Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Program

Adult education;

Literacy;

Workplace adult education and literacy activities;

Family literacy activities;

English language acquisition activities;

Integrated English literacy and civics education;

Workforce preparation activities; or

Integrated education and training that—

1. Provides adult education and literacy activities, concurrently and contextually with both, workforce preparation activities, and workforce training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster, and
2. Is for the purpose of educational and career advancement.
    
   Special Rule. Each eligible agency awarding a grant or contract under this section shall not use any funds made available under this title for adult education and literacy activities for the purpose of supporting or providing programs, services, or activities for individuals who are under the age of 16 and are enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under State law, except that such agency may use such funds for such purpose if such programs, services, or activities are related to family literacy activities. In providing family literacy activities under this title, an eligible provider shall attempt to coordinate with programs and services that are not assisted under this title prior to using funds for adult education and literacy activities under this title for activities other than activities for eligible individuals.
    
   The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) solicits applications and proposals from entities eligible to receive WIOA Title II funds. Applicants can apply for funding in the following areas: Adult Education and Literacy Activities – WIOA Title II (per 29 USC §3272); Adult High School Credit Program/Adult Secondary Credit (ASC); Corrections Education and Education for Institutionalized Individuals; Integrated Education and Training Activities (IETs); Workforce Education Initiative (WEI); Professional Development Facilitator Network; and/or Indiana Online Only Distance Education.
    
   An eligible individual is an individual who is 16 years of age or older; who is not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law; who is basic skills deficient; does not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and has not achieved an equivalent level of education; or is an English language learner.
    
   To be awarded WIOA Title II funds in Indiana, applicant organizations must be an eligible provider as defined by WIOA (per 29 USC §3272). An applicant must be able to demonstrate past effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy activities before the applicant can be considered an eligible applicant. Data which demonstrate the applicant’s effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy services include evidence of eligible individuals’ academic gains (reading, writing, mathematics, or English language acquisition), employment outcomes, family literacy, attainment of secondary credentials, transitions to postsecondary education, and workforce training.

   In the state’s multi-year adult education competitive grant application (request for application), all applicant organizations should complete all questions listed under each consideration (I-XIII, XIV) regardless of the type(s) of funding the applicant is seeking. All applicant organizations should address Consideration XIV [General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)]. Considerations I-XIII represent the thirteen statutory considerations DWD must consider when awarding WIOA Title II funds, while Consideration XIV is used to meet the statutory GEPA plan required for all AEFLA funded sub-recipients. Failure to provide answers for the narrative portion of the application is grounds for non-consideration.

   In order to fund eligible providers, a rubric is utilized to score the narrative section for the thirteen considerations. Review teams utilize a 0-5 point Likert Scale to score the quality of each response. Reviewers provide notes or commentary to justify the score, provide brief details of what the applicant omitted or missed, and brief descriptions of anything “positive” about the application.

   5 - Excellent; Applicant’s response clearly demonstrates an understanding of the question, the consideration, and the challenges and expectations of an adult education provider.

   4 - Good; Applicant’s answer does a good job of generally providing support for its claims and demonstrates what would be expected out of a good adult education provider.

   3 - Adequate; Applicant’s response demonstrates some understanding, though this understanding may have to be inferred, of the question, consideration, and the challenges and expectations of an adult education provider

   2 - Poor; Answer is not well supported, and does not demonstrate what would be expected out of an adult education provider

   1 - Bad; Answer lacks any context or support, and in no way demonstrates what would be expected out of an adult education provider

   0 - Incomplete; Applicant made no attempt to answer the question

   DWD utilizes overall scores, quality of grant submissions, and responses to the thirteen considerations to fund eligible providers. Additionally, the state reviews funding requests and proposed service delivery areas to ensure that every county in the state is covered. 

   DWD awards multi-year adult education grants on a competitive basis, beginning with program year (“PY”) 2020 (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021), and ending PY2023 (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024). After the initial year of this multi-year adult education grant award (PY2020), DWD requires sub-recipients apply for the renewal of funding through a non-competitive grant continuation RFA for the following program years: PY2021; PY2022; and PY2023.  

   Renewals will be made on a program-by-program basis and will be contingent on the sub-recipient’s ability to (1) Successfully implement the terms of the grant; (2) Meet both state and federal performance expectations; and (3) Provide demonstrated value to the community the sub-recipient serves. Funding for future grant continuations will be based on program performance. DWD reserves the right to hold a new competitive grant competition  

3. Funds awarded to applicants are based on three levels of data:

1. The number of WIOA Title II eligible Hoosiers who lack a secondary school diploma (HSD or HSE);
2. The number of Hoosiers utilizing state and federal programs administered by Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration (“FSSA”); and
3. The number of enrollments in WIOA Title II programs in the previous year.
    
   We encourage increased collaboration between Adult Education grant recipients and the local Workforce Development Boards.
    
   County level data is aggregated at the economic development regional level; this determines the total amount of funds available for the region. Applicants must apply for a region or a portion of the funds available in each region they intend to serve.
    
   Funding for future grant continuations is based on program performance. DWD allows funding to be passed through a sub-recipient to subcontracted service provider(s). No more than 5% of the total amount awarded to grantees can be used by the grantee shall be used for administrative and non-instructional purposes. For DWD to maintain the federally-required Maintenance of Effort (MOE), Indiana requires that WIOA-funded Adult Education providers contribute a local match.
    

Other Requirements: The grant requires that local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) be given an opportunity to review all applications submitted to DWD that propose to offer services within the WDB’s workforce development area. Any recipient of funds awarded must provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals (both employees and students) with disabilities, unless that accommodation would represent an undue burden in the exercising of the responsibilities of the sub-recipient to deliver adult education and literacy activities. Accepting an award is an acknowledgement that the grant recipient is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants are also required to acknowledge compliance with the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA).