FY2020: Adult Education Services

Fund Code: 345

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive grant program is to establish free access for eligible undereducated adults, age 16 and older, to highly effective adult basic education services in the South Boston area and/or to offer highly effective English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services to limited English proficient adults, preferably within or close to the South Boston area of Boston. These services must be delivered within the Boston Workforce Development region.

Priorities:

This RFP offers two options: The first option, Option One, is to deliver Adult Basic Education services and the second option, Option Two is to deliver ESOL services.

Option One:

1. provide eligible adult participants with a continuum of high quality instructional and support services below the postsecondary level, from basic literacy through the skill level expected of a high school graduate; provide a highly qualified staff who (a) have mastery of the content they teach, (b) are prepared to employ effective teaching methods based on research and evidence based practice, and (c) are prepared to implement ABE instruction in mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) aligned to the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCRSAE) CCRSAE. ABE curriculum and instruction must reflect the instructional shifts and align at all levels with the CCRSAE levels A through D–E;

2. provide services of sufficient intensity and duration to effectively assist adults to develop the academic and other college and career-readiness skills needed to successfully transition to post-secondary education or training and stable employment that provides a family-sustaining wage;

3. provide instructional, advising, and other support services based on students' needs and strengths with regard to college and career readiness; and

4. demonstrate capacity to contribute to a system of education and workforce services that supports career pathway development aligned with regional employment needs while providing adults with guidance and support to advance within those pathways.

Option Two:

1. deliver English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services; and

2. provide services of sufficient intensity and duration to effectively assist adults to develop the academic and other college and career-readiness skills needed to successfully transition to post-secondary education or training and stable employment that provides a family-sustaining wage;

3. provide instructional, advising, and other support services based on students' needs and strengths with regard to college and career readiness; and

4. demonstrate capacity to contribute to a system of education and workforce services that supports career pathway development aligned with regional employment needs while providing adults with guidance and support to advance within those pathways.

Eligibility:

Applicants that are currently funded Community Adult Learning Centers offering the type of service for which they are applying as well those that have not previously been funded by ESE, are eligible to apply.

Eligible Applicant An organization that has demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy activities that may include:

(A)

a local educational agency;

(B)

a community-based organization or faith-based organization;

(C)

a volunteer literacy organization;

(D)

an institution of higher education;

(E)

a public or private nonprofit agency;

(F)

a library;

(G)

a public housing authority;

(H)

a nonprofit institution not described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (G) and has the ability to provide literacy activities to eligible providers;

(I)

a consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries or authorities described in (A) through (H);

(J)

a partnership between an employer and an entity described in any of (A) through (I)

Eligible applicants may apply for both Options One and Two or one of the options.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $600,000 is set aside for Option One (ABE)
Approximately $600,000 is set aside for Option Two (ESOL)

DESE anticipates that approximately $1,200,000 will be available statewide to fund adult education programs under Option 1, and/or 2 subject to state and federal appropriation. The Department expects to fund approximately 400 new active seats with a cost per active seat range of $2,300–$3,300.

Grant awards will be determined by an applicant's demonstrated capacity to deliver services. CALC funding for applicants not currently receiving DESE adult education funds will be based on an approved set of services with a proposed minimum of 50 active seats in a program.

Note: Proposed expenditures must be allowable and reasonable to achieve the goals of the proposal and adhere to the budget requirements outlined in the FY20-FY22 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions.

Fund Use:

Funds must be used in accordance with the FY20-22 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions to provide adult education to eligible students; eligible students are:

1. at least 16 years of age; and
2. not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law, and
3. do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not an equivalent level of education or are basic skills deficient or are English language learners.

Not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities; not more than 5 percent may be spent on administrative costs (related to planning, administration, (including carrying out performance accountability requirements), professional development, providing adult education and literacy services in alignment with local workforce plans, carrying out one-stop partner responsibilities, and state approved indirect costs charged to the grant.

