FY2024: Adult Education Virtual School System

Fund Code: 0538

Purpose:

The purpose of this continuation grant is to support a statewide Adult Education Virtual School (AEVS) system branded as MassLinks. All services must be delivered virtually.

The priority is to support one statewide stand-alone program that offers online adult basic educations services to eligible adult students annually throughout the Commonwealth.

The AEVS provider will recruit, intake, orient, enroll, instruct, assess, advise, and offer supportive services and post exit follow up to adult learners who are not served by programs currently funded by ACLS and/or whose need for services are not met by programs currently funded by ACLS.

Additionally, the provider will market, develop, manage, implement, and evaluate the AEVS.

The AEVS will:

1. assist eligible individuals in attaining a secondary school credential and in the transition to postsecondary education and training, including through career pathways;

2. assist eligible individuals to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiency;

3. assist immigrants and other individuals who are English language learners— improving their reading, writing, speaking, and comprehensive skills in English; and mathematical skills;

4. assist eligible individuals who are parents or family members to a) obtain the education and skills that are necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children and b) result in sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities for their family.

Requirements:

ACLS has not yet developed AEVS specific policies. While designed for Community and Adult Learning Centers, the FY24-FY28 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions should serve as a reference guide. The state reserves the right to (1) set policies and requirements to support the purpose and intent of the grant and (2) identify and apply state and federal regulations as needed.

The AEVS funds to be used to:

1. manage educational operations and deliver all services virtually to adult students across the state of Massachusetts.

2. deliver a program design which includes synchronous instruction and asynchronous instruction.

3. serve ASE students (NRS Levels ABE 5 and 6 ). Additional NRS Levels to be proposed by the applicant.

4. serve a minimum of 500 participants on a monthly basis.

Eligibility:

FY2024 is the last continuation year of the FY22 – FY24 funding cycle. The recipient awarded funding in the FY2022 open and competitive funding process is eligible to apply.

Funding Type:

State Line Item 7035-0002

Funding:

Approximately $2,000,000 of state funding is available to support the Adult Education Virtual School System services, subject to the appropriation of state and federal funds. See below.

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.

Mount Wachusett Community College

$2,000,000

Fund Use:

The provider selected would operate as a service provider under Title II Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) funding whose charge is to provide adult basic education and English language skills acquisition 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.

Applicants should use the FY24-FY28 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions. as guidance until ACLS has developed policies specific to the AEVS System. Funds must be used to:

1. provide all virtual services described in the grant Purpose
2. develop and deliver virtual instructional services that are aligned with the Massachusetts Adult Education standards: CCRSAE and MA ELPS
3. deliver instruction that incorporates
   1. cultural competence
   2. diverse audiences
   3. need for multilingual support

Funds may not be used to support in person activities.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2023)* through 6/30/2024

* Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

Contact:

Paula Jurigian

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3837

Date Due:

Thursday June 15, 2023

Please Note: Grant Submission requires applicants to have their organization established in GEM$. Entities that do not have an organization in GEM$ must contact the DESE Program Unit issuing this grant at a minimum 5 business days prior to the due date for temporary organization access.

Failure to provide DESE with GEMS Request Form at least 5 business days prior to the due date may result in not meeting the submission due date listed above. DESE cannot accept or review applications after the due date.

Required Forms:

All required documents to be submitted through GEM$

Submission Instructions:

The FY24 Fund Code 0538 Adult Education Virtual School System grant will be submitted in our new GEM$ system. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that will eventually phase out the use of EdGrants.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

Last Updated: May 11, 2023