Bill > A01061

This bill establishes a Community Literacy Fund and a grant program to support adult education and literacy services across New York State. The bill defines eligible agencies as non-profit organizations with tax-exempt status that either directly provide adult education services using volunteers or offer technical assistance to other literacy organizations. Eligible services include helping adults improve reading, writing, math, English language proficiency, and problem-solving skills. The commissioner of education will be authorized to distribute grants to these agencies based on eligibility criteria established in regulations. Grant recipients will be required to report impact data demonstrating the effectiveness of their programs, such as educational gains, digital literacy skills, improved health and financial literacy, and civic participation. The bill mandates that the commissioner submit an annual report to state leaders evaluating the community literacy programs. Funds for these grants will come from state appropriations and potentially other individual contributions, and the money will be jointly managed by the state comptroller and the commissioner of education. Importantly, for-profit agencies cannot serve as fiscal agents for these grants.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1061