Narrative: e. 1.

The Office of Adult Education will use funds made available under section 222(a)(2) for the following adult education and literacy activities to develop or enhance the adult education system of the State. Not more than 12.5 percent of the grant funds made available will be used to carry out State leadership activities under section 223.

A) The alignment of adult education and literacy activities with other core programs and one-stop partners, including eligible providers, including the development of career pathways to provide access to employment and training services for individuals in adult education and literacy activities.

The Office of Adult Education will work collaboratively with other core programs and partner agencies to provide comprehensive and wraparound services to program participants. Adult Education will provide resources and services through One-Stop Centers (including intake/orientation for Adult Education services, and transition resources), referral processes, and other joint mechanisms developed through agency partnerships. Adult Education will be responsible for the development and implementation of the Smart Start Pathway which will include assessment and instruction in basic skills, necessary skills and career exploration.

B) The establishment and operation of high quality professional development programs to improve the instruction provided pursuant to required local activities, including instruction incorporating the essential components of reading instruction as such components relate to adults, instruction related to the specific needs of adult learners, instruction provided by volunteers or by personnel, and dissemination of information about models and promising practices related to such programs.

The Office of Adult Education (OAE) will provide targeted professional development based upon a statewide needs assessment, research regarding best practices, and federal recommendations. The Office of Adult Education will survey local providers to ascertain areas in which there may be a gap in knowledge or a need for improvement. From these results, the OAE will coordinate and execute broad-based training through a variety of modalities to assist program leaders and teachers in areas such as program improvement, instructional techniques, integrated education and training, college and career readiness standards, transition to postsecondary education and employment, and the infusion of technology into instruction. Professional Development may include:

• An annual operations meeting, wherein local program administrators are given an overview of changes in policy and related practices, budget management, and reporting requirements;
• An annual statewide professional development conference for a variety of adult education personnel;
• Regional institutes to address instructional needs in the areas of adult education and literacy, ELA, EL/Civics, and more; and
• Webinars/Teleconferences.

C) The provision of technical assistance to eligible providers of adult education and literacy activities receiving funds under this title, including— 1. The development and dissemination of instructional and programmatic practices based on the most rigorous or scientifically valid research available and appropriate, in reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, English language acquisition programs, distance education, and staff training; 2. The role of eligible providers as a one-stop partner to provide access to employment, education, and training services; and 3. Assistance in the use of technology, including for staff training, to eligible providers, especially the use of technology to improve system efficiencies.

The Office of Adult Education will deliver technical assistance to eligible providers to enhance program effectiveness, increase the ability of providers to meet established performance standards, and fulfill obligations associated with being a one-stop partner. The OAE will provide professional development/technical assistance via phone, webinar, teleconference, on-site training, and seminars. Targeted technical assistance will focus on areas of national interest such as recruitment and intake, student engagement, data management and reporting, testing procedures, and transition to postsecondary education and employment. To ensure that local providers are adequately equipped to foster continuous improvement and maintain an ability to meet the needs of Mississippi’s workforce, OAE will:

1. Deliver technical assistance to increase the ability of instructors to provide impactful instruction and obtain desired results in key areas—including reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, English language acquisition programs, and distance education. Technical assistance will incorporate techniques gleaned from contemporary research and resources related to best practices in andragogy. Topics may include integrated education and training, and college and career readiness standards.
2. Provide state and local level information regarding the role of adult education as a key component in the delivery of one-stop center services. Training will include resources to enable a local provider to establish, build upon, or maintain effective relationships with other core providers within the local area. Topics may include referral systems, data sharing/reporting, integrating education with occupational training, and transition strategies for post-secondary enrollment or employment.
3. Provide training related to the use of technology to improve classroom effectiveness and program outcomes. Training may focus on National Reporting System (NRS) processes and the effective use of the statewide data system in order to maintain accurate student data. The OAE may also provide technical assistance to prepare instructors and program administrators to identify and utilize technology to enhance classroom experiences.

D) The monitoring and evaluation of the quality of, and the improvement in, adult education and literacy activities and the dissemination of information about models and proven or promising practices within the State.

The Office of Adult Education will engage in statewide program monitoring procedures to maintain sufficient knowledge and oversight of local adult education providers. Oversight will include continuous data monitoring, in addition to site visits and on-site reviews. Specific attention will be given to programs with low performance. OAE will develop targeted technical assistance to meet the specific needs of the program in need of improvement.

The Office of Adult Education will employ at least four methods to monitor programs and evaluate program improvement measures: 1. Data Reviews – OAE designated regional coordinators will conduct frequent and ongoing data reviews using the designated statewide MIS. Areas of review include overall performance and outcomes, assessment data, attendance, and compliance. 2. Monitoring Visits – OAE will establish a monitoring schedule for all programs. Lower-performing programs are more likely to experience a visitation from their designated regional coordinator. While making site-visits, team members will meet with program administrators and/or staff, observe classroom instruction, tour facilities, and meet with stakeholders. Areas of concern will be addressed with the program administrator either through informal feedback or in some cases, a formal plan. 3. Mid-Year Performance and Comparison Report – OAE will provide a Mid-Year Performance and Comparison Report to each local program halfway through the fiscal year. The report will include year-to-date performance for each of the WIOA performance outcomes. Comparisons to the prior year will be given for enrollment and number of students with a post-test. Local programs are asked to develop written action plans to address areas in need of improvement. 4. Self-Assessment – Each year local program administrators complete a self-assessment of program functions and performance. The rate their program against standards of performance in a variety of categories. Self-assessment data is analyzed for commonalities across regions and the state. Deficiencies are remediated through technical assistance or professional development. The self-assessment corresponds to the areas on the On-Site Program Review.

Any time a program is asked to correct or improve in a particular area, OAE personnel will provide technical assistance, professional development, and other support until it is no longer needed.