Adult Education - Basic Grants to States

 

To fund local programs of adult education and literacy services, including workplace literacy services, family literacy services, and English literacy and integrated English literacy-civics education programs. Participation in these programs is limited to adults and out-of-school youths aged 16 and older who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent and who are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in a secondary school under State law. See 29 U.S.C. 3271.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
84.002
Federal Agency/Office
Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of Education
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
A - Formula Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2017 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2019 No Current Data Available.
Authorization
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, (AEFLA), (Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)), 29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Formula grants are made to designated eligible State agencies that under State law are responsible for administering or supervising statewide policy for adult education and literacy, including such entities as State educational agencies (SEAs), postsecondary agencies, or workforce agencies. State agencies must provide direct and equitable access to: local educational agencies; public or private nonprofit agencies; community-based organizations of demonstrated effectiveness; institutions of higher education; volunteer literacy organizations of demonstrated effectiveness; libraries; public housing authorities; nonprofit institutions not described above that have the ability to provide literacy services to adults and families; and consortia of the entities described above.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Adults and out-of-school youths who are 16 years of age and older, who are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under State law, and who lack sufficient mastery of basic educational skills to enable them to function effectively in society or do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and have not achieved an equivalent level of education, or are unable to speak, read, or write the English language.
Credentials/Documentation
Certification required. The State plan must include a certification from a State official that all provisions and amendments thereto are consistent with WIOA. OMB Circular No. A-87: Yes OMB Circular No. A-21: Yes OMB Circular No. A-122: Yes
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Application: Yes OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program: Yes Program is covered under OMB Circular No. A-110: No Each State desiring to receive funds under this program shall submit and have approved a WIOA unified State plan or a WIOA combined State plan.
Award Procedure
Electronic transfer.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 60 to 90 days.
Appeals
States are afforded an opportunity for hearings.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
WIOA lists specific performance measures on which States are assessed. These include: demonstrated improvements in literacy skill levels in reading, writing, and speaking the English language, numeracy, problem-solving, English language acquisition and other literacy skills; placement in, retention in, or completion of postsecondary education, training, unsubsidized employment, or career advancement; receipt of a high school diploma or its equivalent; other objective, quantifiable measures, as identified by the State agency. Not more than 12.5 percent of the State allotment may be used for State leadership activities, including professional development; 82.5 percent or more of the State allotment must be used to support local programs and corrections education and other institutionalized individuals. Not more than 20 percent of the State allotment may be used for correctional education and other institutionalized individuals; not more than 5 percent or $85,000, whichever is greater, of the State allotment may be used for State administrative costs. AEFLA reserves a portion of the program's appropriation for English literacy and civics education services to immigrants and other limited English proficient populations. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 76.564-76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on 202-708-7770.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Performance Monitoring: Annual Financial and Program Performance Reports in accordance with the provisions in EDGAR.
Auditing
2 CFR 200, "Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards," applies to this program.
Records
In accordance with Section 443 of the General Education Provisions Act, grantees must maintain records for 3 years from the date of submission of the final Financial Status Report.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (P.L. 113-128), Title II, Subtitle A, section 211(c). The statute requires the Department to make an initial allotment of $250,000 to each State and $100,000 to each Outlying Area, and to distribute remaining funds on the basis of each State’s share of qualifying adults. Qualifying adults are defined as individuals aged 16 and older who lack a high school diploma or the equivalent, who are beyond the age of compulsory education in their States, and who are not currently enrolled in school. The statute includes a “hold-harmless” provision ensuring that each State receives at least 90 percent of its previous year’s allocation. If funding is insufficient to satisfy the hold-harmless provision, each State receives the same proportion of available funding as in the previous year.

Matching is voluntary. To receive a grant, States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico must provide a nonfederal contribution in an amount equal to 25 percent of the total amount of funds expended for adult education and literacy activities in the State. To receive a grant, eligible outlying agencies must provide a nonfederal contribution in an amount equal to 12 percent of the total amount of funds expended for adult education and literacy activities. The program has a non-supplanting requirement, and therefore the applicant must use a restricted indirect cost rate, which is referenced under 34 CFR 76 564-76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer / Indirect Cost Group on 202-708-7770 .

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: The fiscal effort per student or the aggregate expenditures of each eligible agency for activities under this program, in the second preceding fiscal year, must be not less than 90 percent of the fiscal effort per student or the aggregate expenditures of such eligible agency for adult education and literacy activities in the third preceding fiscal year.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds must be obligated by grantees within 27 months of their date of availability. States draw funds as needed under the Electronic Transfer System. Contact the program office for this information.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Cheryl Keenan
Potomac Center Plaza
550 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024 US
cheryl.keenan@ed.gov
Phone: (202) 245-6836.
Website Address
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/index.html
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0400-0-1-501
Obligations
(Formula Grants) FY 18$616,955,000.00; FY 19 est $641,955,000.00; FY 20 est $485,849,000.00; FY 17$581,955,000.00; FY 16$581,955,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
FY18: $12,158-$100,012,921; $10,637,155 average. FY19: $10,942-$103,037,992; $11,068,190 average. FY20: $9,848-$77,509,220; $8,376,707 average.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Parts 462 and 463 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2017 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2019 No Current Data Available.

 


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