The following questions are based on the survey results that will be the basis for raising the issues at house parties, caucuses, round tables, rallies, center visits, and other public events:

1. Economic Self-Sufficiency:

Of the 93 million American adults identified as in need of basic skills, over six million work full time but continue to live in poverty. For these workers, limited basic skills or limited English proficiency often keeps them from becoming self-sufficient.

What steps will you take to ensure that workers have the opportunity to improve their literacy skills, get a high school diploma, and continue their education?

2. Adult Education Priority:

The current adult education system serves approximately 3 million of the 93 million individuals a year in need of adult literacy services, with waiting lists throughout the United States. If elected, what steps will your administration take to increase access for new immigrants, the unemployed, underemployed, high school dropouts and others in need of assistance?

3. Professional Development and Support for Teachers:

The 1998 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) shifted the adult education and literacy system towards program quality, while at the same time it decreased the amount of state leadership money available for professional development. Despite this reduction in professional development dollars, the field, 80% of whom are part-time, continues to meet or exceed federal performance standards.

What will your Administration do to improve support for adult education that enables further professionalization of the field?

4. Intergenerational Literacy:

We know that parental involvement plays a major role in the academic success of our nation's children. Through no fault of their own, many parents lack the literacy or academic skills necessary to support their children, placing them at a distinct disadvantage and leading to cycles of illiteracy and academic failure that are hard to break.

Would you support intergenerational literacy programs and other efforts directed at improving the literacy or academic skills of parents and other caregivers so they can fully support the education of their children?

5. Funding

93 million adults would benefit from adult education and literacy services. With a combination of federal, state, and local dollars, only three (3) million adults are currently served. Waiting lists, in a majority of states, indicate that millions of adults, especially immigrants seeking English language learning, are waiting to enter a program.

What steps will you take to support, promote, and sustain an increase in funding that would significantly reduce these long waiting lists?

6. English Language Learning:

With the recent focus on immigration reform and the need for immigrants to become fluent in English, how will your Administration increase access for those seeking English language instruction while maintaining support for others in need of adult education and literacy services?