FY2020: 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. In Phase 1, the partnership assess the readiness of the business to support an educational program that meets the basic skill needs of its incumbent workers. Workforce Education Implementation Grants (Phase 2) are competitive grants designed for partnerships among education providers, business partners and unions (where the workforce is unionized) to implement an instructional program for adult incumbent workers. Eligible incumbent workers must:

1. Be at least 16 years of age; and
2. are 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; or
   • 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 12.9 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.)

Priorities:

Phase 1: 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)
• Identify a lead person to orient the direct work of the 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 WIOA 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
• Conduct outreach to the local MassHire Workforce Board in the local workforce area where the business is located

Phase 2: Priorities are to support applicants that demonstrate:

• a need for ABE and/or ESOL services;
• a commitment from each stakeholder to the partnership;
• the 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 local workforce area in which the business partner is located (where the instruction is to take place.)

Eligibility:

Phase 1: 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.

Phase 2: Eligible applicants are those that were awarded a Phase 1 grant and were approved for Phase 2.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA: 84.002 and/or state.

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 been approved for Phase 1 and completed a successful planning process are eligible for three-year implementation grants. Approximately 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.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has the authority to revoke any awarded funds based on poor performance.

Fund Use:

Phase 1: 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.

Phase 2: Funding must be used to:

• 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.

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.

Negotiation Form for Admin

Project Duration:

Upon approval through November 1, 2019 for Phase 1, and upon approval through June 30, 2020 for Phase 2. Note: Only applicants who completed Phase 1 may apply for Phase 2. Phase 2 grants conditionally renewable for FY 2021 and FY 2022 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 2 renewals).

Program Unit:

Adult and Community Learning Services

Contact:

Derek Kalchbrenner
Phone Number: (781) 338-3812

All inquiries must be submitted in writing to WPEdRFP@doe.mass.edu by June 10, 2019 and all answers will be posted to the Adult and Community Services webpage.

Bidders' Conference and webinars:

A Bidders' Conference will be held Tuesday, May 28, 2019 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am at the Worcester Adult Learning Center, Fanning Building, 24 Chatham Street, Worcester, in the auditorium. An informational webinar will be held Thursday, May 16, 2019 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. The webinar will be repeated on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm.

Date Due:

All other Proposals for Phase 1 must be received at the Department by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019.

Proposals for Phase 2 must be received at the Department by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 1, 2019.

Required Forms:

For Phase 1 — Due June 21, 2019:

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

Part II — Budget Documents

1. Budget narrative
2. Budget Narrative

Part III — Required Program Information

Memorandum of Agreement to conduct a WNA

ISA Budget / EdGrants Budget Crosswalk (only for entities who require ISAs).

For Phase 2 (deliverables) If approved for Phase 2, Due November 1, 2019:

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. Budget Narrative

Part III — Required Program Information — Workplace Analysis Report

Memorandum of Agreement for implementation phase 2

Workplace Education Statement of Assurances FY20–FY22

ISA Budget / EdGrants Budget Crosswalk (only for entities who require ISAs).

General Education Protection Act (GEPA) form

Additional Information:

Letter from Acting AE State Director

Workplace Education Summary of Activities

Negotiation Admin Cost Form (if needed)

Massachusetts Guidelines for Effective Workplace Education Partnerships

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

Massachusetts English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education

College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education

Massachusetts Indicators of Program Quality for Workplace Education

Workplace Education Recommended Readings

No Paper Applications will be accepted.

This information is intended for state entities who require ISAs.

This information is 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

Submission Instructions:

Phase 1: 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
   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.
5. ISA Budget / EdGrants Budget Crosswalk (only for entities who require ISAs).

Awarded Recipients: Any recipient awarded a grant will be required to enter the approved budget and attach Parts 1–4 in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Phase 2: These Required Forms and Documents for competitive Phase 2 Submitted November 1, 2019:

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 1 — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
2. Part II — Budget Documents
   1. Budget
   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
6. ISA Budget / EdGrants Budget Crosswalk (only for entities who require ISAs).

Note that instructional offerings should be accurately captured in LACES, the state's adult education data system. Data collection and entry requirements are being updated and will be specified in a revised policy manual.

Last Updated: May 9, 2019