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:
(i) Awarding Multi-Year Grants
The Eligible Agency administering Title II programs is Idaho Career & Technical Education. Title II funds are awarded on a competitive basis as multi-year grants to eligible providers, as described below. These competitions adhere to the provisions set forth in WIOA Title II, Section 203(5) - Eligible Providers, and Section 231 - Grants and Contract for Eligible Providers.
The application packet for Title II funds for Sections 231 (Adult Education and Literacy, English Language Acquisition Activities, and Integrated Education and Training), 225 (Corrections Education and the Education for Other Institutionalized Individual), and 243 (Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education) will be released in the spring of 2021. ICTE will provide technical assistance after the release of the application packet through in-person meetings and online webinars (to ensure statewide accessibility). All applications will be reviewed by a committee using a rubric, the scores to be used as a major consideration in awarding the final contracts, in addition to the review and input of the State Workforce Development Council (serving as Idaho’s local board).
Applicants will be notified of the ICTE’s decision, and awarded funds on July 1, 2021. Initial grants are awarded for a period of two years. Following this two-year period, grantees receiving funds under the initial competition are required to submit annual renewal plans and negotiate budgets and performance targets each year.
Because of Idaho’s large size, small population, and relatively low funding levels, the State provides grants for activities defined in Section 231 (Adult Education and Literacy, English Language Acquisition Activities, and Integrated Education and Training), on a regional basis, with one eligible provider per each of the State’s six service regions. A single applicant may apply for grants in multiple regions, but must submit separate applications for each, and each regional application will be reviewed and considered separately. The amount of available funds for each region is determined in advance, and is based on census data regarding low-skilled populations in each region, historical service levels of each region, and historical funding levels for each region.
Corrections education programs, as defined in Section 225 use the same application as defined above, but are exempt from the regional service provision, and may apply to serve larger or smaller geographic areas. The Section 225 funding amounts are based on historic service and funding levels of incarcerated programs, and shall not exceed statutory limitations, defined as 20% of funds available for local grants in the state.
The Integrated English Language and Civics programs funded under section 243 are exempt from the regional service provision. Section 243 grants may be awarded to multiple providers serving larger or smaller geographical areas than any of the six regions. The amount of funding available for activities under Section 243 for each state is determined at the national level by the US Department of Education.
All applicants may submit for grants under any or all sections 231, 225, and 243.
All applicants (or members of an applying consortium) must meet the requirements of an “eligible provider” defined in section 203(5) of Title II and which includes: 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 that is not listed in this paragraph but which has the ability to provide adult education and literacy activities to eligible individuals; or a consortium of or coalition of the eligible providers listed here.
Eligible providers must provide evidence of demonstrated effectiveness in providing services to improve the literacy of eligible individuals, skills in order to be considered in the grant application process.