Narrative: d.

The Colorado Department of Education Office of Adult Education Initiatives (AEI) will promote, support, and fund grantee Integrated English Literacy and Civics services This program will address the needs of Colorado’s large and growing immigrant population and other English language learners. The competition for Section 243 funds will require applicants to describe how each plans to provide English language acquisition and civics education concurrently and contextually. Applicants will be required to submit a narrative description of literacy and English language acquisition integrated with civics education that includes instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation. The proposed activities will be reviewed to ensure that they meet statutory requirements and scored according to a point-based scoring rubric after proving demonstrated effectiveness. Further, the competition will ask eligible providers to leverage partnerships for integration of workforce preparation activities and occupational components of integrated education and training in order to limit duplication of services and maximize Section 243 funds.

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Office of Adult Education Initiatives (AEI) will ensure direct and equitable access to grants and contracts and will use the same grant or contract process for all eligible providers in the state. Written proposals will be solicited through the formal request for application (RFA) which provides application procedures and forms to be completed by applicant organizations. Funding announcements will be placed on the CDE web site. All applicants will first complete an eligibility confirmation phase that follows the demonstrated effectiveness requirements outlined in 34 CFR §463.24. Once deemed eligible to apply because the provider has demonstrated effectiveness, the applicant will follow a detailed request for applications. Each application is evaluated by a team of trained reviewers. AEI will work with core partners and Combined State Plan partners to develop a communications/outreach plan to announce, inform, and provide technical assistance via publicly available Frequently Asked Questions and publicly available webinars to applicants across Colorado for Section 243 funds, alongside Section 231 and Section 225 funds.

In awarding grants or contracts for adult education and literacy activities to eligible providers, AEI will include the following 13 considerations outlined in WIOA Section 231(e):

1. The degree to which the eligible provider would be responsive to -
   1. Regional needs as identified in the local workforce development plan; and
   2. Serving individuals in the community who were identified in such plan as most in need of adult education and literacy activities, including individuals who -
      1. Have low levels of literacy skills; or
      2. Are English language learners;
2. The ability of the eligible provider to serve eligible individuals with disabilities, including eligible individuals with learning disabilities;
3. The past effectiveness of the eligible provider in improving the literacy of eligible individuals, especially those individuals who have low levels of literacy, and the degree to which those improvements contribute to the eligible agency meeting its State-adjusted levels of performance for the primary indicators of performance described in § 677.155;
4. The extent to which the eligible provider demonstrates alignment between proposed activities and services and the strategy and goals of the local plan under section 108 of the Act, as well as the activities and services of the one-stop partners;
5.  Whether the eligible provider's program -
   1. Is of sufficient intensity and quality, and based on the most rigorous research available so that participants achieve substantial learning gains; and
   2. Uses instructional practices that include the essential components of reading instruction;
6. Whether the eligible provider's activities, including whether reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, and English language acquisition instruction delivered by the eligible provider, are based on the best practices derived from the most rigorous research available, including scientifically valid research and effective educational practice;
7. Whether the eligible provider's activities effectively use technology, services and delivery systems, including distance education, in a manner sufficient to increase the amount and quality of learning, and how such technology, services, and systems lead to improved performance.
8. Whether the eligible provider's activities provide learning in context, including through integrated education and training, so that an individual acquires the skills needed to transition to and complete postsecondary education and training programs, obtain and advance in employment leading to economic self-sufficiency, and to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship;
9. Whether the eligible provider's activities are delivered by instructors, counselors, and administrators who meet any minimum qualifications established by the State, where applicable, and who have access to high-quality professional development, including through electronic means;
10. Whether the eligible provider coordinates with other available education, training, and social service resources in the community, such as by establishing strong links with elementary schools and secondary schools, postsecondary educational institutions, institutions of higher education, Local WDBs, one-stop centers, job training programs, and social service agencies, business, industry, labor organizations, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and intermediaries, in the development of career pathways;
11. Whether the eligible provider's activities offer the flexible schedules and coordination with Federal, State, and local support services (such as child care, transportation, mental health services, and career planning) that are necessary to enable individuals, including individuals with disabilities or other special needs, to attend and complete programs;
12. Whether the eligible provider maintains a high-quality information management system that has the capacity to report measurable participant outcomes (consistent with section § 666.100) and to monitor program performance; and
13. Whether the local area in which the eligible provider is located has a demonstrated need for additional English language acquisition programs and civics education programs.