DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATIONBureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education; Availability of Funds [41 Pa.B. 2337]
[Saturday, May 7, 2011]The Department of Education (Department) announces the availability of approximately $2 million in grant funds to be awarded under section 223 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) (20 U.S.C.A. § 9223), (regarding state leadership activities in this Commonwealth).
Activities to be conducted under these grants will support adult education and family literacy activities carried out under section 231 of WIA (20 U.S.C.A. § 9241) and the Pennsylvania Adult and Family Literacy Education Act through:
• The operation of professional development programs to improve the quality of instruction provided under local activities, including instruction incorporating phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, fluency, reading comprehension and instruction provided by volunteers.
• The provision of technical assistance to eligible providers of adult education and family literacy activities.
• The provision of technology assistance, including staff training, to eligible providers of adult education and family literacy providers to improve the quality of the activities.
• The monitoring and evaluation of the quality of, and the improvement in, adult education and family literacy activities.
• Coordination with existing support services, such as transportation, child care and other assistance designed to increase rates of enrollment in, and successful completion of adult education and family literacy activities, to adults enrolled in the activities.
• Integration of literacy instruction and occupational skills training and promoting linkages with employers.
• Linkages with postsecondary educational institutions.
See specific priority announcements at www. paadulted.org. In carrying out these activities, eligible providers shall collaborate when possible and avoid duplicating efforts to maximize the impact of the activities described previously.
Eligible applicants for funds authorized under these sources are as follows:
• Local education agencies
• Community-based organizations of demonstrated effectiveness
• Volunteer literacy organizations of demonstrated effectiveness
• Institutions of higher education
• Public or private nonprofit agencies
• Libraries
• Public housing authorities
• Nonprofit institutions not previously described that have the ability to provide literacy services to adults and families
• Consortia of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries or authorities previously described
The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is June 3, 2011. Applications must be submitted through the Department's e-grants system no later than 4 p.m. E-grants records the time of submission. This recorded time will be used to determine submission time. Any applications received after the deadline will not be scored and will be ineligible for a grant.
Applications must be completed online and submitted by means of the e-grants web site at http://egrants. ed.state.pa.us to the Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE). Instructions for the use of the e-grants system and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Guidelines for PY 2011-12 are available at www. education.state.pa.us and through the e-grant web site.
The grant period will be for a term of 3 years—July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2014, except that the grant might be terminated earlier upon either implementation of a new WIA State Plan or reauthorization of the WIA. Funding for years 2 and 3 of the 3-year grant period will be provided through annual contract renewals. Renewal will occur provided that sufficient progress is made toward meeting project goals as set forth by ABLE. At the end of the grant period, grantees will be authorized to reapply and compete with other applicants for another multiyear term. These grants will be funded by riders to a Master Agreement executed between the Department and the funded agency. Agencies not currently funded will be given instructions on execution of the Master Agreement once grant applications are approved by ABLE.
All potential applicants are urged to attend the bidders' webinar to receive information on program guidelines and requirements for submitting e-grants applications for adult education and family literacy programs. This webinar will be conducted at http://vclass.cciu.org on May 13, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. A recording of the webinar will remain at the previously mentioned site for a period of 60 days. To ensure timely administration and processing of e-grant applications, both the grant writer and the fiscal officer should attend the bidders' conference.
RONALD J. TOMALIS,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-766. Filed for public inspection May 6, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]
