Adult Education Request for Proposals (RFP) 2025 - 2030

This page will contain all information pertinent to the Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the 2025 – 2030 Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) grant, which includes WIOA sections 231, 225, and 243. Visitors are encouraged to return regularly to view updates.

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Introduction

Timeline

Application Materials

Training Sessions

Recordings

13 Considerations in Awarding Grants

Alignment with WIOA State Plan

Definitions and Information

Questions and Answers

Introduction

The Kansas Board of Regents Adult Education department will open a multi-year grant competition in August 2024 to eligible providers as required by WIOA Title II, 34 CFR 463.20, with a grant period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.

Proposals for funding will be received from eligible providers with demonstrated effectiveness.

• Funding under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (WIOA section 231) will be for developing, implementing, and improving adult education and literacy activities within the State by establishing or operating programs to provide a comprehensive service model for adult education and literacy services, including programs that provide such activities concurrently.
• Funding under Corrections Education (WIOA section 225) will be for eligible providers developing, implementing, and improving programs for Corrections Education and the Education of Other Institutionalized Individuals.
• Funding under Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE, WIOA section 243) will be for eligible providers developing, implementing, and improving programs for eligible participants in IELCE activities.

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timeline

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Application materials

Application materials will be available here as of August 2, 2024.

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Training sessions

Links to open training sessions will be available here no less than 30 days prior to each session.

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Recordings

Recordings of training sessions will be available here within 72 hours after the conclusion of each training.

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13 considerations in awarding grants

In awarding grants or contracts for adult education and literacy activities to eligible providers, the eligible agency must consider the following:
(1) The degree to which the eligible provider would be responsive to—
(i) Regional needs as identified in the local workforce development plan; and
(ii) Serving individuals in the community who were identified in such plan as most in need of adult education and literacy activities, including individuals who—
(A) Have low levels of literacy skills; or
(B) Are English language learners;

(2) The ability of the eligible provider to serve eligible individuals with disabilities, including eligible individuals with learning disabilities;

(3) The past effectiveness of the eligible provider in improving the literacy of eligible individuals, especially those individuals who have low levels of literacy, and the degree to which those improvements contribute to the eligible agency meeting its State-adjusted levels of performance for the primary indicators of performance described in § 677.155;

(4) The extent to which the eligible provider demonstrates alignment between proposed activities and services and the strategy and goals of the local plan under section 108 of the Act, as well as the activities and services of the one-stop partners;

(5) Whether the eligible provider's program—
(i) Is of sufficient intensity and quality, and based on the most rigorous research available so that participants achieve substantial learning gains; and
(ii) Uses instructional practices that include the essential components of reading instruction;

(6) Whether the eligible provider's activities, including whether reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, and English language acquisition instruction delivered by the eligible provider, are based on the best practices derived from the most rigorous research available, including scientifically valid research and effective educational practice;

(7) Whether the eligible provider's activities effectively use technology, services and delivery systems, including distance education, in a manner sufficient to increase the amount and quality of learning, and how such technology, services, and systems lead to improved performance;

(8) Whether the eligible provider's activities provide learning in context, including through integrated education and training, so that an individual acquires the skills needed to transition to and complete postsecondary education and training programs, obtain and advance in employment leading to economic self-sufficiency, and to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship;

(9) Whether the eligible provider's activities are delivered by instructors, counselors, and administrators who meet any minimum qualifications established by the State, where applicable, and who have access to high-quality professional development, including through electronic means;

(10) Whether the eligible provider coordinates with other available education, training, and social service resources in the community, such as by establishing strong links with elementary schools and secondary schools, postsecondary educational institutions, institutions of higher education, Local WDBs, one-stop centers, job training programs, and social service agencies, business, industry, labor organizations, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and intermediaries, in the development of career pathways;

(11) Whether the eligible provider's activities offer the flexible schedules and coordination with Federal, State, and local support services (such as child care, transportation, mental health services, and career planning) that are necessary to enable individuals, including individuals with disabilities or other special needs, to attend and complete programs;

(12) Whether the eligible provider maintains a high-quality information management system that has the capacity to report measurable participant outcomes (consistent with section § 666.100) and to monitor program performance; and

(13) Whether the local area in which the eligible provider is located has a demonstrated need for additional English language acquisition programs and civics education programs.

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alignment with wioa state plan

In addition to addressing the 13 Considerations outlined above, the state requires alignment with the Kansas WIOA Combined State Plan. The 2024 Plan submitted in March 2024 is available below. Because this Plan has not yet been federally approved, changes are possible. Updates will be shared to this webpage. Published Plans are available at https://wioaplans.ed.gov.

