As a learner, here’s how you can lead the charge: Do one option or better yet all three.
Here’s what’s happening:
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is currently withholding federal funding for adult education even though these funds were fully approved by Congress for Fiscal Year 2025. This includes the Adult Education Basic Grants and Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) programs, which serve YOU and over a million adults every year.
You know firsthand how life-changing adult education can be. That’s why your story matters—and why we’re counting on you to take action and help protect it.
As a learner, here’s how you can lead:
Spread the word.
Share Virginia’s adult education social media posts and encourage your classmates to speak up too. Every voice counts.
Record a short video to Congress.
Use your phone or computer camera and tell them who you are, the name of your program, what adult education has done for you, and why it matters. End your video with this line: “Please ask OMB to release adult education funds immediately.”
[Click here to record your video] Help COABE to get to 500 videos by sharing with anyone else you know who is taking or has taken adult education classes.
Use this quick tool to email a message to Congress.
Send an fast and easy email to your legislator. It takes less than one minute. Here are the steps:
- Copy the email text below, which begins with, “As an adult education student….”
- Go to this link: Go to Release FY26 Funding for Adult Education
- Complete the name and address fields
- At the bottom, look for the white box with text that begins with, “As a constituent and member of COABE…”
- Delete that text and paste the letter from this page. That will replace the previous text with your learner letter
- If you have any questions or need help, please email Lisa Parrish, VAACE executive director, at executivedirector@vaace.org or call 443-223-2216.
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As an adult education student, I’m asking for your urgent help. I’m working hard to improve my skills so I can get a better job and support myself and my family, and I’m not alone. Adult education programs like mine help millions of people every year do just that. But right now, those programs are at risk.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is currently withholding federal funding for adult education even though these funds were fully approved by Congress for Fiscal Year 2025. This includes the Adult Education Basic Grants and Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) programs. Still, they are being delayed without explanation, and that’s putting programs like mine in jeopardy.
These funds support classes that help people like me build skills in reading, writing, math, and technology skills we need to get good jobs and contribute more to our communities. Adult education more than pays for itself in the long run because it helps people move off public assistance, earn higher wages, and fill in-demand jobs.
Please help by contacting the Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and urging him to release this critical funding right away. Without it, programs will be forced to cut services, lay off teachers, and turn students away.
Thank you for taking the time to support adult learners like me.