Strengthening Adult Education

This executive order creates an Interagency Adult Education Working Group led by the Secretary of Education to coordinate federal adult education programs, identify gaps and duplications, and recommend improvements to help adults transition to postsecondary education and employment. The Working Group includes multiple cabinet secretaries and must submit its first report within 9 months.

Federal Register Open PDF 72 FR 56165

Impact dates

Jun 27, 2008
First report to President on Working Group work and implementation of recommendations

Key directives

Secretary of Education shall establish Interagency Adult Education Working Group
Working Group shall identify federal adult education programs
Working Group shall review programs and submit recommendations to agency heads
Working Group shall identify research gaps and promising practices
Working Group shall report to President through Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy
First report due no later than 9 months after date of order

Timeline

Immediate

Establishment of Interagency Adult Education Working Group

Near term (90d)

Working Group convenes, begins identifying federal programs and gaps

Long term

First report due to President; ongoing recommendations for program coordination and improvement

Risks & tensions

No enforcement mechanism for agency heads to adopt recommendations; purely advisory
Funding contingent on existing appropriations and Chair's determination
Explicit disclaimer that order creates no enforceable rights
Vague 'as appropriate' language may limit actual coordination
Working Group scope limited to 'administrative purposes only' within Education Department