."

Representative Phil Roe, US House Caucus on Adult Literacy Co-chair said, “National Adult Education and Family Literacy week is a great way to bring awareness to adult literacy and honor adult learners for all their hard work and contributions to society. I am proud to be the co-chair of the US House Caucus on Adult Literacy, and Congressman Hinojosa and I will continue to work together in a bipartisan way to ensure adult learners have the tools they need to be successful in the workforce.”   

Adult education and family literacy programs serve adult students who need to improve their basic literacy and math skills, improve their oral and written English, obtain a high school equivalence diploma, and prepare for community college or vocational training.  According to the latest national survey, more than 93 million American adults have Basic or Below Basic Literacy skills that limit their ability to advance at work and in education, help their children with school work, take care of their family’s health, and participate in their communities.

Family literacy programs serve parents and their young children, teaching basic skills, English as a Second Language, and parenting skills to adults while their children are provided high quality instruction. These programs are focused on breaking the cycles of low literacy, low education and poverty.

During National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) will recognize individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary national contributions to improving adult education, literacy, and English language learning in the USat its Annual Literacy Leadership Award celebration in Washington DC.  Join the National Coalition for Literacy on September 12, 2012 at 5:30 PM at the Senate Dirksen Office Building (SD-106) to participate in the ceremony.  Details and registration information are available at http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/newsJULY262012.html. The event is free and open to the public and press.
NCL will recognize the following outstanding individuals and organizations:

• David Baldacci, Successful author, philanthropist, and passionate adult education advocate who founded the Wish You Well Foundation.  The Foundation has funded adult and family literacy programs that help provide literacy solutions in more than 40 states.
• Ruth J. Colvin, Founder of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse and Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. (now ProLiteracy). Mrs. Colvin is widely regarded as the “mother” of the US volunteer literacy movement, which has helped hundreds of thousands of adults and families to acquire literacy skills and learn English across the country. 
• Save Adult Ed Campaign, A group of dedicated advocates in Los Angeles who took on the largest proposed cuts to adult education in the history of CA by conducting a rigorous, strategic, innovative, and successful public relations and advocacy campaign.
• US Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), Senator Webb introduced the Adult Education and Economic Growth Act of 2012 and has been a strong supporter of preserving appropriations in support of adult education.

For more information about how to become involved in Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, please visit: http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/aefl.html.

The Mission of the National Coalition for Literacy is: to advance adult education, family literacy, and English language acquisition in the U.S. by increasing public awareness for the need to increase funding and programs; promoting effective public policy; and serving as an authoritative resource for the field on national adult education issues.  For more information, visit http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/index.html. To read about past Literacy Leadership Awards, seehttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/dgawards.html.

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