11 Availability of Adult Education Act Section 322 Funds for adult basic education for Program Year 1997-98

Availability of Adult Education Act Section 322 Funds for Adult Basic Education for Program Year 1997-98

[27 Pa.B. 25]

   The Adult Education Act as amended by the National Literacy Act of 1991 provides funds to local agencies through the Department of Education for the establishment of adult education programs that will:

   1.  enable all adults to acquire basic educational skills necessary for literate functioning;

   2.  provide these adults with sufficient basic education to enable them to benefit from job training and retraining programs in order to obtain and retain productive employment so that they might more fully enjoy the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship; and

   3.  enable adults who so desire to continue their education to at least the level of completion of secondary school.

   Eligible applicants include local education agencies and public or private nonprofit agencies, organizations and institutions. A for-profit agency is eligible to participate in the program only if it is part of a consortium with a local education agency or other eligible sponsor, with the nonprofit agency acting as fiscal agent. A for-profit organization must also have the capability and capacity to augment significantly the adult education services of such a consortium.

   Consistent with the purpose of the Adult Education Act, for Program Year 1997-98, the Department of Education will give primary consideration to programs for the educationally disadvantaged.

   Priority for funding will be given to applicants for the continuation of existing programs that have demonstrated an ability to produce results consistent with the objectives of the Adult Education Act.

   The Federal share of a grant will be 75% of the total cost of the program. The applicant must provide 25% match of the total cost of the program. The local match may be in kind. Other Federal funds may not be used for the local match unless specifically identified as eligible for use as matching funds.

   Restrictions placed upon the Department of Education by the U. S. Department of Education on the administration of the grant include:

   1.  Not more than 20% of the Federal grant to the State Department of Education may be used for programs of equivalency for a certificate of graduation from a secondary school.

   2.  Not less than 10% of the State's allotment must be used for adult education for institutionalized adults.

   3.  Not more than 5% of a local applicant's grant may be used for administrative costs, unless a higher percent is approved in advance by the Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education, Department of Education.

   Application due dates:

   1.  For applications to renew existing programs in accordance with the funds allocation letters published by the Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education, the due date is March 28, 1997.

   2.  For applications to expand existing programs or to initiate new programs in accordance with procedures described in the 1997-98 Applications Procedures and Program Guidelines Annex, the due date is April 30, 1997.

   Note:  The Bureau reserves the right to consider proposals received after the deadlines and, if appropriate, to approve them if and when funds become available.

   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 10, 1997, by written request to Chief, Regional Programs Division, Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education, Department of Education, 333 Market Street, 12th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333.

   All potential applicants are urged to attend one of the following combined proposal development workshops for Federal Adult Education Act, Section 322, and State Adult Literacy Program, Act 143 of 1986. In order to ensure timely administration and processing of applications, both the grant writer and the fiscal officer should attend the workshop.

Section 322/Act 143 Administrative Workshops

Date/Time	Site
January 29, 1997 10 a.m.	Saegertown Saegertown High School (located just behind the elementary school) Administration Rooms (Saegertown exit off I-79, Rte 198, on right--East)
January 30, 1997 10 a.m.	Pittsburgh Bidwell Training Center 1815 Metropolitan Street Auditorium
January 31, 1997 10 a.m.	Altoona Altoona Area High School Community Education Center 6th Avenue and 45th Street
February 10, 1997 10 a.m.	Harrisburg Harrisburg Area Community College One HACC Drive Alumni Lounge (Cooper 204)
February 12, 1997 10 a.m.	Scranton Marywood College 2300 Adams Street Nazareth Hall Student Center Crystal Room
February 13, 1997 10 a.m.	Philadelphia Community College of Philadelphia (Near 17th and Spring Garden across from Bonnell Building) Winet Student Life Center (Parking available in garage adjacent to Winet Building)
February 14, 1997 10 a.m.	Norristown Montgomery County IU # 23 1605-B W. Main Street

   All completed section 143 applications are due in Harrisburg on or before 5 p.m., March 14, 1997.

EUGENE W. HICKOK, Jr.,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-11. Filed for public inspection January 3, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]