
Raise Your Voice for Adult Education!
Let our elected officials know that adult education is important. By sending an email, you can tell lawmakers why you think it’s important that adult education is funded. Please write today to share your story and let them know how their policy impacts you.
We need to make our collective voice heard before it’s too late. Just a few minutes out of your day can make all the difference if you call your representatives and share your opinion. It’s time to take action, and that starts with you. Make a call today.
Add your voice to raise cause of Adult Education by taking just a few minutes to sign our petition seeking recognition and increased funding. Small actions can result in big changes. Please add your name today to support our organization’s efforts to make a difference.


Please let legislators know that the increased funding for adult education is critical to our hard work in the field.
You can send an email below and/or make a phone call. You are welcome to add impact data showcasing your work in the editable email below.
Take action today to let your legislators know that Adult Ed is important!

Adult education can be highly effective in preparing students for the world of work by teaching them contextualized workplace competencies and study skills that help them to become lifelong learners. These competencies are important for success in today’s economic landscape as they align students’ skills with the market demands of business and industry. As part of the Workforce System and its partners funded by the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA), Adult Education provides an entry-point into job training and employment for 1.5 million adults each year by serving students with high school equivalency, industry-recognized training and credentials and wrap around services.

Your successes and the strengths that adult basic education bring to individuals, families and communities is easily overlooked by the news media and elected officials. To help you be your program’s best advocate, COABE has assembled a Media Outreach Toolkit. These tools and templates are designed to make it easier for you to offer story ideas, submit “op-ed” opinion pieces, and garner editorial and columnist support.

State fellows together with association and state agency leaders from across the country will meet with their members of congress during Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (AEFL) to share the value of Adult Education. We speak with one voice as we call for $810 million for the Adult Basic Education State Grants program in Fiscal Year 2024 to enhance adult education programs and increase the number of learners they serve, and as we advocate support for the bipartisan, forthcoming Adult Education WORKS Act and the bipartisan Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act.
Contact advocacy@coabe.org with any questions.
Pledge Your Support for Adult Education!
By taking the pledge, you are making a powerful statement about the need for strong support and funding for adult education programs. Every signature counts, and together, we can make a significant impact.
Join us in this crucial effort to Educate & Elevate America. Take the pledge today and help us reach our goal of 1 million signatures!

Sign The Pledge Today!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Educate & Elevate America Pledge, a nationwide initiative to demonstrate to our legislators the vital importance of adult education. As we approach the November elections, it is crucial that we gather widespread support to ensure that newly elected officials understand and prioritize adult education.
Why This Matters
Adult education transforms lives, strengthens communities, and boosts our economy. By signing the Educate & Elevate America Pledge, you are taking a stand for millions of adults who seek to improve their literacy and numeracy, gain new skills, and achieve their educational goals.
Our Goal
We aim to collect 1 million signatures on this pledge. With your help, we can show our legislators that adult education is a cause that matters deeply to their constituents.

The fifth cohort of COABE’s State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship (SAAEF) kicked off at the national conference in March 2025. The initial SAAEF launched in March 2021, when COABE selected activists and leaders to champion the cause of adult education WIOA Title II programs. The State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship (SAAEF) is a hands-on advocacy training program for adult educators, adult learners, and friends of adult education. During the yearlong program, fellows join an impactful and engaging community of practice where they will learn how to work with the media, their communities, and policymakers to create change benefiting adult learners and adult education programs.
