(1)
(a) (I) There is created in the office the adult education and literacy grant program
to provide funding for adult education providers that are members of workforce
development partnerships, through which eligible adults receive basic education in
literacy, digital literacy, and numeracy that leads to additional skills acquisition, a
high school diploma or an equivalency certificate, postsecondary credential
attainment, and employment; or education attainment partnerships that assist
adults in attaining basic literacy, digital literacy, and numeracy skills that lead to
additional skill acquisition, and may lead to a high school diploma or an equivalency
certificate, postsecondary credentials and employment, for the participating adults
and their children or the children for whom they provide care.
(II) Adult education and literacy programs may include:
(A) In-person or online instruction;
(B) The development of documented learning plans describing courses or
credits an eligible adult needs to complete an adult education and literacy program
and fulfill the graduation requirements of the program;
(C) Coaching between an adult education provider and an eligible adult
related to the student's pace and progress with the learning plan described in
subsection (1)(a)(II)(B) of this section; and
(D) Mentorship between a coach and an eligible adult to facilitate the
completion of the eligible adult's learning plan described in subsection (1)(a)(II)(B)
of this section to prepare the student to succeed in the adult education and literacy
program and in the eligible adult's future endeavors.
(b) An adult education provider may apply to the office to receive a grant
pursuant to this part 1 in accordance with the rules, procedures, forms, and
timelines adopted by the state board. The office shall review each application and
recommend appropriate grant recipients to the state board.
(c) Subject to available appropriations, the state board, taking into
consideration the recommendations of the office, shall award adult education and
literacy grants to adult education providers. In awarding grants payable from state
appropriations, the state board may give preference to adult education programs
that serve populations that are underserved by federal funding. The grants awarded
are payable from appropriations from the general fund and from the adult
education and literacy grant fund created in section 22-10-107. The state board
shall establish the amount and duration of each grant awarded and may award a
grant for multiple fiscal years, subject to annual renewal by the office. A grant
recipient that receives a multi-year grant must annually submit to the office the
necessary information to determine whether the grant recipient is making sufficient
progress toward achieving the goals of the adult education and literacy program
that were specified in the grant application. If the office finds that a grant recipient
is not making sufficient progress toward achieving the goals, the office shall not
renew the grant for subsequent fiscal years.
(d) An adult education provider may use grant money received pursuant to
this part 1 in combination with any money received from other public or private
sources. An adult education provider may use grant money received pursuant to
this part 1 on behalf of a student who:
(I) Lacks basic literacy, digital literacy, or numeracy skills;
(II) Is enrolled in or has completed the adult education and literacy program;
(III) Is receiving training from a postsecondary education or training provider
or from a workforce development provider that participates in a workforce
development partnership with the adult education provider; or
(IV) Is participating in work-based learning.
(2) The state board, in accordance with the State Administrative Procedure
Act, article 4 of title 24, shall promulgate rules to implement the grant program,
which rules must include:
(a) The time frames for submitting applications, reviewing applications, and
awarding grants;
(b) The grant application requirements. At a minimum, each applicant must:
(I) Demonstrate that it is an experienced adult education provider with a
strong record of providing education, career, and supportive service navigation to
assist adult learners in attaining employment, enrolling in postsecondary education,
engaging in civic activities, or supporting their own children or children for whom
they provide care in achieving academic success;
(II) Demonstrate that it is an active member of a workforce development
partnership or an education attainment partnership; and
(III) Specify the measurable goals of the adult education and literacy
program that the applying adult education provider expects to achieve using the
grant money;
(c) Any factors in addition to those listed in subsection (3) of this section that
the office may consider in recommending grant recipients to the state board and
that the state board may consider in awarding grants;
(d) The basis for establishing the amount and duration of each grant;
(e) The information that each grant recipient must submit to the office to
evaluate the recipient's use of the grant and to prepare the report required in
section 22-10-105; and
(f) Any additional rules that the state board finds are necessary to
implement the grant program.
(3) The office, in evaluating grant applications, and the state board, in
awarding grants, may consider, at a minimum, the following factors:
(a) The percentage of eligible adults expected to be enrolled in the adult
education and literacy programs funded by the grant who are members of minority
groups;
(a.5) The percentage of adults in the area to be served using grant money
who have not completed ninth grade and are not enrolled in or have not completed
adult education and literacy programs;
(b) The percentage of eligible adults in the area to be served using grant
moneys who do not have high school diplomas or the equivalent and who are not
currently enrolled in adult education and literacy programs;
(c) (I) The percentage of eligible adults expected to be enrolled in the adult
education and literacy programs funded by the grant who are receiving either state
or federal public assistance; or
(II) The percentage of eligible adults in the area to be served who are
unemployed workers;
(c.5) Whether the adult education provider serves eligible adults who have
not completed ninth grade or may otherwise be identified as lowest-level learners
and the adult education provider's demonstrated success in serving these learners;
(d) The demonstrated success of the adult education provider in enabling
adults to attain basic literacy, digital literacy, and numeracy skills and in assisting
them to attain additional skills, postsecondary credentials, employment, and
increased capacity to support the academic achievement of their own children or
children for whom they provide care; and
(e) The average cost per eligible adult served by the adult education provider
in assisting the eligible adult in attaining additional skills, a high school diploma or
an equivalency certificate, postsecondary credentials, employment, or increased
capacity to support the academic achievement of the eligible adult's own children
or children for whom the eligible adult provides care.
(4) Any unexpended and unencumbered money appropriated to the
department from the general fund for the adult education and literacy grant
program for the 2023-24 state fiscal year and the 2024-25 state fiscal year
remains available for expenditure by the department for the purposes of the adult
education and literacy grant program through the 2028-29 state fiscal year without
further appropriation. At the end of the 2028-29 state fiscal year, the money that is
unexpended or unencumbered reverts to the general fund.