(1) (a) There is created in the office the adult education and literacy grant program to provide funding for adult education providers that are members of workforce development partnerships, through which eligible adults receive basic education in literacy and numeracy that leads to additional skills acquisition, postsecondary credential attainment, and employment, or education attainment partnerships that assist adults in attaining basic literacy and numeracy skills that lead to additional skill acquisition, and may lead to postsecondary credentials and employment, for the participating adults and their children or the children for whom they provide care.
An adult education provider may apply to the office to receive a grant pursuant tothis article 10 in accordance with the rules, procedures, forms, and timelines adopted by the state board. The office shall review each application and recommend appropriate grant recipients to the state board.
Subject to available appropriations, the state board, taking into consideration the recommendations of the office, shall award adult education and literacy grants to adult education providers. In awarding grants payable from state appropriations, the state board may give preference to adult education programs that serve populations that are underserved by federal funding. The grants awarded are payable from appropriations from the general fund and from the adult education and literacy grant fund created in section 22-10-107. The state board shall establish the amount and duration of each grant awarded and may award a grant for multiple fiscal years, subject to annual renewal. A grant recipient that receives a multi-year grant must annually submit to the office the necessary information to determine whether the grant recipient is making sufficient progress toward achieving the goals of the adult education and literacy program that were specified in the grant application. If the office finds that a grant recipient is not making sufficient progress toward achieving the goals, the state board shall not renew the grant for subsequent fiscal years.
An adult education provider may use grant money received pursuant to this article10 in combination with any money received from other public or private sources. An adult education provider may use grant money received pursuant to this article 10 on behalf of a student who lacks basic literacy or numeracy skills or who is enrolled in or has completed the adult education and literacy program or is receiving training from a postsecondary education or training provider or from a workforce development provider that participates in a workforce development partnership with the adult education provider.
(2) The state board, in accordance with the "State Administrative Procedure Act", article 4 of title 24, shall promulgate rules to implement the grant program, which rules must include:
The time frames for submitting applications, reviewing applications, and awardinggrants;
The grant application requirements. At a minimum, each applicant must:
Demonstrate that it is an experienced adult education provider with a strong record ofproviding education, career, and supportive service navigation to assist adult learners in attaining employment, enrolling in postsecondary education, engaging in civic activities, or supporting their own children or children for whom they provide care in achieving academic success;
Demonstrate that it is an active member of a workforce development partnership oran education attainment partnership; and
Specify the measurable goals of the adult education and literacy program that theapplying adult education provider expects to achieve using the grant money;
Any factors in addition to those listed in subsection (3) of this section that the officemay consider in recommending grant recipients to the state board and that the state board may consider in awarding grants;
The basis for establishing the amount and duration of each grant;
The information that each grant recipient must submit to the office to evaluate therecipient's use of the grant and to prepare the report required in section 22-10-105; and
Any additional rules that the state board finds are necessary to implement the grantprogram.
(3) The office, in evaluating grant applications, and the state board, in awarding grants, may consider, at a minimum, the following factors:
The percentage of eligible adults expected to be enrolled in the adult education andliteracy programs funded by the grant who are members of minority groups;
(a.5) The percentage of adults in the area to be served using grant money who have not completed ninth grade and are not enrolled in or have not completed adult education and literacy programs;
The percentage of eligible adults in the area to be served using grant moneys who donot have high school diplomas or the equivalent and who are not currently enrolled in adult education and literacy programs;
(I) The percentage of eligible adults expected to be enrolled in the adult educationand literacy programs funded by the grant who are receiving either state or federal public assistance; or
(II) The percentage of eligible adults in the area to be served who are unemployed workers;
(c.5) Whether the adult education provider serves eligible adults who have not completed ninth grade or may otherwise be identified as lowest-level learners and the adult education provider's demonstrated success in serving these learners; and
(d) The demonstrated success of the adult education provider in enabling adults to attain basic literacy and numeracy skills and in assisting them to attain additional skills, postsecondary credentials, employment, and increased capacity to support the academic achievement of their own children or children for whom they provide care.
Source: L. 2014: Entire article RC&RE, (HB 14-1085), ch. 343, p. 1530, § 1, effective June 5. L. 2015: (1)(c) amended, (SB 15-108), ch. 12, p. 27, § 1, effective March 13. L. 2020: (1), IP(2), (2)(b), (3)(c)(II), and (3)(d) amended and (3)(a.5) and (3)(c.5) added, (SB 20-009), ch. 253, p. 1234, § 4, effective July 8.