Located in:
- Program-specific Requirements for Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Programs
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the following as it pertains to adult education and literacy programs and activities under title II of WIOA, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA).
- b. Local Activities
Describe how the State will, using the considerations specified in section 231(e) of WIOA, fund each eligible provider to establish or operate programs that provide any of the following adult education and literacy activities identified in section 203 of WIOA, including programs that provide such activities concurrently. The Unified or Combined State Plan must include at a minimum the scope, content, and organization of these local activities.
- b. Local Activities
b. Adult Education and Literacy Activities (Section 203 of WIOA)
- 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—
- 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
- 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.
Current Narrative:
Previous Grant Competition
OAE provides AEFLA grant funds to local providers through a competitive application process. In May 2017, OAE awarded grants to 31 providers throughout Georgia. Of these 31 providers, 27 offered adult basic education and secondary education, 25 offered English language acquisition programs, and 10 offered Integrated English Language and Civics education. 30 providers offered workplace preparation activities, as well as integrated education and training (one program was terminated in December 2019 for noncompliance). In addition, all providers offered at least two activities concurrently.
Current Grant Competition
Application Process, Structure & Allowable Activities
In late January/early February 2020, OAE opened its new competitive Request for Applications (RFA) and plans to award grants to providers in May 2020. Under this RFA, applicants can apply for a General Adult Education Grant and/or an Integrated English Language & Civics Education (IELCE) Grant. Grant recipients will receive funding for a four-year period, from July 2020 to June 2024, contingent upon an annual renewal process.
In accordance with WIOA 231(c), OAE will ensure all eligible providers have equitable access to apply and compete for adult education funding by announcing the grant opportunities in the legal organ of each Georgia county as well as by using the same application and review process for all general adult education applicants and IELCE applicants, respectively.
OAE has structured its application process to ensure the local providers it funds establish and operate programs that provide the adult education and literacy activities identified in WIOA Section 203. The chart below details each grant opportunity, including its funding stream(s) and the activities it will fund.
| Grant Opportunity | Funding Source(s) | Allowable Activities |
|---|---|---|
| General Adult Education Grant | WIOA Sections 231 and 225 State Matching Funds |
|
| Integrated English Language & Civics Education (IELCE) Grant | WIOA Section 243 |
|
The application also contains questions targeted at ensuring each applicant explains which activities they will offer, how they will implement those activities, and how they know those activities will meet their students’ and region’s needs.
Alignment to the 13 Considerations
Both the General Adult Education Grant and the IELCE Grant applications are structured to gather information related to the 13 considerations as specified in WIOA section 231(e), as well as to ensure that applicants only use AEFLA grant funds to serve eligible individuals as specified in WIOA section 203(4). The below chart details the application structure, including which sections align with which considerations.
| Application Structure | |
|---|---|
| Section | WIOA Consideration(s) |
| Program Overview | 1, 4, 13 |
| Staffing | 9 |
| The Student Experience | 11 |
| Instructional Plan | 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 |
| Partnerships | 4, 10, 11 |
| Past Effectiveness | 2, 3 |
| Data, Outcomes & Continuous Improvement | Required information per Section 232(4) |
| Budget | Required information per section 232(1) |
| Family Literacy Supplement | |
| Corrections Supplement |
Reviewers will evaluate and score each application using a rubric that aligns with the 13 considerations listed in WIOA Section 231(e). OAE will use these scores, along with the feedback it receives from the local workforce development board (LWDB) review as required by 107(d)(11)(B), to make its final funding decisions.