Sec. 342. National leadership activities
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The Secretary shall establish and carry out a program of national leadership activities to enhance the quality and outcomes of adult education and literacy activities and programs nationwide. The national leadership activities described in subsection
(a)shall include technical assistance, including— assistance to help States meet the requirements of section 131; upon request by a State, assistance provided to eligible providers in using performance accountability measures based on indicators described in section 131, and data systems for the improvement of adult education and literacy activities; and carrying out rigorous research and evaluation on effective adult education and literacy activities, as well as estimating the number of adults functioning at the lowest levels of literacy proficiency, which may be coordinated across relevant Federal agencies. The national leadership activities described in subsection
(a)may include the following: Technical assistance, including— assistance related to professional development activities, and assistance for the purposes of developing, improving, identifying, and disseminating the most successful methods and techniques for providing adult education and literacy activities, based on scientifically valid research where available; assistance in distance education and promoting and improving the use of technology in the classroom, including through the use of instructional models that blend in-person and online instruction; and assistance in the development and dissemination of proven models for addressing the digital literacy needs of adults, including older adults. A program of grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements awarded on a competitive basis to national, regional, or local networks of private nonprofit organizations, public libraries, or institutions of higher education to build the capacity of such networks’ members to— meet the performance requirements, described in section 131, of eligible providers under this title; and involve eligible individuals in program improvement. Funding national leadership activities that are not described in paragraph (1), either directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements awarded on a competitive basis to or with postsecondary educational institutions, institutions of higher education, public or private organizations or agencies, or consortia of such institutions, organizations, or agencies, such as— developing, improving, and identifying the most successful methods and techniques for addressing the education needs of adults, including instructional practices using the essential components of reading instruction based on the work of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; increasing the effectiveness of, and improving the quality of, adult education and literacy activities; carrying out rigorous research, including scientifically valid research where appropriate, on national literacy basic skill acquisition for adult learning, including estimating the number of adults functioning at the lowest levels of literacy proficiency; carrying out demonstration programs, which may include programs that— accelerate learning outcomes for eligible individuals with the lowest literacy levels; develop and promote career pathways for eligible individuals; promote concurrent enrollment programs in adult education and credit bearing postsecondary coursework; and develop high-quality professional development activities for eligible providers; disseminating best practices information, including information regarding promising practices resulting from federally funded demonstration programs; and developing and replicating best practices and innovative programs, such as— programs for skill certification; the identification of effective strategies for working with adults with learning disabilities and with adults who are English language learners; integrated education and training programs; programs providing adult education and literacy activities coordinated with employment services; and postsecondary education and training transition programs; providing for the conduct of an independent evaluation and assessment of adult education and literacy activities through grants and contracts awarded on a competitive basis, which evaluation and assessment shall include descriptions of— the effect of performance accountability measures and other measures of accountability on the delivery of adult education and literacy activities; the extent to which the adult education and literacy activities increase the literacy skills of eligible individuals, lead to involvement in education and training, enhance the employment and earnings of such participants, and, if applicable, lead to other positive outcomes, such as success in re-entry and reductions in recidivism in the case of prison-based adult education and literacy activities; the extent to which the provision of support services to eligible individuals enrolled in adult education and literacy activities increase the rate of enrollment in, and successful completion of, such programs; and the extent to which different types of providers measurably improve the skills of eligible individuals in adult education and literacy activities; carrying out rigorous research on the relationship between instructional quality, including education levels, certification status, and experience of instructors, and the performance outcomes of eligible providers consistent with section 131; supporting efforts aimed at capacity building of programs at the State and local levels such as technical assistance in program planning, assessment, evaluation, and monitoring of activities carried out under this title; collecting data, such as data regarding the improvement of both local and State data systems, through technical assistance and development of model performance data collection systems; supporting the development of an entity that would produce and distribute technology-based programs and materials for adult education and literacy activities using an interconnection system (as defined in section 397 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 397 )) and expand the effective outreach and use of such programs and materials to eligible providers; determining how participation in adult education and literacy activities prepares eligible individuals for entry into postsecondary education and employment and, in the case of programs carried out in correctional institutions, has an effect on recidivism; and other activities designed to enhance the quality of adult education and literacy activities nationwide.
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Sec. 342
National leadership activities
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