122 Availability of Pennsylvania State grant funds for adult literacy programs for program year 1999-2000

Availability of Pennsylvania State Grant Funds for Adult Literacy Programs for Program Year 1999-2000

[29 Pa.B. 463]

   Act 143 of 1986, as approved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and signed into law on October 22, 1986, established the Pennsylvania Adult Literacy Education Grant Program. This program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for adult literacy programs that will:

   1.  Enable out-of-school youth and adults 17 years of age and older who are nonreaders or who read below the 5th grade level or who lack basic English language proficiency to improve their basic skills to increase their prospects for a more productive life; and

   2.  Expand the availability of adult literacy and other adult education programs, including volunteer programs, in this Commonwealth.

   Eligible applicants include literacy councils, libraries, local education agencies, community colleges, and public and private nonprofit agencies, organizations and institutions. Priority consideration will be given to applications that will conduct programs that expect to enroll high numbers of eligible adults who: are receiving public assistance; do not have high school diplomas; are members of minority groups; and/or have less than a 5th grade reading level. Priority also will be given to programs that provide client outreach and referral activities that are coordinated with other adult education and literacy programs, county assistance offices, social service agencies, offices of employment security, Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs, and other community groups or agencies that provide services and assistance to persons in need of basic literacy skills.

   Restrictions placed upon the State Department of Education for the administration of the grant by Act 143 are:

   1.  No more than 20% of the annual appropriation shall be used to provide education to institutionalized adults.

   2.  No more than 20% of the annual appropriation shall be used for programs of equivalency for a certificate of graduation from a secondary school.

   3.  At least 20% of the annual appropriation shall be used for training volunteer adult literacy tutors.

   4.  No more than 10% of any grant to an eligible agency may be used for support services.

   5.  No more than 10% of any grant to an eligible agency may be used for administration.

   Application due dates: Act 143 State Grant renewals: March 5, 1999

   Application Procedures and Program Guidelines will be mailed to current adult basic education providers in mid-January. Others desiring additional information or Application Procedures and Program Guidelines may obtain them after January 25, 1999, by written request to:

Chief, Regional Programs Division
Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333

   The Application Procedures and Program Guidelines are also available on the Bureau's web site at: http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/pde/able/ablesite.html.

   All potential applicants are urged to attend the combined proposal development workshop for Federal Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Section 231, and State Adult Literacy Program, Act 143 of 1986. This workshop will be conducted by teleconference on January 29, 1999 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For the nearest downlink site and to ensure that space, materials and handouts are available, all attendees must register for a downlink site by contacting the Distance Learning Center at [phone]. For individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, the Pennsylvania Relay Service [phone] (TTY) can be used to call the Distance Learning Center. To ensure timely administration and processing of applications, both the grant writer and the fiscal officer should attend the workshop.

EUGENE W. HICKOK,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 99-122. Filed for public inspection January 22, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]