Legislation soon to be introduced in the state House of Representatives would create a $12 million dedicated fund to provide grants for eligible adult basic education providers.
House Bill 1728 would cap grant awards at $500,000, with larger grants possibly available for multi-agency collaborations.
The grants are intended to help adults returning to the workforce. One in three Americans lacks the digital skills necessary for jobs in technology, according to estimates.
“The COVID-19 pandemic further aggravated a situation where we have adults who are in search of employment for varying reasons,” state Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana), who will introduce the bill, said. “The Recovery Fund for Adult Education would support bridge courses, high school equivalency test scholarships, tuition-related expenses, marketing and outreach, and other innovative programming for adult learners. It would help close a gap in our economy, as well as in the lives of individuals who are willing and eager to make a change and better themselves.”
The bill will support people with work experience who want to expand their job opportunities, Struzzi said, and fulfill “the needs of those adult learners who are looking to either better themselves or learn a new skill…or both.”
Struzzi worked with the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education when authoring the legislation.