The Adult Education Act as amended by the Education Amendments of 1974 (P.L. 93-380) authorizes grants to States for the purpose c eliminating functional illiteracy among the Nation's adults sixteen years of age and older to enable them to become employable, productive and responsible cicizens. The law requires that not less than 20 percent of the funds appropriated be made available for high school equivalency programs; the institutionalized adult population is to be served; that State advisory councils may be supported for such programs appropriated; and that special assistance be given to the needs of persons of limited English-speaking ability. The program is directed toward the more than 52,500,000 adults, sixteen years of age and older, who lack a twelfth grade level of education and who are not currently enrolled. The main objective is to provide programs which teach communication, computation, and social living skills to educationally disadvantaged adults and help them to overcome the barriers to meaningful employment and social growth. Grants are made to the States according to the formula specified in the Adult Education Act. State education agencies administer the program in accordance with a State plan and local communities participate by submitting proposals to the State education agency. Plans for School Year 1974-75 Beginning with school year 1974-1975, the three adult education programs authorized by the Adult Education Act are consolidated into a single program thereby eliminating the Commissioner's discretionary programs. In fiscal year 1975, the States will continue to provide basic skills programs for approximately 821,000 undereducated adults with funds allotted under this program. It is expected that at least 18 percent of the enrollees will complete the program and each will have attained an eighth grade level of competence. It is expected that most States will have a State Advisory Council in fiscal year 1975. It is estimated that States will utilize approximately $9,500,000 (15 percent of the State allocations of $63,319,000) on special projects and teacher training grants. Plans for School Year 1975-76 The $63,319,000 requested for the second year of grants consolidation will provide advance funding for academic year 1975-76. This advanced funding represents the same level as the previous year. Advance funding of adult education program dollars will enable States and local school officials to plan ahead with confidence, rather than beginning the school year without knowing the precise amount of Federal dollars to be available. It is estimated that the States will utilize approximately 15 percent of the State allocation on special projects and teacher training. Accomplishments in School Years 1972-73 and 1973-74 In fiscal year 1973, approximately 820,000 adult students, sixteen years of age and older, were enrolled in adult education programs throughout the country. Of these approximately 656,000 were in the priority age group of 18-44 with less than an eighth grade level of education. Approximately 139,400 of the total enrollment completed the eighth grade. In fiscal year 1974, the States continued to provide basic skills programs for nearly 821,000 illiterate adults with funds allotted unde. this authority. At least Eighty percent of the enrollees were in the priority group, age 18-44. 18 percent of the enrollees completed the program and each will have attained an eighth grade level of competence. States were provided guidance in the collection and dissemination of data which promote the effectiveness of the State Grant Program. Technical assistance teams provided State agencies with developmental assistance for implementation of the strategy of teaching adults using curricula related to job skills, consumer education, and parent education. Fifty-five grants were awarded in 1973 for special projects and in 1974 forty seven demonstration projects were awarded with a primary focus on reducing adult functional illiteracy. Training opportunities were offered to approximately 20,000 individuals through the teacher training program. Purpose: The Adult Education Act as amended by the Education Amendments of 1974 authorizes grants to States for the purpose of eliminating functional illiteracy among the Nation's adults sixteen years of age and older to enable them to become employable, productive and responsible citizens. The law requires that not less than 20 percent of the funds appropriated be made available for high school equivalency programs; the institutionalized adult population is to be served; that State advisory councils may be supported for such programs appropriated; and that special assistance be given to the needs of persons of limited English-speaking ability. Explanation: Grants are made to the States according to the formula specified in the Act. Not less than 15 percent of each State's allotment shall be used for special projects and teacher training. Accomplishments in 1974: Basic skills programs were provided to 821,000 undereducated adults. Forty seven demonstration projects were awarded and training opportunities were offered to approximately 20,000 individuals through the teacher training program. Objectives for 1975: For school year 1974-75, States will continue to provide basic skills programs to 821,000 undereducated adults. Most States are expected to have a State advisory council in fiscal year 1975, and it is estimated that 15 percent of the State allocations will be used on special projects and teacher training grants. The fiscal year 1975 estimate also includes funds to provide advance funding for school year 1975-76. [Whereupon, at 10:55 a.m., the subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene at 2:30 p.m., the same day.] (AFTERNOON SESSION, 2:35 P.M., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1974) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION LIBRARY RESOURCES STATEMENT OF S. W. HERRELL, ACTING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION ACCOMPANIED BY: DR. TERREL H. BELL, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION ROBERT KLASSEN, CHIEF, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND AS- WILLIAM J. BAREFOOT, JR., EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BUREAU OF DR. ALBERT L. ALFORD, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, OFFICE OF CORA P. BEEBE, ACTING BUDGET OFFICER WILLIAM FORBUSH, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BUDGET BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Senator MONTOYA [presiding]. The witness we are about to hear is S. W. Herrell, who will testify in support of an amount of $90,250,000 for library resources for fiscal year 1975. The budget also proposes that the committee include an additional $90,250,000 to advance funds for the library programs. This proposal is intended to give the States and localities early notice on the amounts they will receive in fiscal year 1976 so that they can make better plans to use the money. Your biographical sketch will be inserted at this point and then Mr. Herrell, you may proceed. [The biographical sketch follows:] Name: S. W. Herrell. Biographical Sketch Position: Acting Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Postsecondary Education. Birthplace and date: Cape Girardeau, Missouri, January 23, 1915. Education: B.S., Southeast Missouri State College. Graduate Work-University of Missouri, Cornell University (Naval Officers Program). Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree, Bethune-Cookman College, March 16, 1971; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities, St. Leo College, April 30, 1972. Experience: Present: Acting Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Postsecondary Education. May 12, 1974-August 1, 1974: Associate Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Postsecondary Education. 1971-74: Acting Associate Commissioner, Bureau of Higher Education, Acting Deputy Associate Commissioner, Bureau of Higher Education. January 1970-February 1971: Executive Officer, Bureau of Higher Education. September 1968-January 1970: Acting Deputy Associate Commissioner, Bureau of Higher Education. 1964-68: Executive Officer, Bureau of Higher Education. 1962-64: Executive Officer, Bureau of International Education. 1958-62: Executive Officer, Division of School Assistance in Federally Affected Areas. 1952-58: Program Operations Supervisor, Division of School Assistance in Federally Affected Areas. March 10, 1952-Dec. 21, 1952: Reassignment as Assistant Program Operations Advisor, Division of Civilian Education Requirements. 1951-52: Associate Civilian Education Requirements Officer. Division of Civilian Education Requirements, Office of Education. March 11, 1951-October 25, 1951: Chief, Registration and Research Section, Veterans' Administration, Washington, D.C. June 27, 1946-March 11, 1951: Supervisor, Registration Unit, Veterans' Administration, St. Louis, Missouri. January 4, 1946-June 27, 1946: Registration Officer, Veterans' Administration, St. Louis, Missouri. 1942-46: U.S. Navy, Lieutenant (JG). 1939-42: Superintendent of Police Schools, Bloomsdale, Missouri. 1937-39: Principal of Bloomsdale High School, Bloomsdale, Missouri. Awards: DHEW, U.S. Office of Education: Superior Service Award, May 23, 1968. Sustained Superior Service Award, September 1967. Quality Increase— February 1964. Quality Increase February 1970. DHEW-Education Division— Certificate of Recognition-1973. DHEW-Distinguished Service Award, April 11, 1974. INTRODUCTION OF ASSOCIATES Mr. HERRELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to introduce my colleagues, Mr. Klassen and Mr. Barefoot, and of course, Commissioner Bell. I have a short statement, Mr. Chairman. I welcome this opportunity to appear before you for a supplemental appropriation request in the amount of $90,250,000 for the school library resources program. This item was not considered by the House in its action on the regular bill due to lack of authorizing legislation, recently provided by Public Law 93-380. I might say here, Senator, that the House has acted upon this particular piece of legislation and has granted the $90,250,000. This request for $90,250,000 for fiscal year 1975 covers the school year 1974-75 and maintains the program at the fiscal year 1974 level. Advance funding for this program is included in the libraries and instructional resource consolidation under the elementary and secondary education account. The school library resources program provides library resources, textbooks, and other instructional materials for use by the students and teachers in both public and private elementary schools. These funds will benefit about 48.400,000 elementary and secondary schoolchildren in fiscal year 1975, including approximately 5,300,000 private schoolchildren. Funds are allotted to the State educational agencies in accordance with an approved State plan and a statutory formula based on the elementary and secondary school enrollments. My colleagues and I will be happy to answer your questions. Senator MONTOYA. The justification indicates that approximately 48.4 million children were served in fiscal year 1973, and 50 million children would be served with the same amount of funds in fiscal year 1976. How do you explain this increase in the number of children served with the same amount of funds at a time of high inflation? Mr. HERRELL. Well, Senator, in reference to this particular program, the funds are available through State formula grants. Textbooks and other library resource materials are available for any number of children. Senator MONTOYA. Here you have an increased number and you have the same proposition. Mr. HERRELL. Once these books and materials are purchased, they are for the students to utilize; and consequently they could serve many more than this if the students so choose to use them. PROGRAM IMPACT Senator MONTOYA. Is the number of children served the best and most descriptive measurement of this program impact? What is so magnetic about the same figure as last year when you are going to have an additional student population to use or utilize these resources? Mr. HERRELL. Well, all I can say is that the students are there, and the material is there for them to utilize all through the day; by extending the hours in the day, more students can utilize the books, the textbooks and the other materials. Senator MONTOYA. Well, I know that is a very plausible answer and all that, but say that you have 10 students trying to utilize 10 books in the library. If you increase that student body to 20 and those 10 students utilize the full day in utilizing those 10 books, when you get 20, what are you going to do? Are you going to add more books? Are you going to open up the library for 10 additional hours? Is that what you are trying to tell me? Mr. HERRELL. You can utilize the library a longer period of time; yes. EFFECT OF INFLATION Mr. BELL. I think, Senator, if I can get in here for a minute on this discussion, we would have to concede that point, considering inflation. I just came from a position as superintendent of schools, and the cost of books and related materials has been skyrocketing. So, when we talk about the number of children served, there is just no way for us to make a plausible argument, that you would accept, that this appropriation is going to serve them with the same quality that it did before. Senator MONTOYA. Well, I am just very concerned because I think the last figures that I read about a year and a half ago indicated that in my State, for instance, 90 percent of the elementary schools didn't have any library resources and that situation throughout the country, especially in the rural States was distressing, to say the least. Now, we are going at the same level as we went before in funding, and there has been an inflationary rise and we are actually reducing our subscriptions to this interest in saying the needs and bringing about an orderly supply of library resources to the particular areas that need it. |