12 Availabililty of State grant funds for adult literacy programs

Availability of State Grant Funds for Adult Literacy Programs

[26 Pa.B. 37]

   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 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 in order 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 the 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 office, 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 Guidelines will be mailed to current adult basic education providers in mid-January. Others desiring additional information or Application Guidelines may obtain them after January 8, 1996, 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 person should attend the workshop.

Section 322/Act 143 Administrative Workshops

Date/Time	Site
January 30, 1996 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 31, 1996 10 a.m.	Pittsburgh Bidwell Training Center 1815 Metropolitan Street Auditorium
February 1, 1996 9:30 a.m.	Altoona Altoona Area High School Board Rm. B-229 (2nd Floor) B Building 6th Avenue and 15th Street
February 6, 1996 10 a.m.	Harrisburg Harrisburg Area Community College One HACC Drive Alumni Lounge (Cooper 204)
February 7, 1996 10 a.m.	Scranton Marywood College 2300 Adams Street Nazareth Hall Student Center Crystal Room
February 8, 1996 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 9, 1996 10 a.m.	Radnor Cabrini College 610 King of Prussia Road Widener Center--Lecture Hall

All completed Act 143 applications are due in Harrisburg on or before 5 p.m., March 15, 1996.

EUGENE W. HICKOK, Jr.,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-12. Filed for public inspection January 5, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]