"The Adult Basic Education program gives workers the support and skills necessary to succeed in the 21st Century economy," Senator Collins said. "The ABE program allows individuals to participate in literacy programs, math classes, English language classes, and other courses that enable people to transition to higher education or the job market. Adequate funding is necessary if this valuable program is to continue to provide critical education services to our nation's adults."
Access to Adult Basic Education is critical for adults with low literacy skills. Over 40 percent of American workers have low literacy skills. Moreover, low-literate adults have the hardest time getting jobs and are often the first to be laid off. Researchers predict that as few as 10 percent of all new jobs will be available to those without a high school diploma. The unemployment rate for this group is four times as high as the rate for adults who graduated from high school. Adult Basic Education funding allows these individuals to learn the skills that are important to gaining long-term employment.
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