News and Updates

Highlighting NCL Member Voices this Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2026

Literacy is more than the ability to read and write. In the digital age—marked by the rise of mobile connectivity, personal computers, big data, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI)—foundational literacy skills serve as gateway skills to the multiple literacies needed for broader civic participation, employment, health, and economic mobility. The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), defines literacy as “accessing, understanding, evaluating, and reflecting on written texts in order to achieve one’s goals, to develop one’s knowledge and potential and to participate in society.” 

For more than 40 years, the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) has convened national organizations and individuals who are committed to advancing adult education, family literacy, and English language acquisition in the United States. NCL works to increase public awareness of adult literacy needs, promote effective public policy, and serve as an authoritative resource on national adult education issues. NCL and its members ensure that leaders and legislators make informed decisions about policies, regulations, and funding for adult education and family literacy. 

In 2009, NCL established Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (AEFL Week) in partnership with then‑Congressman Jared Polis (D‑CO), Senator Lamar Alexander (R‑TN), and Senator Patty Murray (D‑WA), creating the first-ever Congressionally‑recognized designation highlighting the importance of adult education and family literacy. Since then, it has grown into a nationwide observance each September by communities and policymakers across the country. The week provides a unique opportunity to raise public awareness, secure resources, and promote access to education for adults in need of foundational literacy, numeracy, and digital skills.

This year, AEFL Week will be celebrated September 13 – 19, 2026. In partnership with the Ohio State University, NCL has curated a set of six articles—written, submitted, reviewed, and selected by NCL volunteer members—to generate engagement in some of today’s most urgent literacy issues, from numeracy, financial and family literacy to AI literacy and durable workforce skills. Click on the full articles below.