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This section covers current policy efforts to more firmly establish
adult transition, updates on key federal legislation, and directions
how to track bills and reach your legislators. The federal
government plays a large role in encouraging states to develop
transition to postsecondary education programs for adults by
the way in which it influences state policy development through
guidelines, funding and research agendas.
National Opportunity System
http://www.caalusa.org/ensureamericasfuture.pdf
This is a rather long report with a very long title: To
Ensure America’s Future: Building a National Opportunity
System for Adults: Strengthening Links between Adult Education
and Community College. Two of the best features of
this report by the Council for Advancement for Adult Literacy
(CAAL) are:
- a review of key public policy issues on transition (pp. 64-77)
and
- the transition roles for Adult Education, Community College,
State and Federal government (pp. 78-87).
Read what noted educator and NCTN Steering Committee member, Dr.
Hunter Boylan, says about the National Opportunity
System in ViewPoints,
produced by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.
Federal Legislation
For a wrap-up of the 2005 legislative year see Legislative
Summary Update from Lynn Selmser, COABE’s Public Policy
Consultant
For a look at the proposed federal budget numbers, see the American
Association of Community College’s Table
for Major Higher Education, Job Training and Other Programs -PDF
Tracking Current Federal Legislation
Congress is divided into approximately 250 committees and subcommittees.
Most of the legislation that impacts adult transition programs
comes from two committees, however. The key Congressional
committees are:
Committee on Education and the Workforce
U.S. House of Representatives
http://edworkforce.house.gov/
This Web site provides an overview of key legislative issues
and information on specific bills --including dates for legislative
hearing and a chart following the progress of each bill through
the committee process.
U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
http://help.senate.gov/
This Web site provides an overview of the committee's work schedule
and links to additional government pages for each of the committee
topic areas.
To locate information on a specific topic or piece of legislation:
Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet
Library of Congress
http://thomas.loc.gov/
Thomas is an easy to use Web site with up-to-date information
on current and upcoming legislation, Congressional roll call
votes, key House and Senate committee activities, as well as
access to the Congressional Record. Information on specific bills
can be located using the bill number or a key word or phrase.
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