WIOA Combined State Plan as of March 4, 2024: Kansas WIOA 2024 (pdf)

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Definitions and Information

Eligible Providers, 34 CFR 463.23
An organization that has demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy activities is eligible to apply for a grant or contract. These organizations may include, but are not limited to:
(a) A local educational agency;
(b) A community-based organization or faith-based organization;
(c) A volunteer literacy organization;
(d) An institution of higher education;
(e) A public or private nonprofit agency;
(f) A library;
(g) A public housing authority;
(h) A nonprofit institution that is not described in any of paragraphs (a) through (g) of this section and has the ability to provide adult education and literacy activities to eligible individuals;
(i) A consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described in any of paragraphs (a) through (h) of this section; and
(j) A partnership between an employer and an entity described in any of paragraphs (a) through (i) of this section.

Demonstrated Effectiveness, 34 CFR 463.24
An eligible provider must demonstrate past effectiveness by providing performance data on its record of improving the skills of eligible individuals, particularly eligible individuals who have low levels of literacy. This must be demonstrated in the following content domains:
• reading,
• writing,
• mathematics,
• English language acquisition, and
• other subject areas relevant to the services contained in the State's application for funds.

An applicant must also provide information regarding its outcomes for participants related to—
• employment,
• attainment of secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and
• transition to postsecondary education and training.

There are two ways an eligible provider may meet the requirements:
(1) An applicant that has been previously funded under AEFLA, as amended by WIOA must submit performance data required under section 116 to demonstrate past effectiveness.
(2) An applicant that has not been previously funded under AEFLA, as amended by WIOA must provide performance data to demonstrate its past effectiveness in serving basic skills deficient eligible individuals, including evidence of its success in achieving outcomes listed above.

Adult Education and Literacy Activities, 34 CFR 463.30
The term “adult education and literacy activities” means programs, activities, and services that include:
(a) Adult education,
(b) Literacy,
(c) Workplace adult education and literacy activities,
(d) Family literacy activities,
(e) English language acquisition activities,
(f) Integrated English literacy and civics education,
(g) Workforce preparation activities, or
(h) Integrated education and training.

Section 225 Programs for Corrections Education and the Education of Other Institutionalized Individuals, 34 CFR 463.60

(a) Authorized under section 225 of the Act, programs for corrections education and the education of other institutionalized individuals require each eligible agency to carry out corrections education and education for other institutionalized individuals using funds provided under section 222 of the Act.
(b) The funds described in paragraph (a) of this section must be used for the cost of educational programs for criminal offenders in correctional institutions and other institutionalized individuals, including academic programs for—
   (1) Adult education and literacy activities;
   (2) Special education, as determined by the eligible agency;
   (3) Secondary school credit;
   (4) Integrated education and training;
   (5) Career pathways;
   (6) Concurrent enrollment;
   (7) Peer tutoring; and
   (8) Transition to re-entry initiatives and other post-release-services with the goal of reducing recidivism.

Section 243 IELCE Participants and Activities, 34 CFR 463.70, 34 CFR 463.73
What is the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education program?
(a) The Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education program refers to the use of funds provided under section 243 of the Act for education services for English language learners who are adults, including professionals with degrees and credentials in their native countries.
(b) The Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education program delivers educational services as described in § 463.33.
(c) Such educational services must be delivered in combination with integrated education and training activities as described in § 463.36.

Eligible providers receiving funds through the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education program must provide services that—
(a) Include instruction in literacy and English language acquisition and instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation; and
(b) Are designed to: (1) Prepare adults who are English language learners for, and place such adults in, unsubsidized employment in in-demand industries and occupations that lead to economic self-sufficiency; and (2) Integrate with the local workforce development system and its functions to carry out the activities of the program.

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questions and answers

Questions and Answers Information

Questions should be submitted in writing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (note the underscore between “AdultEd” and “RFP”) or mailed to Hector Martinez, Kansas Board of Regents, 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 520, Topeka, KS 66612. Questions submitted via email will receive a form response acknowledging receipt.

Personal or identifying information should not be included in questions; such information will be redacted if necessary. When submitting questions, please phrase as clearly as possible. If necessary, KBOR staff will request clarification. Both the original and final questions will be shared publicly, along with the response.

All questions will be answered publicly on this webpage. Kansas Board of Regents staff members are unable to discuss the RFP non-publicly.

NOTE: Prior to the release of application materials, no questions about the content of materials can be answered. Any such questions will be acknowledged as received but will need to be resubmitted after application materials are available if the question has not been resolved by the application materials themselves.

Questions received by 5:00pm three (3) business days prior to the publish date will be answered in the scheduled Questions and Answers. Questions received after that date and time will be answered in the next scheduled Questions and Answers.

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Questions and Answers Published April 30, 2024

 PENDING

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