Narrative:

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) ensures that no barriers exist that could impede equitable access or participation in the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), Title II of WIOA, in regard to gender, race national origin, color, disability, or age. 

Gender:  DESE-AEL ensures that all genders have equal access to participate in AEFLA programs at the local level.  DESE will work with local providers to ensure recruitment of all genders.

National origin/race/color:  Local applicants serve participants from diverse cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds.  Status updates from providers ensure a continued commitment to recruit and serve eligible individuals from diverse populations (national origin, race, color).  All activities, program components and published materials will remain free of bias of national origin, race, and color.

Disability:  Each applicant ensures program access and participation to all individuals regardless of disability.  All activities and published materials are free of bias regarding disabilities.  All providers make reasonable accommodations for disabled participants to ensure their full and equitable participation in AEFLA activities.  All entrances, restrooms, and offices are totally accessible to individuals with disabilities in order to ensure their equal access in AEFLA activities. 

Age:  Each applicant ensures program access and participation to all individuals regardless of age (for those age eligible). All activities and published materials are free of bias regarding age.

DESE-AEL will ensure that providers’ recruitment, intake, participation, and hiring practices are in compliance with GEPA.  Funded providers will ensure that AEFLA staff will recruit all eligible participants and not discriminate.   

Intake will be conducted with all eligible individuals to discuss and assess the educational needs and goals while addressing any questions about services provides.  The intake process will be used to place eligible individuals in appropriate AEFLA activities regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

All individuals will be able to participate in all AEFLA activities regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability.

Hiring process of local provider staff:  All providers are required to be an equal opportunity employer.  In adhering to this, providers will ensure equal opportunity hiring guidelines to ensure equal access in employment to all who apply for a position using AEFLA funds. 

On January 30, 2018, the Missouri Adult Educations state office required all adult education local programs to submit a short description of their plan to, or how they currently are, meeting GEPA, Section 427, requirements.  The description included how the local program addresses those barriers that are applicable to their program to ensure equitable access for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs as required in Section 427 of GEPA.  All responses from local programs have been received as of this date.

In addition to the above, the state will include in its on-site monitoring tool of local programs GEPA requirements to ensure adherence.  GEPA requirements will be included in future grant competitions