National

The National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) seeks to keep the literacy field informed of federal legislative developments through regular publications called Policy Updates. In addition to the federal policy updates, NIFL also offers periodic analyses of literacy policy and implementation issues affecting the states. NIFL also provides State Policy Updates on topics such as state-level family literacy legislation, improvements in services to adults with disabilities, distance learning, and professional development of adult education teachers.

Reading Excellence Act (REA)
Enacted in 1998, this law aims to ensure that every child can read by the end of third grade.

Welfare Reform/Welfare-to-Work
In 1996, the President signed into law the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). This new law changed the nature and provision of welfare benefits by providing funding to the states in the form of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grants. In 1997, the Welfare-to-Work grant program was authorized to help states and localities to create additional job opportunities for the hardest-to-employ TANF recipients.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Enacted in 1998, the intent of this law is to ensure that the US remains competitive in the global economy by providing workers with the reading, writing, computing, problem solving, and communications skills they need to succeed in the workforce, and to provide businesses with highly skilled workers. This law promotes collaboration between literacy providers and other educational agencies and employment services through the creation of one-stop delivery systems that give participants access to a wide range of programs.

Rhode Island

RI Education Policy
Resource Information from RI Department of Education.

Adult Learners' Bill of Rights
This model Rhode Island legislation passed during the 1999 legislative assembly.

Would you like to contact your legislators?
This link will take you directly to the RI General Assembly web page that lists your state representatives and senators. From this web page, you can click on their name and send them an email.