Narrative: d.

Through a competitive grant process, Missouri funds 3 IELCE programs. Missouri provides services to English language learners who are adults, including professionals with degrees and credentials in their native countries that enable such adults to achieve competency in the English language and acquire the basic and more advanced skills needed to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States. Services include instruction in literacy and English language acquisition and instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation, and may partner with Title I and other partners to provide workforce training.

IELCE is delivered in combination with IET activities.  IET opportunities available to IEL/CE students in Missouri are Forklift Driver, Commercial Sewing, CNA, Construction Trades, Hospitality, Sherwin Williams Painters, and Manufacturing.  To make these IETs possible, many partnerships have been created:  Job Corp, Housing Authority, Workforce Development, Community Colleges, Habitat for Humanity, and local hospitals.

Missouri requires all eligible providers for sections 225, 231, and 243 to use the same application process. This ensures that all applications are evaluated using the same rubric and scoring criteria.  Missouri ensures that all eligible providers have direct and equitable access to apply for grants or contracts.  Missouri also ensures that the same grant and contract announcement, application, and proposal process is used for all eligible providers through the grant management system.  Prior to submitting the applications, any eligible agency that contacts the state agency with an interest in participating will be provided the information needed.  Missouri believes that these approaches meet the requirements specified in AEFLA and ensure direct and equitable access.  Missouri will use the considerations specified in section 231(e) of WIOA to fund eligible providers by incorporating each of the considerations into the narrative portion of the application.  The state agency uses a point-based scoring rubric weighting each of the considerations.  Applicants must provide narrative detail to demonstrate how they will meet each consideration. 

Section 243 funds will be used to support the operational expenses of local IEL/CE programs, including teacher salaries and benefits, and instructional materials necessary to carry out instruction in English language acquisition, workforce preparation activities, and civics education.  IELCE programs will be expected to provide services in combination with Integrated Education and Training.  IELCE programs will be designed to prepare adults who are English language learners for, and place such adults in, unsubsidized employment in in-demand industries and occupations that lead to economic self-sufficiency and integrate with the local workforce development system to carry out the activities of the programs.  Once IEL/CE students’ English skills are at a level where they can be successful, it is expected that those seeking employment or post-secondary opportunities be either referred to the local Job Center or referred directly to employment or post-secondary. 

In addition to receiving instruction in civics and citizenship, Missouri’s IELCE students earn certifications in Forklift Driver, OSHA 10+, Commercial Sewing, Certified Nursing Assistance, Construction Trades, Medical Terminology, Phlebotomy, HIPPA, Certified Medical Assistant, Lead Awareness, Power Tools.  Most IELCE/IET students receive multiple certifications. 

However, preparing English learners for occupations that make for self-sufficiency is no small task.  For many IETs, it is necessary for students to be at a certain level of reading and comprehension/understanding prior to attending.  This is challenging, but our local programs continue to search for appropriate IETs and job opportunities that lead to self-sufficiency.

All of the 3 IELCE programs in Missouri work closely with the workforce development system.  All 3 program directors sit on the local workforce boards in their workforce region and work closely with the local job center.  IETs are developed in partnership with the local workforce development system.  IETs will be offered in manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality trades which are at the top of the industries in need of employees.  Local AEL staff attend local Workforce Board meetings and constantly promote IET programming.  Staff are on sub committees of the workforce board including Soft Skills committee and the Special Needs population committee.