What a remarkable Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFL) Week in Indiana! From north to south, communities across the state joined together to recognize the life-changing power of adult education.

This year, we were honored to receive proclamations from Governor Mike Braun and several mayors across Indiana who proudly declared September 14–20, 2025, as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week in their cities. These proclamations highlight adult education’s critical role in strengthening our workforce, supporting families, and building vibrant communities.

Each proclamation serves as a public acknowledgment of the dedication of adult educators and the perseverance of adult learners who are transforming their lives through education. It’s a powerful reminder that learning truly is for everyone, at every age and stage.

We carried that spirit of celebration right into our 2025 IAACE Conference, where the energy of AEFL Week was still buzzing. During the Showcase Session, we proudly highlighted the statewide proclamations, shared photos and stories from local celebrations, and applauded the collective success of our programs. It was a moment of pride for everyone in the room — a chance to see how our local advocacy and community partnerships are making a real difference.

📺 Watch the 2025 IAACE Conference Showcase Session: Showcase Session Video

AEFL Week reminded us all that adult education changes lives. Together, we are creating opportunities, breaking barriers, and shaping stronger futures for Indiana.

A special shoutout goes to the cities whose mayors joined in the celebration by issuing AEFL Week proclamations — including Indianapolis, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Greenfield, Jeffersonville, Kendallville, LaPorte, New Albany, and Warsaw — along with several other communities across the state. Your support shines a spotlight on the power of adult education and its impact in every corner of Indiana.

We also shared some exciting news during AEFL Week! Every member’s program received a complimentary membership to ProLiteracy, a wonderful resource for professional growth, access to materials, and national networking opportunities. To keep the celebration of literacy going, we proudly announced the launch of the 2025 IAACE Essay Contest, inviting adult learners to share their stories of transformation through education.

👉 Learn more about the IAACE Essay Contest

📸 Check out our AEFL Week Showcase Gallery!
Relive the moments, see the proclamations, and celebrate the people who make adult education thrive across Indiana.

We will close with IAACE winning the COABE AEFL Week Social Media Influencer Award. Thanks to all programs that shared posts!

NATIONAL AEFL WEEK

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week

Early Steps to Planning:
1. Request Mayor Proclamations

2. Update your Organization’s Profile on National Literacy Directory (NLD.org) and COABE #MoveAheadWithAdultEd (https://moveaheadwithadulted.org/)

3. Easy peasy way? To get all you need from COABE, click here.

4. Roll out the IAACE Essay Contest to your Adult Learners.

5. Connect your Business Partners to the week.

Ways to Participate

Step 1: Check your Listing on the National Literacy Directory, also check your profile on Indiana Adult Education Locations list and COABE

Step 2: Engage your Legislators.

Resources

Source:  coabe.org/action-items-for-state-leaders/

Step 3: News Release

Write a news release and distribute it on social media, local television, and radio stations.

NEWS RELEASE Example from 2021

Step 4: Schedule your social media!

#AEFLweek, or Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, celebrates and brings awareness to Adult Ed’s value to whole communities and families. Improving a parent’s literacy can have generational benefits– increasing the parent’s involvement in their child’s schooling and the literacy levels of their children. Some people, such as our partners, students, or funders, may not know the full value of adult and continuing education, and #AEFLweek is our opportunity to educate people about the value that Adult Education brings to all. Please visit Indiana Adult Education’s new Social Media Library to find ready-made posts, stats, and more for your organization to use and share during #AEFLweek and spread the word about the community benefits that Adult Education offers.

Tools:  Facebook Meta Business Suite, Buffer, Hootsuite

See the resources to the right from DWD, COABE and ProLiteracy. If you would like to include the iaace logo, we encourage you. Right-click on the image below and ‘save  image as.’

Step 5: Share your successes and student success stories!

To share your Advocacy success, click here.

For student success stories click here

Step 6: Utilize all the resources from our collaborating organizations to lighten your load!

If you need help finding something, use the search feature or pop-up box from Jenn Wigginton or Ask for help!

Follow us:

https://www.facebook.com/IAACE

https://www.instagram.com/iaace_indiana/

https://x.com/iaace

https://www.linkedin.com/company/iaace/

COABE Resources

Dear COABE Members,

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (AEFL Week) is right around the corner—September 14–20, 2025. This is our moment to celebrate adult learners, advocate for programs, and showcase the transformative power of adult education. Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Share the Faces of Adult Education
Highlight the real stories behind adult education by participating in COABE‘s Faces of Adult Education campaign. Submit student success stories, share testimonials, and use the ready-to-go graphics to spotlight the incredible impact of adult learning. These stories make adult education personal, relatable, and shareable. Learn more.

