Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act
Bill: S.1126 | Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act
This bill requires the Institute of Education Sciences and the National Center for Education Research to collect data and carry out research on (1) successful state and local adult education and literacy activities that result in increased literacy and numeracy and educational attainment for adult learners, (2) the characteristics and academic achievements of adult learners, and (3) access to, and opportunity for, adult education, including digital literacy skills development.
The bill also requires the institute to draw on the expertise of adult educators when developing policies and priorities relating to adult education.
Finally, the bill requires that at least one research center focuses on adult education and literacy activities.

To amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 and the Educational 
   Technical Assistance Act of 2002 to strengthen research in adult 
                               education.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Research in Adult 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. STRENGTHEN RESEARCH IN ADULT EDUCATION.

    (a) Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002.--The Education Sciences 
Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 102 (20 U.S.C. 9501)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8), 
                (9) through (22), and (23), as paragraphs (3) through 
                (9), (11) through (24), and (26), respectively;
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Adult education; adult education and literacy 
        activities.--The terms `adult education' and `adult education 
        and literacy activities' have the meanings given the terms in 
        section 203 of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (29 
        U.S.C. 3272).'';
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (9), as 
                redesignated by subparagraph (A), the following:
            ``(10) Digital literacy skills.--The term `digital literacy 
        skills' has the meaning given the term in section 202 of the 
        Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101).''; and
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (24), as 
                redesignated by subparagraph (A), the following:
            ``(25) Student.--Unless otherwise provided, the term 
        `student' means any elementary, secondary, postsecondary, or 
        adult education student.'';
            (2) in section 111(b)(1) (20 U.S.C. 9511(b)(1)), in the 
        matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, including 
        adult education'' after ``postsecondary study'';
            (3) in section 115(a) (20 U.S.C. 9515(a))--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                inserting ``the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act 
                (29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.),'' after ``the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et 
                seq.),''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and 
                        adults'' after ``children'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon;
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
                        subparagraph (D); and
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
                        the following:
                    ``(C) access to, and opportunities for, adult 
                education and literacy activities; and'';
            (4) in section 116(c)(4)(A)(ii) (20 U.S.C. 
        9516(c)(4)(A)(ii))--
                    (A) by inserting ``adult educators,'' after 
                ``professional educators,''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``State directors of adult 
                education,'' after ``postsecondary education 
                executives,'';
            (5) in section 131(b)(1) (20 U.S.C. 9531(b)(1))--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``and'' after 
                the semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) improve the literacy and numeracy skills of 
                individuals who need adult education;'';
            (6) in section 133 (20 U.S.C. 9533)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) in paragraph (10)(D), by striking 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon;
                            (ii) in paragraph (11), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) carry out research on successful State and local 
        adult education and literacy activities that--
                    ``(A) result in increased literacy and numeracy and 
                educational attainment for adult learners; or
                    ``(B) prepare students for postsecondary education 
                or employment.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``At 
                        least 1 center shall be assigned the topic of 
                        adult education.'' after ``paragraph (2).''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2)--
                                    (I) by striking subparagraph (A) 
                                and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) Adult education.'';
                                    (II) by redesignating subparagraphs 
                                (C) through (K) as subparagraphs (D) 
                                through (L), respectively; and
                                    (III) by inserting after 
                                subparagraph (B) the following:
                    ``(C) Digital literacy skills.'';
            (7) in section 153(a)(1) (20 U.S.C. 9543(a)(1))--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(D) secondary school graduation and completion 
                rates, including the four-year adjusted cohort 
                graduation rate and the extended-year adjusted cohort 
                graduation rate (as defined in section 8101 of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                7801)), school dropout rates, and adult literacy;'';
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (O) 
                as subparagraphs (G) through (P), respectively;
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the 
                following:
                    ``(F) access to, and opportunity for, adult 
                education and literacy activities;''; and
                    (D) in subparagraph (L), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and in adult 
                education'' after ``secondary schools'';
            (8) in section 154(b)(2)(A) (20 U.S.C. 9544(b)(2)(A)), by 
        striking ``vocational and adult education,'' and inserting 
        ``career and technical education, adult education,''; and
            (9) in section 172(a)(2) (20 U.S.C. 9562(a)(2))--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as 
                subparagraph (F); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
                following:
                    ``(E) educational practices that improve digital 
                literacy skills; and''.
    (b) Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002.--Section 
206(b)(2) of the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 (20 
U.S.C. 9605(b)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) as 
        subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
                    ``(B) Representatives of local or regional adult 
                education providers.''.
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