H.R. 3587: Investing in Digital Skills Act

This bill, known as the Investing in Digital Skills Act, seeks to amend the existing Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to integrate digital skills and digital literacy into its educational objectives for adults. Here’s a breakdown of the key components:

Objective of the Bill

The main purpose of the bill is to enhance adult education and literacy programs by recognizing digital literacy as a crucial skill required for employment and participation in society. This includes helping adults gain the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the digital world.

Key Amendments

• Inclusion of Digital Skills:

  The bill proposes to include “digital literacy skills” in the definitions related to adult education. This recognizes the importance of these skills within the framework of adult literacy and education objectives.

• Updated Goals for Adult Education:

  The updated goals specify assisting adults in becoming literate and obtaining skills—including digital literacy—that are necessary for employment and effective participation in all areas of life.

• Expanded Definitions:

  The definition of activities under the adult education program will now explicitly include digital skills alongside other educational activities, ensuring that they are recognized as part of the approach to adult education.

• Focus on Family Literacy:

  The bill emphasizes the need for digital literacy activities that support not only adults but also enable family members to enhance their skills in a way that supports children's learning.

• Proficiency in Digital Technology:

  It insists on the necessity for adults to reach a level of proficiency in digital skills that allows them to function effectively in their personal and professional lives.

Implementation and Funding

While the bill details the objectives and definitions regarding digital literacy, it does not specify how these changes will be funded or implemented. However, integrating these provisions into existing workforce and education systems ideally aims to provide a more comprehensive support network for adult learners.

Impact on Adult Education Programs

By formalizing digital literacy as an objective within adult education programs, the bill could lead various organizations offering adult education to adapt their curricula, training modules, and resources to meet this updated requirement. This could enhance the job readiness of many individuals and possibly lead to increased employment opportunities in a labor market that increasingly relies on digital skills.

Relevant Companies

• MSFT (Microsoft): Microsoft could see an increase in demand for its educational tools and resources as adult education programs incorporate more digital literacy training.
• AAPL (Apple): Apple’s products and educational programs aimed at improving digital skills could become further integrated into adult education initiatives.
• GOOGL (Alphabet - Google): Google’s suite of educational tools might experience heightened use as training for digital literacy becomes essential in adult education.