Narrative: c.

From funds made available under Section 222(a)(1), LCTCS, WorkReady U conducts a full and open competition specifically for Corrections Education funding (Section 225) that is consistent with the standards of 34 CFR 463 subpart C.   All activities funded under WIOA are authorized, approved, and administered by the LCTCS, WorkReady U. Applicants must establish that Section 225 funds are utilized to serve criminal offenders in a correctional institution as defined in WIOA as any prison, jail, reformatory, work farm, detention center, halfway house, community-based rehabilitation center, or any other similar institution designed for the confinement or rehabilitation of criminal offenders.

WorkReady U ensures that all eligible providers have direct and equitable access to apply and compete for grants. See Title I, Common Elements, (III.b.5.B.ii) Direct and Equitable Access. The grant competition is publicized through various print and electronic media throughout the state. Information is shared through the LCTCS communications office via posting on the LCTCS website and other means of available communication.

LCTCS uses the same application process for all eligible providers for sections 225, 231, and/or 243.  This ensures that all applications are evaluated using the same rubric and scoring criteria. LCTCS ensures that all eligible providers have direct and equitable access to apply for grants. 

As required in Section 427 of GEPA, each applicant provides a description of the agency’s process to ensure equitable access to and participation in, the WIOA, Title II adult education program for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs. LCTCS has approved state policies that provide for equal opportunity for all qualified persons without regard to disability in the recruitment of, admission to, accessibility to, participation in, treatment in, or employment in the programs and activities operated and sponsored by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

The review of proposals includes rating responses to the 13 considerations in Title II of WIOA in addition to the description of how programs will design academic programs to support the following services/activities:

1. Adult education and literacy activities;                   
   See VI.b – Local Activities, Federal Definitions, and Allowable Services/Activities.
2. Special education;                   
   Funded programs must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and partner with mandatory partners such as Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, and secondary partners, such as the Louisiana Department of Education to eliminate barriers to education and/or employment.
3. Secondary school credit;                   
   Title II resides under the jurisdiction of LCTCS while secondary school credit falls under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Education.  LCTCS partners with the Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) to ensure that all eligible students receive Title II educational services.  Funded programs must provide instructional services/activities that will prepare students to earn a high school equivalency credential.
4. Integrated education and training;
5. Career pathways;
6. Concurrent enrollment;                   
   See VI.b – Local Activities, Federal Definitions, and Allowable Services/Activities
7.  Peer tutoring;  and                 
   Funded programs provide training for specified offenders to serve as peer tutors in adult education and career and technical education (CTE) classes.
8. Transition to re-entry initiatives and other post-release services with the goal of reducing recidivism. Allowable activities to assist with reducing recidivism may include: (a) providing educational counseling and/or case management; (b) developing plans for post-release education program participation; (c) assisting students in identifying and applying for participation in post-release programs; and/or (d) performing direct outreach to community-based program providers on behalf of re-entering students. 

Funds may not be used for the cost of participation in post-release programs or services.

LCTCS will not use less than 82.5 percent of the grant funds to award grants and contracts under section 231 and to carry out section 225, Programs for Corrections Education and Other Institutionalized Individuals, of which not more than 20 percent of such amount shall be available to carry out section 225.

Through the RFP procurement process for Section 225 funding, described in the Common Elements: Distribution of Funds, the successful applicants must show demonstrated program effectiveness in serving eligible individuals and the ability to provide services that support correctional education activities as defined in WIOA.

Programs that do not meet established minimum standards in the first year are expected to demonstrate and document substantial improvement toward meeting those standards. Using the approved statewide data management system, monitoring results, and other documentation, WRU determines and applies requirements for program improvement in the subsequent grant cycles. Minimum standards are determined initially based on data collected during the first year and will be raised with each new grant cycle. Programs that do not demonstrate and document substantial improvements during each year of the multi-year grant cycle may not be eligible to receive funding in subsequent years of the cycle.

Each eligible provider that receives funds provided under section 225 to carry out a program for criminal offenders within a correctional institution shall prioritize serving individuals likely to leave the correctional institution within five (5) years of participation in the program.