Narrative: b.

The ACCS Adult Education Office is Alabama’s eligible agency for adult education and is responsible for the administrative and programmatic oversight of the Title II AEFLA funds distributed to eligible, competitively selected providers. Under WIOA, ACCS Adult Education eligible providers’ services may include all of the following: • adult education and literacy; • workplace adult education and literacy; • family literacy; • English language acquisition; • Integrated English literacy and civics education; • workforce preparation; • integrated education and training.

ACCS Adult Education will focus on expanding low-skilled individuals’ access to career pathways in high-demand occupations. With this focus, the integrated education and training (IET) activities and the contextualized curriculum and materials used for IET will be aligned to Alabama’s College and Career Readiness standards for ELA/Literacy, science, and math. In addition, workforce preparation activities will align to OCTAE’s Employability Skills Framework, and any occupational training components provided will be based on business and industry standards. ACCS Adult Education will solicit requests for funding proposals from eligible providers as defined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) law to serve the eligible adult education population who: • have attained 16 years of age; AND • are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under State law; and meet one of the following • are basic skills deficient; OR • do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and have not achieved an equivalent level of education; or, • are English Language Acquisition learners. The eligible entities selected will provide academic instruction and education services below the postsecondary level that increase an individual’s ability to: • read, write and speak the English language and perform mathematics or other activities necessary for the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; • transition to postsecondary education and training; and, • obtain sustainable employment. Eligible entities may include the following organizations, provided they have demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy services: 1) Local education agencies 2) Community–based or Faith–based organizations 3) Volunteer literacy organizations 4) Institution of Higher Education/Learning 5) Public or private nonprofit agencies 6) Libraries 7) Public housing authorities 8) Nonprofit institutions that are not described in (1) through (7) and have the ability to provide literacy services to adults 9) Consortiums of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described in 1 through 8. Ineligible applicants would be characterized as the following: • Applicants that are not compliant with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or those applicants that discriminate on the basis of nationality, origin, race, gender, religion, or handicap; • Applicants that lack evidence of the capability of stable fiscal control; • Applicants that lack assurance that religious restrictions will not be violated; • Applicants that lack qualified staff, facilities, and equipment. In accordance with federal law, supplanting federal dollars for state and local dollars is prohibited. ACCS Adult Education state office will distribute funds in accordance to the following process: 1) Not less than 82.5 percent of the grant funds to award grants and contracts under section 231 and to carryout section 225, Programs for Corrections Education and Other Institutionalized individuals, of which not more than 20 percent of such amount shall be available to carryout section 225; 2) Shall not use more than 12.5 percent of the grant funds to carryout state leadership activities under section 223; and 3) Shall not use more than 5 percent of the grant funds for administrative expenses of the eligible agency. Funding will be allocated and distributed according to the process described in the Title II distribution of funds Common Elements section. Funding will be awarded and distributed to eligible local entities for the provision of adult education services through a competitive Request for Funding Proposal (RFP) process. The criteria will include meeting the eligibility requirements, a proven record of demonstrated effectiveness, and a plan that will align with all of the requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The state review team will have representation from the local workforce investment boards and the core partners. This will aid in the selection of high quality providers that can be successful in meeting the goals and needs within the state, regional, and local area. Grants will be awarded on a multi–year three year basis contingent upon annual performance. The ACCS, Adult Education office will ensure that all eligible providers have direct and equitable access to apply and compete for grants. The grant competition will be publicized through a variety of print and electronic media throughout the state. Notification of the Request for Funding Proposal (RFP) release will be published in the statewide newspapers and sent to the local media outlets. The information will also be posted on the ACCS website and other means of available communication such as social media. Federal Definitions In Alabama, adult education means academic instruction and education services below the postsecondary level that increase an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak in English and perform mathematics or other activities necessary for the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; transition to postsecondary education and training; and obtain employment. In Alabama, eligible individual means an individual who has attained 16 years of age; who is not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under State law; and who– is basic skills deficient; does not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and has not achieved an equivalent level of education; or is an English language learner. In Alabama, literacy means an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak in English, compute, and solve problems, at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual, and in society. In Alabama, workplace adult education and literacy activities means adult education and literacy activities offered by an eligible provider in collaboration with an employer or employee organization at a workplace or an off–site location that is designed to improve the productivity of the workforce. In Alabama, family literacy activities means activities that are of sufficient intensity and quality, to make sustainable improvements in the economic prospects for a family and that better enable parents or family members to support their children’s learning needs, and that integrate all of the following activities: (A) Parent or family adult education and literacy activities that lead to readiness for postsecondary education or training, career advancement, and economic self–sufficiency. (B) Interactive literacy activities between parents or family members and their children. (C) Training for parents or family members regarding how to be the primary teacher for their children and full partners in the education of their children. (D) An age–appropriate education to prepare children for success in school and life experiences. See Special Rule for Family Literacy. Special Rule: The Alabama Community College System, Adult Education Office will 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 the 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, Adult Education will 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.