Narrative: d.

Describe how the eligible agency will, using the considerations specified in section 231(e) of WIOA and in accordance with 34 CFR 463 subpart C, fund eligible providers to establish or operate Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) programs under section 243 of WIOA. Describe how adult English language learners, including professionals with degrees and credentials in their native countries, are served in IELCE programs.

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. Section 243 funds will be competed and will meet all the requirements of 34 CFR 463 subpart C. 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 website. 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. The request for applications asks grantees applying for IELCE funding to describe:

• The need in their local area for English literacy and civics education programs for English language learners, including data such as the current number of English language learners with degrees from other countries, local population percentage that are English language learners, etc.

• How the applicant’s IELCE services prepare adult English language learners, including those with professional degrees from other countries, with skills to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States, and how services specifically address advanced English literacy skills that will prepare learners for successful civic and workforce participation.
• How will the applicant identify regional in-demand industries and occupations around which to build IET programming, including references to reliable data sources such as local workforce development area plans, the Colorado Talent Pipeline Report, Colorado Labor Market Information Gateway, etc.
• The program’s plan for enrollment in IELCE including projected enrollment for IELCE, percentage of those anticipated to participate in an IET, and percentage of IET participants anticipated to complete an IET.
• How learners’ interests, skills and background will be matched with IET programming and how IELCE learners will be prepared to enter and advance along in-demand career pathways through IET
• Which workforce training programming will be offered as part of each IET supporting a career pathway and which industry recognized credentials will be awarded to participants upon completion of each IET program
• Which entity will provide the workforce training for each IET and if a training partner has not been identified, how the applicant will select and verify prior training success when identifying a provider.
• As applicable, what barriers prevent the applicant from partnering with a local training provider to provide workforce training and how the applicant will ensure adult education staff are properly trained and have capacity to provide training in the identified in-demand industry.
• What type of Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) instructional activities will be offered to support workforce training and how will they be contextualized for the specific industry of each planned IET and be offered concurrently with the workforce training.
• How workforce preparation activities will apply to the workforce training and AEL instruction for each IET.
• How the value of such IELCE services, including IET, will be marketed towards English language learners, including those with degrees from other countries?

The review of applications includes rating responses addressing the 13 considerations in Title II of WIOA and other factors that indicate the applicants’ ability to achieve WIOA performance outcomes. Awards will be made based on the scoring criteria outlined in the request for application and will be for a four-year grant cycle beginning in July of 2024.

Annually grantees receiving IELCE funding sign assurances that require:

• They use IELCE funds to serve only learners who are adult English language learners, including professionals with degrees and credentials in their native countries.
• They provide instruction which enables eligible 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, including instruction in literacy and English language acquisition, and instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation.
• They provide services that are 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 and its functions to carry out the activities of the program.
• They offer IET as a required service for IELCE and will complete the IET Assurances and Proposal indicating acceptance and execution of IET programming.
• The IET includes adult education and literacy activities as described in § 463.30, workforce preparation activities as described in § 463.34, and workforce training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster which can be any one of the training services defined in section 134(c)(3)(D) of the Act.
• They will complete the AEI’s IELCE Moodle Course at least once during the grant cycle.

AEI staff monitor grantee compliance with these requirements through a combination of reports, consultative calls, and virtual and on-site monitoring. AEI staff also regularly convene an IET community of practice to support IELCE grantees in the implementation of their IET programming and to facilitate the sharing of best and promising practices. 

Describe how the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education program under section 243(a) of WIOA will be offered in combination with integrated education and training activities found in 34 CFR section 463.36.

Grantees receiving IELCE funding in Colorado must provide Integrated Education and Training (IET) programming and may do so either by co-enrolling participants in an IET program that is funded from sources other than section 243 funds, or they may use section 243 funds to establish and operate an IET program. When completing the request for applications applicants must indicate if they will provide IET services by co-enrolling participants in an IET program that is funded from sources other than section 243 funds or if they will be using section 243 funds to establish and operate an IET program. They must respond to specific questions depending on the planned source of their IELCE funding. Annually grantees receiving IELCE funding sign assurances which outline the requirements 34 CFR section 463.36. They must also complete an IET toolkit, or proposal, further addressing the IET requirements to the AEI office for review and approval for each IET program they will offer. AEI staff monitor grantee compliance with these requirements through a combination of reports, consultative calls, and virtual and on-site monitoring. AEI staff also regularly convene an IET community of practice to support IELCE grantees in the implementation of their IET programming and to facilitate the sharing of best and promising practices.

Describe how the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education program under section 243(a) of WIOA will include instruction in literacy and English language acquisition and instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation

When completing the request for applications IELCE applicants must indicate how they will provide instruction in literacy and English language acquisition and instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation. Funded grantees must complete AEI’s IELCE Moodle Course and sign assurances which further reiterate these requirements. AEI staff monitor grantee compliance with these requirements through a combination of reports, consultative calls, and virtual and on-site monitoring. 

Describe how the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education program under section 243(a) of WIOA 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.

When completing the request for applications IELCE applicants must indicate how their programming will prepare adult English language learners, including those with professional degrees from other countries, with skills to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States, and how services specifically address advanced English literacy skills that will prepare learners for successful civic and workforce participation. Funded grantees must complete AEI’s IELCE Moodle Course and sign assurances which further reiterate these requirements. AEI staff monitor grantee compliance with these requirements through a combination of reports, consultative calls, and virtual and on-site monitoring.

Describe how the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education program under section 243(a) of WIOA will be designed to integrate with the local workforce development system and its functions to carry out the activities of the program.

In the RFA applicants must describe how they will identify regional in-demand industries and occupations around which to build IET programming, including references to reliable data sources such as local workforce development area plans, the Colorado Talent Pipeline Report, Colorado Labor Market Information Gateway, etc. Grantees receiving IELCE funding in Colorado must provide Integrated Education and Training (IET) programming and may do so either by co-enrolling participants in an IET program that is funded from sources other than section 243 funds, or they may use section 243 funds to establish and operate an IET program. When completing the request for applications applicants must indicate if they will provide IET services by co-enrolling participants in an IET program that is funded from sources other than section 243 funds or if they will be using section 243 funds to establish and operate an IET program. They must respond to specific questions depending on the planned source of their IELCE funding. AEI encourages grantees to partner with WIOA partners to provide the workforce training component of IET programs to decrease duplication of training efforts and to maximize approaches to service delivery. AEI requires IET providers to identify partnerships and define partner roles through the submission of the IET toolkit, or proposal.