WIOA State Plan Common Elements

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 several areas that include adult education and literacy activities – WIOA Title II (per 29 USC §3272); adult high school credit program/competency-based high school diploma program/adult secondary credit (ASC); corrections education and education for institutionalized individuals; integrated education and training activities (IETs); workforce education initiative (WEI); 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.  

DWD competes funds in accordance with 34 CFR section 463 Subpart C.

To be awarded WIOA Title II funds in Indiana, applicant organizations must be an eligible provider as defined by WIOA (per 29USC §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.  

Application materials include a separate data collection tool to ensure how past effectiveness is determined so that all eligible providers are treated fairly in grant competitions. Applicants that do not have performance data under WIOA section 116 may demonstrate previous effectiveness in servicing basic skills deficient eligible individuals, including evidence of success in achieving the outcomes listed above. In the case of applicants applying as a consortium, each member of a consortium must provide performance data to demonstrate effectiveness. Application materials clearly identify how many years of demonstrated effectiveness data an applicant must submit in the application.  

Indiana conducts its review of applicant eligibility to determine if an application is from an eligible provider of demonstrated effectiveness by utilizing a “yes” or “no” determination. The State screens each application to determine if it is from an eligible provider of demonstrated effectiveness and only applications that are determined to be from eligible providers of demonstrated effectiveness are forwarded for review, scoring, and consideration for funding. Similarly, all sub-recipient members must be determined to be an eligible provider of demonstrated effectiveness in order for the consortium application to be forwarded for review, scoring, and consideration for funding.  

Applicants that are determined to be ineligible for funding because they were not determined to be eligible providers of demonstrated effectiveness are notified.  

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, which is state-imposed, is used to meet the statutory GEPA plan required for all AEFLA funded sub-recipients. The State may also require additional State considerations to be completed. Failure to provide answers for the narrative portion of the application is grounds for non-consideration.  

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 and any State 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 2024 (July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025), and ending PY2029 (July 1, 2029, through June 30, 2030). After the initial year of this multi-year adult education grant award (PY2024), DWD requires sub-recipients apply for the renewal of funding through a non-competitive grant continuation for the following program years: PY2025; PY2026; PY2027; PY2028; PY2029.  

Funding is allocated and distributed at the state level as prescribed by Title II, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA):

1. Not less than 82.5 percent of the grant funds are dedicated for awards under section 231 and to carry out section 225, Programs for Corrections Education and Other Institutionalized Individuals, of which not more than 20 percent is available to carryout section 225;
2. Not more than 12.5 percent of the grant funds are applied to carryout state leadership activities under section 223; and
3. Not more than five percent of the grant funds are set aside for administrative expenses of the eligible agency.

In making initial award determinations during the first year of a multi-year grant, DWD will take into consideration each applicant’s:

1. Accomplishments and progress toward goals;
2. Capacity and efficiency in service delivery;
3. Gaps and barriers that limit participation; and
4. Employment and labor market demands.  

Based on state priorities, funding is prioritized and grants are awarded, in part, to: 

1. Organizations that have demonstrated effectiveness in improving the literacy of eligible individuals, especially participants who have low levels of literacy;
2. Organizations with services that are aligned with local workforce strategies, priorities, and partners; and
3. Organizations with services that are responsive to the needs of persons with barriers to employment.

Data is aggregated at the economic development regional level to determine the total amount of funds available for the region. Applicants apply for a region or a portion of the funds available in each region they intend to serve. To award funds, DWD considers the score and rank of proposals in a regional workforce area to allow for a diversity of programs geographically.

Total funding requested may vary depending upon program size, population (anticipated enrollment), demonstrated need, capacity, and number of subgrants within a service area. DWD distributes funding based on this review, attempting to fund as many applicants meeting minimum benchmarks in each area. State statute requires that at least 25 percent of the funding appropriated by the general assembly for adult education and literacy activities be used for workforce programming.

DWD reserves the right to award grant funds in amounts different from the applicant’s initial budget request. Adjustments may be based on how the proposed budget and budget narrative covers program expenses and whether the requested amount is proportionate to the number of participants projected or previously served based on previous performance.

For DWD to maintain the federally required Maintenance of Effort (MOE), Indiana requires that WIOA-funded Adult Education providers contribute a local match.  

In continuation years, the allocation of funds takes into account past performance as a basis for an increase or decrease in funds. Considerations include enrollment, measurable skills gains, high school equivalency attainment, and the number of industry-recognized credentials attained by students. Providers that achieve all or a percentage of state-defined performance goals may also qualify for additional funding for outstanding performance during a program year.

DWD reserves the right, prior to the finalization of awards, to make adjustments that support fair and equitable access to services. Applicants may be provisionally awarded funds. Providers may also receive technical assistance and professional development to improve program performance and may be required to submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP).

Final budgets may be negotiated and all subgrants are contingent and may change based on federal and state appropriations.

Other Requirements: Increased collaboration between Indiana Adult Education grant recipients and the local workforce development boards (LWDBs) is encouraged. The grant requires that LWDBs have an opportunity to review all applications submitted to DWD that propose to offer services within the local workforce development area. In Indiana’s RFA, entities must describe how the applicant plans to continually align its services with the workforce development regional plans (local plans) must also be included. The applicant organization’s relationship with the one-stop partners in the communities where it is applying for funding and how the applicant organization intends to work with one-stop partners to ensure the efficient delivery of adult education and literacy services to eligible individuals must be addressed. This includes plans for co-enrollment, referral services, and infrastructure costs. 

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 following the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants are also required to acknowledge compliance with the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA).