Adult Education WORKS Act
Sponsored By: Representative McBath
Introduced
Summary
Modernizes adult education and workforce training to expand digital and information literacy and create library-based college and career navigators. It would reorganize AEFLA and WIOA, add new program definitions, and create new reporting and grant structures to connect learners to jobs and postsecondary options.
Show full summary
- Adult learners and families would get more digital and information literacy instruction, integrated English and civics education, and clearer pathways to credentials and college‑level coursework.
- Public libraries and communities would become eligible One‑Stop partners and host navigator services to reach underserved areas. It authorizes $135 million per year for library‑based navigator grants.
- Workers and jobseekers would gain dedicated college and career navigators who guide training choices, federal student aid, and co‑enrollment across programs, plus a unified participant record to track outcomes and credentials.
- State and local providers would face new transparency rules, a five‑year pilot for alternative performance indicators, and national evaluations by the Institute of Education Sciences to identify best practices.
*This bill would increase federal spending by authorizing AEFLA appropriations that rise from $810 million in FY2026 to $1.4 billion in FY2030, plus $135 million annually for library navigator grants.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More navigators and library career help
This bill would grow college and career navigator services, including at public libraries. It would authorize $135 million each year for FY2026 and the next four years for library and community navigator grants, subject to appropriations. Libraries could host career services and navigator help, including mobile sites, to reach underserved areas. Local workforce boards would be told to promote hiring navigators. The bill would define what navigators do, like guiding on jobs, college, and federal student aid, and linking people to services.
Five-year funding boost for adult education
This bill would authorize more money for adult education. It would set $810 million for FY2026, $945 million for FY2027, $1,080 million for FY2028, $1,215 million for FY2029, and $1,350 million for FY2030. It would also raise a reserved fund from $15 million to $25 million. These are authorizations, so real funding would still need annual appropriations.
English classes linked to jobs and civics
This bill would refocus English literacy and civics classes to support full participation in work, school, and civic life. It would allow English instruction to connect to local job and career pathways through the workforce system where appropriate.
States add family and digital literacy supports
This bill would let states build more supports for adult learners. States could develop family literacy programs, boost digital and information literacy, and support credentials for adult educators. It would also encourage targeted help for people with learning differences and those with very low literacy.
New measures and pilot tests in adult education
This bill would change how adult education results are measured. It would focus on credentials, diplomas, and measurable skill gains, and set up a shared participant record system across programs. States could pilot new accountability measures for up to 5 years, with national evaluations. It would also expand national grants, training, and evaluations to help states meet these performance rules and improve educator training.
Public posting of workforce board members
This bill would require local officials to post who serves on their workforce board. The post would need to show how membership rules were met. It would have to appear on each local government’s website in the area.
Clearer eligibility terms and local spending flexibility
This bill would define key terms, including foundational skill needs, digital and information literacy, college placement level, and concurrent enrollment. It would set youth foundational skill needs at or below 8th grade reading, writing, or math, or not having enough English to function at work, in family, or in society. It would also let local administrative funds cover professional development, shifting which budget lines pay for training. That could help staff skills but may move money away from other local uses.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McBath
GA • D
Cosponsors
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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