Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- 5. Distribution of Funds for Core Programs
Describe the methods and factors the State will use in distributing funds under the core programs in accordance with the provisions authorizing such distributions.
- 5. Distribution of Funds for Core Programs
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 5. B. i. Describe how the eligible agency will award multi-year grants or contracts on a competitive basis to eligible providers in the State, including how eligible agencies will establish that eligible providers are organizations of demonstrated effectiveness
Current Narrative:
The Vermont AOE will run competitions for its funds under WIOA Title II using the procedures established by the State of Vermont for awarding grants or contracts and the guidance available from WIOA regulations. The application to apply will be made available to all eligible providers on the Vermont AOE Website. The grant opportunity and availability of the application will be widely announced through AOE and other network list serves.
An eligible provider is an organization that has demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy activities and is eligible to apply for funds under WIOA Title II. An eligible provider may include, but is not limited to: a local educational agency; a community-based organization or faith-based organization; a volunteer literacy organization; an institution of higher education; a public or private nonprofit agency; a library; a public housing authority; a nonprofit institution with the ability to provide adult education and literacy activities to eligible individuals; a consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described above; and a partnership between an employer and an entity described above.
The AOE will determine an organization’s status as an eligible provider by obtaining performance data from the organization on its record of improving skills of eligible individuals, particularly those who have low levels of literacy. Prior to accepting full proposals, the Vermont AOE will request an intent to apply form from interested organizations. The AOE will take questions and provide technical assistance to eligible providers preparing proposals. All full proposals will be submitted directly to the AOE exclusively. Each eligible provider will submit a single proposal to the AOE to fund one or more of sections 225, 231, and 243 and to serve one or more counties. As required by WIOA Title I B, local adult education and literacy activity proposals will be reviewed by the State Workforce Development Board (SWDB) for alignment with the State plan using a procedure and rubric established by the SWDB and the Vermont AOE. Because Vermont operates as a Single State Local Area, local proposals will be reviewed by the SWDB for alignment.
The AOE will score responses from eligible providers using a rubric based on the 13 considerations for awarding grants or contracts as described in WIOA as pertinent to the proposed scope of work.
AEFLA funds will be distributed in compliance with the Vermont State Board of Education’s Funding Formula Rule. The formula links adult education and literacy funding to the need for services at the county level, is responsive to the needs of adults, and gives weight to populations most likely to demand services. The formula consists of three parts:
- Base of $30,000 to each county;
- 70% of balance for allocation on basis of statewide need - the need of the county relative to all counties in the state (State Need);
- 30% of balance allocated on basis of comparative density of need within each county (County Burden). Indicators of need for services, used in both the State Need and County Burden sections of the formula are:
- 15% … un- or under-employed persons without a high school diploma;
- 50% … persons 18 or older without a high school diploma;
- 20% … persons living at 125% of poverty
- 15% … persons in categories of offenders, mothers without high school diplomas, and for whom English is a second language.
Data for indicators are updated annually with the most current information available.
- Population: census data or most recent population estimates published by the Vermont Department of Health.
- Several data categories are based on census and therefore not updated annually:
- persons 18 or older without a high school diploma;
- persons living at 125% of poverty;
- persons for whom English is a second language.
- Data for three indicators is available on a more regular basis from other State agencies:
- un- or under-employed persons without a high school diploma;
- offenders;
- mothers without high school diplomas.
Funds will be awarded to eligible providers of adult education and literacy services on a basis of two years beginning July 1, 2021 for the purpose of establishing and operating programs that provide adult education and literacy activities within the service area of one or more particular counties. All providers will be subject to the same funding cycle. Providers will function as a required and valued partner in the regional AJC One-Stop Center Network, including as a partner in the development of regionally-relevant career pathways with specific entrance points for lower skilled adults.