National Coalition for Literacy

—A Public Policy Update on Adult Education and Literacy, Part II

By Jackie Taylor

For those of us who work in adult education and literacy, it’s no surprise that many of our programs have waiting lists of adults who want to improve their basic skills or learn English. In a recent Washington Post article, community colleges now also face similar demands: Adults want new skills but are finding that classes are full.

Recently, the National Coalition for Literacy wrote Appropriations leadership and House Adult Literacy Caucus Members opposing any effort to leave FY11 funding decisions to the next Congress; a Congress anxious to cut discretionary non-military, non-security spending during a time when we need to increase access to adult education and literacy programs. (see New Appropriations Republicans Vow to Slash Spending Quickly, from thehill.com).

NCL urges the 111th Congress to either finalize a full year CR or an Omnibus measure during the lame duck.

House CR

The House passed a full-year CR to fund government operations by a vote of 212-206 last Wednesday, December 8. The CR has no earmarks and holds overall spending at 2010 levels, providing $45.9 billion less than the President requested for the year. In this scenario, we anticipate that Even Start would be funded at FY10 levels like all other education programs not specifically mentioned as exceptions.

Senate Omnibus

December 17, 2010: Roll Call reports today, “In the face of a GOP filibuster of an omnibus spending bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Thursday that he would drop his efforts to pass it and would instead pursue a short-term continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown.”

Joel Packer of the Committee on Education Funding reports that this will make it easier for Republicans in the 112th Congress to move to slash spending to 2008 levels.

Congress has until Saturday, December 18, after which the current short-term CR expires, to pass a fiscal 2011 spending bill.

Follow NCL on Twitter for the latest on appropriations funding for adult education and literacy.

Recent Public Policy Advocacy Updates:

December 15, 2010: What Passage of the DREAM Act Means for Adult Education

December 13, 2010: Jobs and the Economy–Reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act