HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2018.07.19 - 23688MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #18286
BY: Commissioners Michael J. Gingell, District #1; Shelley Taub, District #12; Hugh Crawford, District #9;
David ES. Bowman, District #10; Michael Spisz, District #3; Bob Hoffman, District # 2; Tom Berman, District
#5; Bill Dwyer, District #14; Gary McGillivray, District #20; Philip Weipert, District #8.; Wade Fleming, District
#16; Helaine Zack, District #18; and Thomas Middleton, District #4 6-(--kc. (-0--
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION AND
FAMILY LITERACY WEEK SEPTEMBER 24 — 29, 2018
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week raises public awareness about the need
for and value of adult education and family literacy; and
WHEREAS the goal is to leverage resources that support access to basic education programs for the 36
million U.S. adults with low literacy skills; and
WHEREAS Adult Education serves adults, 16 years of age and older, who are no longer enrolled in school
and may be functioning below the 12th grade level; and
WHEREAS many high school dropouts do not have the literacy skills to complete their education, transition
to postsecondary education or vocational training or become employed; and
WHEREAS many individuals who are unemployed, underemployed or receive public assistance lack the
literacy skills to obtain and keep a job with a family-sustaining income, continue their education or
participate in job training programs; and
WHEREAS the National Center for Education Statistics reports that low levels of literacy are likely to limit
life chances and may be related to social welfare issues including poverty, incarceration and preventive
healthcare; and
WHEREAS a recent survey indicated that 92% of business leaders thought that U.S. workers were not
skilled as they are needed to be; and
WHEREAS sixty-three percent of all U.S. jobs will require education beyond high school and yet nearly half
of the U.S. workforce — about 88 million of 188 million adults aged 18 to 64 — only have a high school
education or less and/or low English proficiency; and
WHEREAS the American Action Forum projects by 2020 that the U.S. will be short an estimated 7.5 million
private sector workers across all skill levels; and
WHEREAS Adult Education and family literacy are the best available weapons against inter-generational
low literacy; and
WHEREAS educating motivated students with the skills that companies need provides a qualified candidate
for hard to fill positions and Adult Education builds the skills of workers; and
WHEREAS adults with a high school degree are more likely to work full time and average 20% higher
earnings ($30,000) well above the poverty line for a family of four; and
WHEREAS parents in family literacy programs become more involved in their children's education and gain
the tools necessary to obtain a job or find better employment; and
WHEREAS parental involvement is a key predictor of a child's success, the level of parental involvement
increases as the education level of the parent increases; and
WHEREAS this results in children's lives to become more stable, and success in the classroom, and in all
future endeavors, becomes more likely; and
WHEREAS a better educated population strengthens our communities, makes them safer and contributes
to a community's economic growth; and
WHEREAS National Adult Education and Family Literacy week highlights the need to support efforts to
ensure each and every citizen has the necessary literacy skills to succeed at home, at work and in society;
and
WHEREAS the literacy of our citizens is essential for the economic well-being of Oakland County, our
society and the individuals who benefit from full participation.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners designates
September 24 — 29, 2018 as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week in Oakland County and
recognizes the importance to support programs that assist those in need of adult education and family
literacy programs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages all citizens,
government agencies, public and private institutions, schools, institutions of higher education, libraries and
Commissioner Stielley Taub
District #1 District #12
omrfiissioner MicWel J. Ginger '
Commissioner Hugh Crawford
District #9
Commissioner Michael Spisz
District #3
Comiongr Tom Berman
District #5
strict #4
Commissioner 3.
District #
Commission r Gary McGillivray
District #20
Commissionerle Fleming
trirct #16
m issioner
District #
Commissioner David E.S. Bowman
issioner Helain Zack
Distridt #18
•_Cogar6- igsroner
District # (C\
Comknissi • -
District # 17
Viol 75—Z-
Commissioner
District #
Com
Dis
sioner Dwier
CloVimissioner Philip Weipert
Dietrict #8
businesses to support increased access to adult education and family literacy programs to ensure a literate
society.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
a copy of this resolution to Michigan's Department of Education and the Oakland Intermediate School
District.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Resolution #18286 July 19, 2018
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Finance Committee. There were no objections.