Programs may negotiate a higher administrative cost percentage by submitting a written request and rationale with application. The state will not grant administrative cost requests that exceed 25% of grant funds (state requirement).

The Adult Education Services is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction. Grantees are required to use a restricted indirect cost rate of 8%, unless your calculated indirect cost rate is less than 8%, than you must use the lower rate for your budget. If you have an approved negotiated federal indirect cost rate, it must be submitted to DESE. If you do not have an approved indirect cost rate agreement, you must apply annually to DESE for an approved indirect cost rate. The indirect cost rate is calculated using costs specified in the grantee's indirect cost plan. Those specified costs may not be charged as direct costs to the grant or to any other grant under any circumstances.

Project Duration:

Upon approval – 6/30/2020 (State-funded — Fund Code: 345); grants may be conditionally renewable for additional two (2) years (FY21 & FY22) subject to satisfactory performance and the adult education appropriation of state funds

Program Unit:

Adult and Community Learning Services

Contact:

All inquiries must be submitted in writing to ABERFP@doe.mass.edu; all answers will be posted to the Adult and Community Services webpage. Barbara Pope

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3870

Date Due:

Friday, August 16, 2019

Proposals must be received at the Department by 3:00 p.m. on the date due.

Intent to Bid:

Submit an e-mail notice of Intent to Bid to Barbara Pope by Friday July 19, 2019. Although Intent to Bid notice is not required, applicants are encouraged to send a notice of intent to bid for one or both options.

Required Forms:

Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

Part II — Class Plan and Budget Workbook (see FY20 Workbook Instructions O&C RFP)

Providers must submit budget and match narratives that detail proposed expenditures, including hourly rates and weekly personnel time commitments for proposed activities for the grant.

Part III — Required Program Information

Statement of Assurances

General Education Provisions Act Form (GEPA)

Required Appendices:

Appendix A — Program Eligibility and Past Effectiveness

 

Appendix B — Partnership Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) (developed by applicant, if applicable)

 

Appendix C — Organizational Chart (developed by applicant) - include all positions funded on the grant

 

Appendix D — Key Staff Job Descriptions and Resumes (developed by applicant)

 

Appendix E — Sample Completed Classroom Observation Form (developed by applicant)

Appendix F — Fiscal Overview of Adult Education Support chart

Appendix G — Partnership Overview

 

Appendix H — Audit Report¹ — community-based organizations applying for this grant and not currently receiving adult education funds must attach a copy of the applying eligible applicant's latest completed audit report, issued by an independent certified public accountant (developed by applicant, if applicable)

Appendix I — Administrative Cost Justification Form (if needed)

Additional Information:

Letter from AE Director

Adult and Community Learning Services

FY20-FY22 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions

Accountability System

Indicators of Program Quality, June 2017

Grants Essential Information

WIOA Combined State Plan for FY2017-FY2020

 

Local Plan Packages by Area and Regional Workforce Skills Planning Initiative Blueprint

ACLS Guidance for Adult Education Programs on WIOA Implementation: Shared Customers

Professional Standards for Adult Educators (ESOL, ELA, and Mathematics)

College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education

Massachusetts English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education (2019)

North Star Digital Literacy

Adult Education Glossary

This information is intended for state entities who require ISAs as part of their grant award process. Not intended for Private or Community Based Organizations.

1. ISA process timeline

2. MA Expenditure Classification Handbook

3. MA Comptroller's Office Fringe Information

4. ISA and EdGrants Amendment Requirements

Note: DESE reserves the right to conduct an interview or a site visit prior to award.

Submission Instructions:

Proposals (including all appendices) must be emailed to ABERFP@doe.mass.edu by 3:00 pm on August 16, 2019.

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget and supporting materials in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

¹ (Excluded from this requirement are state and local entities whose audits the Department accesses directly (e.g., community colleges, state and county correctional facilities, local public educational authorities and city- or town-operated public libraries.)

Last Updated: July 9, 2019