Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act”.
Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act
A BILL
To amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 and the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 to strengthen research in adult education.
Sec. 2 Strengthen research in adult education
Education sciences reform act of 2002— The Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.) is amended—
in section 102 (20 U.S.C. 9501)—
by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8), (9) through (13), (14) through (22), and (23), as paragraphs (3) through (9), (11) through (15), (17) through (25), and (27), respectively;
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).”
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).”
by inserting after paragraph (15), as redesignated by subparagraph (A) the following:
“(16) Information literacy skills—The term information literacy skills means the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, understand, evaluate, analyze, discern the reliability and accuracy of, and effectively use information (which encompasses spoken and broadcast words and videos, printed materials, and digital content, data, and images).”
by inserting after paragraph (25), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), the following:
“(26) Student—Unless otherwise provided, the term student means any elementary, secondary, postsecondary, or adult education student.”
in section 111(b)(1) (20 U.S.C. 9511(b)(1)), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “, and adult education” after “postsecondary study”;
in section 115(a) (20 U.S.C. 9515(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
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “children” and inserting “individuals”;
in subparagraph (B), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and
by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
“(C) access to, and opportunities for, adult education and literacy activities; and”
in section 116(c)(4)(A)(ii) (20 U.S.C. 9516(c)(4)(A)(ii))—
by inserting “adult educators,” after “professional educators,”; and
by inserting “State directors of adult education,” after “postsecondary education executives,”;
in section 131(b)(1) (20 U.S.C. 9531(b)(1))—
in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
in subparagraph (D), by inserting “and” after the semicolon; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(E) improve the literacy, numeracy, digital literacy skills, and information literacy skills of individuals who need adult education;”
in section 133 (20 U.S.C. 9533)—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (10)(D), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(12) carry out research initiatives regarding the impact of adult education and literacy activities, including—
“(A) research into successful State and local adult education and literacy activities that—
“(i) result in increased literacy, numeracy, digital literacy skills, information literacy skills, and educational attainment for adult learners; or
“(ii) prepare students for postsecondary education or employment; and
“(B) research to determine which indicators of performance and measurable skills gains are most effective, valid, reliable, and accessible for use across a broad range of adult education and literacy programs to assess the progress of adult learners and improve instruction in adult education and literacy programs.”
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1), by inserting “At least 1 center shall be assigned the topic of adult education.” after “paragraph (2).”; and
in paragraph (2)—
by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
“(A) Adult education.”
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (K) as subparagraphs (E) through (M), respectively; and
by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
“(C) Digital literacy skills.”
“(D) Information literacy skills.”
in section 153(a)(1) (20 U.S.C. 9543(a)(1))—
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;”
by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (O) as subparagraphs (G) through (P), respectively;
by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
“(F) access to, and opportunity for, adult education and literacy activities;”
in subparagraph (L), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by inserting “and in adult education” after “secondary schools”;
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
in section 172(a)(2) (20 U.S.C. 9562(a)(2))—
in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); and
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
“(E) educational practices that improve digital literacy skills and information literacy skills; and”
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—
by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) as subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively; and
by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
“(B) Representatives of local or regional adult education providers.”