FY2019: Workplace Education Planning Grant

Fund Codes: 494/538

Purpose:

Workplace Education Planning Grants (Phase 1) are competitive grants designed for partnerships among education providers, business partners and unions (where the workforce is unionized) to identify needs for instructional services for adult incumbent workers who must:

1. Be at least 16 years of age; and
2. Not be not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law, and:
   • Do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and have not achieved an equivalent level of education (i.e., lack the level of reading, writing, and/or computation skills expected of a high school graduate even if they already possess a high school diploma) as shown on an assessment;
   • Are basic skills deficient if they have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent (Note: Students who possess a high school credential must assess at or below 10.9 grade level equivalent (GLE) in reading, writing, or Math and seek to maintain work certification and/or pursue postsecondary education or training in order to be eligible.); or
   • Are English language learners.
     (Note: Priority of services must be given to adults without a high school credential.)
   
   
3. Assess the readiness of the business to support an educational program that meets the basic skills needs of its incumbent workforce; and
4. Plan for instructional services including program components (e.g., recruitment, assessment, curriculum development, data collection, team governance and evaluation).

Priorities:

Priorities are to support applicants that propose to:

• Provide evidence of an employer and education provider partnership.

• Develop a plan and timeline to conduct a Workplace Needs Analysis (WNA).

• Include a variety of perspectives through participation in the WNA.

• Integrate ABE/ESOL with industry skills training/work readiness to develop increased economic self sufficiency and a more productive workforce.

• Provide evidence of outreach to the local Workforce Area in which the business partner is located and demonstrate alignment with the local WDB plans.

• Demonstrate past effectiveness in improving the English communication skills, literacy and or numeracy of eligible individuals by means of contextualizing curriculum and instruction.

• Ensure that participants progress through the National Reporting System Educational Functioning Levels by offering scheduled educational activities of sufficient intensity and quality, which (a) align with the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education, (b) are based on rigorous research, (c) include the essential components of reading, (d) may include math instruction for English language learners, and, where possible, effectively use technology so that participants develop their digital literacy skills.

• Deliver activities supported by a solid organizational capacity (including providing equitable working conditions), highly qualified educational leaders and well-trained instructors who have access to high quality professional development.

• Accelerate the attainment of student outcomes, especially educational functioning level completion in the target skill area, and/or high school equivalency credential attainment.

• Engage in continuous improvement planning to enhance the quality of the services provided and determine that student and program outcomes have been met.

Eligibility:

Eligible workplace education provider applicants may include, but are not limited to:

(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 that has the ability to provide adult education and literacy activities to eligible individuals;(i) A consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described in any of elements (a) through (h) of this section; and (j) A partnership between an employer and an entity described in (a) through (i) of this section.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA: 84.002

Funding:

Approximately $50,000 is available for up to 10 planning grants. Each grantee must conduct a WNA as part or all of the planning process.

• Phase 1: Applicants may request up to $5,000 to conduct a WNA to determine the readiness of the partnership to support a multi-year instructional program for incumbent workers. The planning process must include a WNA as outlined in fund use. A final report is required.
• Phase 2: Only those partnerships having completed a successful planning process are eligible for three-year implementation grants. Up to $350,000 is set aside for implementation grants.

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.

Fund Use:

Funding must be used to conduct a WNA that includes a systematic analysis of the readiness of the partnership to deliver a quality instructional program. The plan must identify:

• a lead person to convene and train the WNA team and coordinate WNA team activities;
• an inclusive process with input from prospective students, supervisors, managers, and unions (where the workforce is unionized) to determine needs and assets to support the instructional program;
• a preliminary assessment of the evidence of incumbent workers lacking the foundation skills of a high school graduate (e.g., reading, writing, speaking, and mathematics) and/or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL);
• a process to identify the current and future job-related basic skill needs e.g., reading, writing, math and/or English communication among the workforce;
• ways to uncover the supports to worker participation in the educational program;
• ways to uncover barriers to worker participation in the education program and a plan to address those;
• a projected timeline to accomplish the activities described above.

Project Duration:

Upon approval through October 19, 2018 for Phase I, and upon approval through June 30, 2019 for Phase 2. Note: Only applicants who completed Phase 1 and are approved for Phase 2 may apply.(Federally/State-funded-Fund Code 494/538); conditionally renewable for up to an additional two years subject to satisfactory performance, the appropriation of state and/or federal funds and the continuance of federal authoring legislation. Total grant award duration will not exceed three years (initial plus renewals).

Program Unit:

Adult and Community Learning Services

Contact:

Olivia Steele
Phone Number: (781) 338-3858

All inquires must be submitted in writing to WPEdRFP@doe.mass.edu by April 20, 2018 and all answers will be posted to the Adult and Community Services webpage.

Bidders' Conference:

There will not be a Bidders' Conference.

Date Due:

Proposals for Phase 1 must be received at the Department by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2018.

Proposals for Phase 2 must be received at the Department by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 19^th.

