FY2020: Adult Education Services

Fund Codes: 340/671/345/661/359/285/563

Purpose:

The purpose of this grant program is to establish free access for eligible undereducated and limited English proficient adults, age 16 and older, to highly effective adult basic education services in the sixteen Workforce Investment Areas in the Commonwealth. The purpose of the services is to assist adult students to achieve their educational and career goal as family members, workers, and community members, and prepare them to successfully take their next steps toward those goals, in college and further training, at work, and in the community.

The purpose of IET is to accelerate participants' educational and career advancement by providing eligible individuals with pre-ASE and ASE services offered concurrently and contextually with local area workforce preparation and training activities that result in students attaining one or more industry-recognized credentials required for local area employment in high-demand industries.

The purpose of IELCE is to accelerate participants' educational and career advancement by providing eligible individuals with ESOL services including civics education, offered concurrently and contextually with local area workforce preparation and training activities that result in students attaining one or more industry-recognized credentials required for local area employment in high-demand industries.

The purpose of outstationing is to help eligible individuals access adult education services by assisting MassHire Career Center staff with intake, assessments, and referrals to adult education programs in the local area and educate current students about career center services.

Priorities:

The priority is to support programs and/or collaborations that provide, on a voluntary basis, adult education services provided by programs designed to serve a minimum of 50 students on an ongoing basis, that:

1. assist eligible individuals to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiency;
2. assist eligible individuals who are parents or family members to obtain the education and skills that-
   1. are necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children, and
   2. result in sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities for their family;
3. assist eligible individuals in attaining a secondary school credential and in the transition to postsecondary education and training, including through career pathways; and
4. assist immigrants and other individuals who are English language learners to improve their:
   1. reading, writing, speaking and comprehension skills in English; and
   2. mathematical skills;
5. acquire an understanding of the American system of government, individual freedom and responsible citizenship.
6. improve and accelerate participant outcomes, especially educational functioning level completion, high school equivalency credential attainment, and enrollment in post-secondary education or training.
7. design, implement, and evaluate adult education services guided by the priorities established in the:
   1. 13 WIOA Considerations
   2. Massachusetts Indicators of Program Quality
   3. Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions, and;
   4. WIOA Massachusetts Combined State Plan.
8. assist institutionalized individuals to obtain the education and skills necessary to reduce recidivism and facilitate:
   1. re-entry into society;
   2. bfurther education and training or employment upon release;
   3. economic self-sufficiency; and
   4. smooth transitions in their roles as family members and citizens.
9. Fund Codes 285/563: serve individuals who are likely to leave the correctional institution within five years of participation in the program.

Eligibility:

FY20 is a continuation year grant. All recipients awarded through the Adult Education Services Open and Competitive FY19 grant funding cycle are eligible to apply.

Funding:

See Table 1 — Funding Allocations for fund codes 340/671/345/661/359/285/563. Grant amounts were determined through a proposal review during the FY19 O &C process based on regional allocations, Massachusetts considered the regional educational need, the demand for services, and historical funding and score of the proposal. Funding is subject to state and federal appropriation. Amounts may have been adjusted with the funding cycle based on federal and state allocations as well as active seat enrollment for FY19 funded seats.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding is to become available, it will be distributed under the same guideline as listed in the initial RFP document.

Funding Type:

Fund Code 340, 359 285, and 671: Federal CFDA: 84.002
Fund Code 345, 563, and 661: State

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 (No earlier than 7/1/2019) – June 30, 2020 (State-funded — Fund Code: 345, 563, and 661); conditionally renewable for up to an additional three years.

Upon Approval (No earlier than September 1, 2019) – August 31, 2020 (Federally-funded — Fund Codes: 340, 359, 285, and 671); conditionally renewable for up to an additional three years.

Renewals are subject to satisfactory performance, the appropriation of state and federal funds, and the continuance of federal authorizing legislation. Total grant award duration will not exceed five years (FY19 competitive initial year plus FY20-FY23 renewals).

Submission Requirements:

The following Documents Must be Submitted online though EdGrants

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

Part II — Class Plan and Budget Workbook

• ISA Budget / EdGrants Budget Crosswalk (only for entities who require ISAs). Included in budget workbook
• Budget Match Narratives — 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 II Workbook Instructions

Statement of Assurances Fund Codes: 340/671/345/661/359/285/563

Schedule B — Cost Sharing or Matching Schedule

GEPA Statement

The following additional submission requirements must be submitted using the online portal link.

 

Part III — Required Program Information

Appendix A — Data Checklist

Appendix B — Administrative Cost — Negotiation Request (if applicable)

 

Appendix C — FY19 Continuous Improvement Plan (if applicable, see condition of grant funding) (Program Generated)

 

Appendix D — FY19 Waiver documentation (if applicable, see condition of waiver approval) (Program Generated)

ESE Program Unit/Contact:

Adult and Community Learning Services
Barbara Pope 781-338-3870

Date Due:

Applicants who are state agencies (i.e., state and community colleges, County Houses of Correction) require an ISA process to issue these funds. The ISA process can take 4 – 6 weeks as it flows through DESE as well as other state financial offices before it is final. To avoid disruptions in spending, Applicants who require an ISA should expect to submit their grant by May 17, 2019 to avoid delays in receiving funds.

Applications for both federally and state-funded projects are due on Friday, June 7, 2019 at 3:00PM.

Submission Instructions:

ABE will notify applicants when the Funding Opportunities are available for applicants to Submit the Application Submission and required grant materials in EdGrants.

In EdGrants, applicants are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

FY20 FC (insert fund code) Full legal name of program

All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission in EdGrants. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with CEO/Superintendent/Executive Director signature. The final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.

The following documents must be submitted the online portal link.: Part III — Required Program Information, Appendix A — Data Checklist, Appendix B — Administrative Cost — Negotiation Request (if applicable), Appendix C — FY19 Continuous Improvement Plan (if applicable, see condition of grant funding) (Program Generated), Appendix D — FY19 Waiver documentation (if applicable, see condition of waiver approval) (Program Generated)

For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides and Information.

Please note: It is up to the applicant to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.

Additional Information:

State Director Letter

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.

ISA process timeline

MA Expenditure Classification Handbook

MA Comptroller's Office Fringe Information

ISA and EdGrants Amendment Requirements

Last Updated: May 7, 2019