Utah Senate approves resolution recognizing adult literacy, urges second-week-in-September observance

The Utah Senate on Jan. 24 approved SCR 1, a nonbinding resolution encouraging recognition of adult lifelong learning and literacy and requesting the governor and legislature acknowledge programs supporting adult education.

Senator Steele, who introduced the resolution, said the measure carries no monetary attachment but seeks to highlight services that help adults "gain skills that they need to become better educated, to be able to provide services to their own families and children." Steele cited data he attributed to National Conference of State Legislatures, saying "43 percent of adults with low literacy skills live in poverty" and that "there are over a 50,000 Utah adults in need of higher basic literacy skills" according to the latest census figures.

The resolution designates the second week in September as a time to acknowledge adult-education programs, volunteers and professionals and to encourage participation in lifelong learning. Steele said the measure is intended to support parents' literacy as a means to improve children's reading outcomes, noting "the single best indicator of how well [a child] reads is the level of reading done by the parent or adult in that child's life." He also disclosed a potential conflict of interest, saying he "deal[s] in services to adults."

After debate and brief questions about scope and phrasing, the Senate held a roll-call vote. SCR 1 received 23 aye votes, no nay votes and six senators absent and was advanced through the third-reading calendar for transmission to the House.

The resolution does not appropriate funds or change statute; it asks the executive and legislative branches and state agencies to recognize and support adult literacy efforts in nonfinancial ways. The Senate record shows sponsors and members urging public awareness and local recognition events but no directive for state spending or new programs.