Required Forms:

For Phase One — Due May 15, 2018:

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

Part II — Budget Documents:

1. Budget Pages
2. Budget Narrative

Part III — Required Program Information

Memorandum of Agreement to conduct a WNA

For Phase 2 (deliverables) If approved for Phase 2, Due October 19, 2018:

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

Part II — Budget Documents

1. Budget Pages
2. Budget Narrative
3. Match Narrative

Part III — Required Program Information

Memorandum of Agreement for implementation phase 2

Workplace Education Statement of Assurances FY19-FY21

Additional Information:

Letter from AE State Director

Summary of Activities for Phases 1 and 2
Phase 1 Conduct and Document the WNA	Phase 2 Deliver Classroom Instruction with Planning and Evaluation Team oversight
Phase 1 Amount of funding $50,000 is available for planning grants: A maximum of 10 grants of up to $5,000 each may be awarded	Phase 2 Amount of funding $350,000 is available for implementation grants: A maximum of 10- grants between $30,000 and $50,000 may be awarded
Phase 1 Priorities for Funding Provide evidence of: an education provider and business partnership; a lead person to orient the direct the work of the WNA; a plan to conduct a WNA; a timeline that includes all WNA activities; and a WNA process that includes the input and participation of a variety of perspectives; and, evidence of outreach to the local Workforce Development Board (WDB) in the region where the business partner is located.	Phase 2 Priorities for Funding Provide evidence of: need for ABE and/or ESOL services; commitment from each stakeholder to the partnership; readiness of the partnership to develop, implement and evaluate a multi-year workplace education program through oversight and guidance from a Planning and Evaluation Team (PET); strategies for student class participation and retention, e.g., release time, paid stipends or additional measures to support student participation for attendance and retention; and, evidence of alignment with the with the local plan in the Workforce Development Area in which the business partner is located (where the instruction is to take place.)
Phase 1 Scope of Work Conduct a WNA that includes: Evaluation of the partnership readiness to support a multi-year contextualized education program , including some preliminary plan to select Phase 2 Planning and Evaluation team members; Explore the need for the education program: Identify a pool of potential students who lack basic foundation skills of high school graduate and/or are limited English proficient; and An evaluation of effectiveness of the WNA process.	Phase 2 Scope of Work Deliver classroom based instruction in keeping with the ACLS-approved program plan; Develop and document contextualized curriculum; Convene and maintain an ongoing and active Planning and Evaluation Team (PET) that represents each interest group, e.g., management, supervisors, education staff and union (where the workforce is unionized); Implement NRS-required assessments; develop and implement formative assessments; Maintain excellent class attendance retention; and Collect and input student data monthly into the statewide data management system.
Phase 1 Timeline	Phase 2 Timeline
Proposal to conduct Phase One WNA planning process due May 15, 2018. Successful applicants notified of Phase 1 award by June 30, 2018. ACLS approves budgets for Phase 1 Successful applicant partnerships design and deliver a Phase 1 WNA planning process from July 1 and completed by October 19, 2018.	Education provider submits WNA report and all required deliverables for Phase 2 on October 19, 2018. Funding for implementation of a multi-year funding cycle will begin upon approval of WNA report, budget, match narrative, class plan, Memorandum of Agreement and Statement of Assurances
Deliverables due: May 15, 2018 Submit Standard Application for Grants PART III Narrative response to questions budget budget narrative Phase 1 Memorandum of Agreement (No match required for Phase 1)	Deliverables due: October 19, 2018 Final WNA report including proposed class plan budget narrative match narrative Phase 2 Memorandum of Agreement Statement of Assurances

Massachusetts Guidelines for Effective Workplace Education Partnerships

Massachusetts ABE Framework for English to Speakers of Other Languages

Massachusetts Professional Standards for Teachers of Adult English Speakers of Other Languages

College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education

Massachusetts ABE Science Framework, Life Science Strand

Massachusetts Indicators of Program Quality for Workplace Education

Workplace Education Recommended Readings

These Required Forms and Documents for Phase 1 must be submitted May 15, 2018:

No Paper Applications will be accepted.

Application Packages must be in PDF format and emailed to the following email address WPEdRFP@doe.mass.edu with required elements in the following sequence:

1. Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
2. Part II — Budget Documents:
   1. Budget Pages
   2. Budget Narrative
   (No match is required for Phase 1)
3. Part III — Required Program Information for Phase 1.
4. Memorandum of Agreement for Phase 1.

Awarded Recipients: Any recipient awarded a grant will be required to enter the approved budget and Parts I-4 in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

These Required Forms and Documents for Phase 2 Submitted October 19, 2018:

No Paper Applications will be accepted.

Application Packages must be in PDF format and e-mailed to the following mail address WPEdRFP@doe.mass.edu with required elements in the following sequence:

1. Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
2. Part II — Budget Documents
   1. Budget Pages
   2. Budget Narrative
   3. Match Narrative
3. Part III — Required Program Information for Phase 2 (Final Report and Class Plan)
4. Phase 2 Memorandum of Agreement
5. Statement of Assurances

Last Updated: March 9, 2018