Volume I: Final Synthesis Report

The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 (P.L. 105-220)1 recognized the relationship between adult education and workforce development and the need for accountability in all literacy, training, and employment programs. Enacted as Title II of WIA, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) created a partnership of federal government, states, and localities to provide educational opportunities for adults 16 and older who are not currently enrolled in school and who lack a high school diploma or the basic skills needed to function effectively in the workplace and in their daily lives.

AEFLA required substantial changes in state and local operations. The objectives of this study were to assess current and expected changes in the allocation of state and local funds for adult education and literacy; summarize the system of accountability, the performance standards and measures, and the use of performance standards; and report on the relationship between adult education providers and learners and one-stop delivery systems.

This report synthesizes information from a survey of all state directors of adult education2 and site visits to nine local programs in five states. Our findings relate primarily to the first 18 months of AEFLA implementation (most states reported that they had fully implemented AEFLA by July 1999).

Note: This report is available in its entirety in the Portable Document Format (PDF).

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