2. Engage in Virtual and Local Activities
AEFL Week offers both virtual and in-person opportunities. From webinars to community events, you can join or host activities that celebrate adult education. Register for events and access planning resources on the AEFL Week page. Explore AEFL Week resources.

3. Advocate for Adult Education
Your voice matters. Encourage local officials to issue proclamations recognizing AEFL Week, share these on social media, and use COABE’s toolkit to contact legislators. Don’t forget the Educate & Elevate America Pledge, aiming for 1 million signatures to show widespread support. Access the advocacy toolkit.

4. Use Social Media
Social media is a key way to amplify AEFL Week. Post your stories, photos, videos, and event highlights on your channels using #AEFLWeek and #FacesOfAdultEd.

5. Participate in the LOCAL Initiative
Through LOCAL (Leveraging Opportunities for Career Advancement and Learning), align adult education with workforce needs. Connect with local employers, explore apprenticeship opportunities, and integrate career readiness into your programs to support learners in gaining skills that matter.

6. Additional Tools & Campaigns

  • Move Ahead With Adult Ed Toolkit: Promote your program, update your information on the locator map, and join the national awareness campaign. Access the toolkit.
  • Educate & Elevate America Pledge: Sign to show your support for adult education.
    Sign the pledge.
  • Submit Your Event to the COABE Padlet: COABE is also hosting a Padlet where members can share activities, success stories, and creative ideas for AEFL Week. This is a great way to inspire others and see what programs across the country are doing. Send an email to padlet@coabe.org to submit your event today!

Let’s come together to celebrate, advocate, and share during AEFL Week. Your stories and participation make a real impact in raising awareness of adult education in communities nationwide.

In Partnership,


Sharon Bonney
Chief Executive Officer
COABE

We got this! #AEFLWeek2025 #AdultEducation Movement Together we succeed! #MoveAheadWithAdultEd Engage!

Be a part of #AEFLWeek

Need Help? Ask.

Get Help!

INDIANA Resources:

Advocacy Toolkit:

Advocacy Tools

ENGAGE Your Legislatures:

COABE Take Action – 3 Clicks

Proclamation Help: Want to submit a request to your Mayor?

  1. Go to your City’s website and search for proclamation request or do a search for your city name and proclamation request. If you don’t have a mayor, you may also ask a city/county council.
  2.  Complete the request with your name and information, and use the statements we created. Click here for a sample mayor’s proclamation.
  3. Let IAACE know that you requested!

Social Media Images and Videos

COABE- Social Media Graphics

IN DWD – Indiana Adult Education Site of Graphics

IAACE Social Media for Indiana Adult Education

If you need assistance alternating any graphics, IAACE can help!

COABE SPARK SHEET

Be sure to tag @COABE and use #COABEontheHill2025 #COABE2024 #AdultEducation #AdultEdLiteracyWeek #AEFL2025  #AEFLWeek #IAACE #COABE

Hashtags to copy and paste

#AEFL2025 #IAACE #COABEFloodtheHill2025 #AdultEd2025 #AdultEdLiteracyWeek #INAdultEd #AdultEducation #AEFLWeek #AEFL

#  Don’t forget your organizations! #

Celebrating AEFL Week Success Across Indiana! 

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AEFL Week is September 14-20

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DWD/Indiana Adult Education

Adult Ed By the Numbers

Infographic

Success Stories

Social Media Library

Need a quick, easy plan?

ProLiteracy Resources

Adult Literacy Facts

Annual Statistical Report

Advocacy Toolkit

AEFL Week Artwork and Fact Sheet

ProLiteracy and National Coalition for Literacy have developed a fact sheet and a logo to help programs and individuals participate in the promotion of adult education and family literacy.

  • The Fact Sheet is a .pdf and can be printed or shared online to provide valuable insight able the facts, the need, and the benefits related to adult education and family literacy.
  • The AEFL Week logo can be added to your websites, social media posts, marketing materials, and more.

NATIONAL AEFL WEEK

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week raises public awareness about the need for and value of adult education and family literacy. Its goal is to increase financial and societal support for access to basic education programs for U.S. adults with low literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. Advocates across the country use this opportunity to elevate adult education and family literacy nationwide with policymakers, the media, and the community.

AEFL WEEK DATES AND ACTIVITIES

In 2024, National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week will be observed from September 15 to September 21. NCL’s AEFL Week activities will focus on the pivotal role of adult education in enabling equitable access to societal resources, employment opportunities, and full participation in community life.

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

BACKGROUND

National AEFL Week originated in 2009 when the National Coalition for Literacy worked with then-Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), then-Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to create a Congressionally-recognized designation that would draw attention to the importance of adult education and family literacy. Since then, NCL has sponsored National AEFL Week in September each year on behalf of its members and the field as a whole and has worked with Members of Congress to have the week recognized through resolutions in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Social Media Resources