The Virginia Board of Education recently reestablished its adult education advisory committee after a three-year hiatus to guide how the state uses resources to improve its adult education and literacy program.

The programs combine education and job training that can help enrollees earn recognized industry credentials and provide academic and parenting support for adults and their children. They also help learners strengthen English proficiency, develop civic and workplace skills, and improve basic academic skills through in-person or remote classes.

The committee’s return follows a three-month listening tour led by Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration, where educators, school leaders and parents spoke about strengthening Virginia’s K-12 system. 

At the board’s Aug. 27 business meeting, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jenna Conway said the committee helps the board by gathering feedback from stakeholders, considering adult learners’ access to rigorous programs and making effective use of funding, while keeping adult education and literacy moving forward. 

The board voted to re-establish the committee on Sept. 24.

“We can’t always have all those folks represented here on the board, and so we welcome reestablishing this committee to think through how we make sure that these students are having access to sort of equal rigor,” said Conway.

She added, “We want to make the most of every dollar, and we want to make the dollars go as far as possible.”

Virginia serves over 17,000 adults annually and has awarded $18 million to local adult-education providers for 2026-27 program year, according to the Virginia Department of Education.

Over the past three years, the agency said recipients reported over 52,000 student enrollments, and 7,400 secondary and industry-recognized credentials have been earned.

On June 20, 2001, a previous board created the first 14-member committee. However, the agency said the board’s action did not specify seat requirements, meaning seats could be added or taken away in future years.

Staff recommended no changes to the number of members, but asked that the ex officio role be reserved for the Adult Student of the Year, chosen through the Virginia Association of Adult and Continuing Education.

VDOE said it will seek nominations using the agency’s form and processes, review them for a balance of stakeholder groups and geographic representation, and then the board will review and approve recommendations.

The agency did not immediately respond to questions about the reason for the committee’s three-year break.