The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) was created in 1998, a time of robust economic prosperity. WIA was created to encourage public-private partnerships in order to modernize workforce development services; serve at-risk youth, under-educated and unemployed/underemployed adults, youth and adults with disabilities and English language learners (ELL); and establish statutory definitions, state and local workforce provisions, Job Corps, national programs and administrative guidelines.

The current economic conditions stand in stark contrast to those when WIA was created 11 years ago. The Department of Education believes the time is right to move forward with WIA reauthorization, in order to help provide opportunities and pathways for those who need new skills in order to compete in an increasingly competitive and difficult economy.

In preparation for WIA reauthorization, our Office of Vocational and Adult Education is hosting a series of WIA Community Conversations across the country. The goal of these conversations is to facilitate a candid and constructive discourse among a comprehensive range of stakeholders whose work is directly affected by WIA. These conversations will help inform our thinking as we prepare for reauthorization.

Go to WIA Community Conversations and become part of the conversation.

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"Adult literacy organizations across the country are facing increased demands for service, while struggling with a decrease in available resources," said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General's chairman and CEO. "Through the waiting list reduction grant, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation wants to help organizations remedy their waiting list issues and get more students involved in an educational program sooner."

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation waiting list reduction grant helps literacy programs find ways to immediately engage potential students in learning activities.

Nonprofit adult literacy organizations may apply for the waiting list reduction grant online at www.dgliteracy.org. The deadline to apply for the grant is Sept. 30, 2010.

This is the third week of a 3-week blog discussion of Reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act-what is a priority for you? Thanks to all for the thoughtful responses and comments!

Today's featured article is by Jeff Carter of ProLiteracy, on funding programs of sufficient intensity and duration-recognizing that programs providing individual instruction may provide fewer hours than programs providing group instruction: http://blog.ncladvocacy.org This priority has made it second from the top in our straw poll located in the right navigation (followed closely by establishing an independent Center and increasing state leadership to a minimum of 15%).

Remember, comments will go to Hill staffs during National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (Sept 13-19, 2010). Now is a good time to review the discussions-to-date, contribute your perspective, and plan to contribute to remaining topics.

For the schedule, links to existing featured articles, and scheduled release dates of future articles - click here for WIA featured articles and dates.  Is your perspective represented in the conversations linked below? If not, make your voice heard today.