FY2019: Adult Education Services - One-Year Transitional Grant

Fund Codes: 345/563

Purpose:

To provide one year of transitional funding to those CALCs and AECI programs currently receiving DESE funding for instructional services in FY 18 but not awarded funding as a result of the FY 19-FY 22 Open and Competitive RFP. In addition, these eligible programs must also be in fiscal and data compliance with DESE. With these funds, AE services must be used to continue to provide eligible individuals and those most in need with education services.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will administer the Adult Education and Family Literacy Services grants to a these limited number of Community Adult Learning Centers (CALCs, fund code 345) and Adult Education in Correctional Institutions (AECI, fund code 563) across several local workforce development areas for CALCs, and statewide for Adult Education in Correctional Institutions (AECI)¹, as follows:

Programs must design Adult Education² services (ABE and/or ESOL) and provide these services to a minimum of 50 students (25 students for AECI) on an ongoing basis³, to—

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—
   1. improve their—
      1. reading, writing, speaking and comprehension skills in English; and
      2. mathematical skills;
   2. acquire an understanding of the American system of government, individual freedom and responsible citizenship.

5. * assist institutionalized individuals to obtain the education and skills necessary to reduce recidivism and facilitate-

   1. re-entry into society;
   2. further education and training or employment upon release;
   3. economic self-sufficiency; and
   4. smooth transitions in their roles as family members and citizens.
   
   

Priorities:

1. To 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.

2. * To serve individuals who are likely to leave the correctional institution within five years of participation in the program.

Eligibility:

CALCs and AECI programs currently receiving DESE funding for instructional services in FY 18 but not awarded funding as a result of the FY 19-FY 22 Open and Competitive RFP. In addition, these eligible programs must also currently be in full fiscal data, and policy compliance with DESE in FY18. With these funds, AE services must be used to continue to provide eligible individuals and those most in need with education services.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

• The maximum Community Adult Learning grant will be $120,000. (fund code: 345)

• The maximum AECI grant award will be $60,000. (fund code: 563)

Note: A 20%% match is required. DESE will issue grant awards based on a proposed number of annually active seats in a program (CALC, AECI) with a minimum of 50. AECI must serve a minimum of 25.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change.

Fund Use:

Funds must be allowable and reasonable and used in accordance with the FY2019 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. b. not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law, and either:
   • do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent;
   • are basic skills deficient if they have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent (Note: Students who possess a high school credential are required to assess at or below 10.9 grade level equivalent (GLE) in reading, writing, or mathematics and seek to maintain work certification and/or pursue postsecondary education or training in order to be eligible.); or
   • are English language learners.

Not less than 75 percent of funds must be spent on AE direct services; not more than 25 percent may be spent on administrative costs, including indirect costs.

Agencies with an approved federal indirect cost rate shall not receive more than an 8% indirect rate for adult education programs. Agencies with a DESE-approved indirect cost rate (IDC) shall not receive more than a 5% indirect rate for adult education programs. The total of direct and indirect costs may not exceed the total grant award. In lieu of charging for indirect costs, grantees that provide an appropriate and detailed allocation of agency-wide costs to their grant programs may receive DESE approval to include them as direct costs. For more information about applying for and calculating indirect, see The Grants Management Procedural Manual.

Project Duration:

Upon approval through June 30, 2019 (State-funded — Fund Codes: 345, 563)

Date Due:

Proposals are due on Monday, June 18, 2018, by 3:00 p.m.

DESE Program Unit/Contact:

Adult and Community Learning Services
Olivia Steele: Phone Number: 781-338-3858

Resources and Information:

A list of resources with hyperlinks can be found under FY19 RFP Resources and Information at Community Adult Learning Centers RFP page.

Additional Information:

All inquiries must be submitted in writing to ABERFP@doe.mass.edu by Thursday, May 31, 2018 all answers will be posted to the Adult and Community Services webpage.

State Director Letter

It is the responsibility of the applicant to return to this Request for Proposals and the Q&A page for updates and amendments. All updates and amendments supersede previous versions.

Required Forms:

Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants) Note: Please sign and date your cover page and ensure the amount matches the amount budgeted

 

Part II Budget Page — Direct Narrative and Match Narrative

Schedule B — Cost Sharing and Match

Statement of Assurances

Part III — Required Program Information

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants.

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

FY19 Adult Ed Services Transitional Grant (District Name)

All required forms should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with Superintendent's signature as well as Required Program Information and Grant Assurances Form.

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

Please note: It is up to the district 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 document to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.

How to Submit the Standard Contract Form, Application for Program Grants and all other Required Documents within EdGrants
Note that only three documents can be uploaded into EdGrants.
What to submit	How to submit within EdGrants
Part I — General — Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants Signature page from within the individual grant application, including the amount requested	Print out signature page sign, scan and upload into one document into EdGrants.
FY19 New Budget Page Including all applicant agency contact information for the individual program and include the four digit district code	Complete online as part of EdGrants.
The following two documents must be scanned to create one document. Part III — Required Program Information (narrative responses) Statement of Assurances with two signatures	Scan all three documents below into one document and upload into EdGrants. Print out narrative responses to Part III questions Print out Statement of Assurances
Budget Narratives and Schedule B Direct Narrative Match Narrative (20% required) Schedule B completed	Scan and upload all required narratives and completed Schedule B into one document and upload into EdGrants. Complete direct budget and match budget narrative Complete Schedule B

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

¹ * WIOA Title II includes a requirement that states provide corrections education and education for other institutionalized individuals (referred to as AECI applicants). Note: In addition to the purpose, priorities, and requirements for CALCs in this RFP, AECI applicants should pay attention to language in yellow.

² See the Adult Education Glossary under Resources for definitions of adult education and related terms (e.g., adult basic education, adult secondary education, * corrections education and other institutionalized individuals)

³ "Service on an ongoing basis" refers to service availability during the typical academic year (September to June). AE providers whose primary mission is to serve homeless populations may submit a letter requesting a waiver of the 50-student minimum.

* Note: Additional language for AECI applicants is highlighted in yellow.

Last Updated: May 15, 2018