Adult Education and Economic Growth Act

Bill: 113-s-1400
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2013-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Adult education and literacy
Citizenship and naturalization
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment and training programs
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Higher education
Income tax credits
Performance measurement
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2013-07-30
text: 
Adult Education and Economic Growth Act - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1988 to revise requirements for statewide and local workforce investment systems to include adult education activities.
 
Replaces statewide and local workforce investment systems with adult education and workforce investment systems.
 
Revises member composition of: (1) state workforce investment boards to include the lead state agency officials with particular responsibility for implementing adult education and literacy activities; and (2) youth councils established by local workforce investment boards to include representatives of adult education.
 
Revises requirements for five-year state and local worker investment plans.
 
Authorizes the use of funds for: (1) statewide and local youth activities to provide opportunities for multiple career pathways for eligible youth, and (2) training services for local adult and dislocated workers to include integrated education and training and career pathway services.
 
Requires the Secretary of Labor to carry out specified employment and training demonstration and pilot projects. 
 
Amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) to include among adult education and literacy services programs activities to assist adults with limited English proficiency to improve their English and mathematical skills, acquire an understanding of the American system of government and responsibilities of citizenship, and, where necessary, obtain knowledge and skills to transition to postsecondary education, job training, and employment in family-sustaining jobs.
 
Revises requirements for the allocation and reservation of AEFLA funds.
 
Revises state distribution requirements with respect to grants and contracts to eligible providers of activities for adult education and literacy and corrections education of institutionalized individuals.
 
Expands an eligible agency's use of funds for corrections education and education for other institutionalized individuals to include academic programs for: (1) integrated education and training and sequential education and training programs, (2) career pathways, (3) dual enrollment, and (4) preparation for postsecondary education and training.
 
Replaces the National Institute for Literacy with the National Center for Adult Education, Literacy, and Workplace Skills (Center).
 
Requires national leadership activities to include activities to improve workplace skills programs nationwide.
 
Requires the Secretary of Education to allocate grants to states for integrated English literacy and civics education programs.
 
Requires the Secretary of Education to award grants to assist states in developing a 21st century delivery system for adult education, literacy, and workplace skills services as well as adults in developing digital literacy skills.
 
Requires the Center to establish the National Adult Learning and Technology Resource Clearinghouse.
 
Requires the Secretary of Education to direct the Commissioner for Education Research of the National Center for Education Research to establish a national research and development center for adult education, literacy, and workplace skills.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an employer educational assistance program credit for 50% of the qualified educational assistance expenses (up to $5,250) paid per taxable year on behalf of an employee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-07-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6077-6078)
action_date: 2013-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate