National Coalition for Literacy

By Jackie Taylor

Many of you are keeping a watchful eye on the horizon for National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010. Here’s some background and a status update:

Background:

Last year, the House made a one-time dedication for Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. This was a highly successful effort in raising awareness nationwide of the importance of adult education and family literacy in 2009.

This year, Congressman Jared Polis is once again taking the lead in dedicating this high honor for adult education and family literacy in 2010.

Status-to-date:

May 2010: Congressman Polis finalized the resolution language with the National Coalition for Literacy. He submitted a request for the President to make a formal proclamation for the occasion.

June 2010: Congressman Polis began a search for original co-sponsors to join him in taking the lead on the House resolution. So far, Congressman Honda has offered to join Polis as an original co-sponsor. After June 23, the cutoff for finding original co-sponsors, they will introduce the resolution. Then other House Members will be able to sign on as co-sponsors (just not as “original” co-sponsors).

July 2010: We hope to see the resolution introduced on the House floor for discussion and approval before the House leaves on recess July 31 – September 12, 2010. Adult Education and Family Literacy Week is proposed to occur the week of September 13, 2010. This may mean that advocates will need to move fast in July to obtain any additional House co-sponsors needed so that we can cinch the resolution in plenty of time to prepare Adult Education and Family Literacy celebration activities.

In the meantime, what will you do to prepare for Adult Education and Family Literacy Week in your community?

This is an exciting process and the Coalition is grateful to Congressman Polis for his leadership on this issue two years running and to Congressional Staff Spiros Protopsaltis for his work.