This Act may be cited as the “Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act ”.

(a) Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002.—The Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.) is amended—

(1) in section 102 (20 U.S.C. 9501)—

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8), (9) through (22), and (23), as paragraphs (3) through (9), (11) through (24), and (26), respectively;

(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

“(2) ADULT EDUCATION; ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY ACTIVITIES.—The terms ‘adult education’ and ‘adult education and literacy activities’ have the meanings given the terms in section 203 of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).”;

(C) by inserting after paragraph (9), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), the following:

“(10) DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS.—The term ‘digital literacy skills’ has the meaning given the term in section 202 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101).”; and

(D) by inserting after paragraph (24), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), the following:

“(25) STUDENT.—Unless otherwise provided, the term ‘student’ means any elementary, secondary, postsecondary, or adult education student.”;

(2) in section 111(b)(1) (20 U.S.C. 9511(b)(1)), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “, including adult education” after “postsecondary study”;

(3) in section 115(a) (20 U.S.C. 9515(a))—

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.),” after “the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.),”; and

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting “and adults” after “children”;

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking “and” after the semicolon;

(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and

(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

“(C) access to, and opportunities for, adult education and literacy activities; and”;

(4) in section 116(c)(4)(A)(ii) (20 U.S.C. 9516(c)(4)(A)(ii))—

(A) by inserting “adult educators,” after “professional educators,”; and

(B) by inserting “State directors of adult education,” after “postsecondary education executives,”;

(5) in section 131(b)(1) (20 U.S.C. 9531(b)(1))—

(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” after the semicolon;

(B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting “and” after the semicolon; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(E) improve the literacy and numeracy skills of individuals who need adult education;”;

(6) in section 133 (20 U.S.C. 9533)—

(A) in subsection (a)—

(i) in paragraph (10)(D), by striking “and” after the semicolon;

(ii) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(12) carry out research on successful State and local adult education and literacy activities that—

“(A) result in increased literacy and numeracy and educational attainment for adult learners; or

“(B) prepare students for postsecondary education or employment.”; and

(B) in subsection (c)—

(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting “At least 1 center shall be assigned the topic of adult education.” after “paragraph (2).”; and

(ii) in paragraph (2)—

(I) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

“(A) Adult education.”;

(II) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (K) as subparagraphs (D) through (L), respectively; and

(III) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

“(C) Digital literacy skills.”;

(7) in section 153(a)(1) (20 U.S.C. 9543(a)(1))—

(A) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following:

“(D) secondary school graduation and completion rates, including the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate and the extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 7801)), school dropout rates, and adult literacy;”;

(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (O) as subparagraphs (G) through (P), respectively;

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:

“(F) access to, and opportunity for, adult education and literacy activities;”; and

(D) in subparagraph (L), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by inserting “and in adult education” after “secondary schools”;

(8) in section 154(b)(2)(A) (20 U.S.C. 9544(b)(2)(A)), by striking “vocational and adult education,” and inserting “career and technical education, adult education,”; and

(9) in section 172(a)(2) (20 U.S.C. 9562(a)(2))—

(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” after the semicolon;

(B) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); and

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:

“(E) educational practices that improve digital literacy skills; and”.

(b) Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002.—Section 206(b)(2) of the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9605(b)(2)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) as subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

“(B) Representatives of local or regional adult education providers.”.