(a) From grant funds made available under section 222(a)(1) of the Act, each eligible agency must award competitive multiyear grants or contracts to eligible providers within the State or outlying area to enable the eligible providers to develop, implement, and improve adult education and literacy activities within the State or outlying area.

(b) The eligible agency must require that each eligible provider receiving a grant or contract use the funding to establish or operate programs that provide adult education and literacy activities, including programs that provide such activities concurrently.

(c) In conducting the competitive grant process, the eligible agency must ensure that—

(1) All eligible providers have direct and equitable access to apply and compete for grants or contracts;

(2) The same grant or contract announcement and application processes are used for all eligible providers in the State or outlying area; and

(3) In awarding grants or contracts to eligible providers for adult education and literacy activities, funds shall not be used for the purpose of supporting or providing programs, services, or activities for individuals who are not eligible individuals as defined in the Act, except that such agency may use such funds for such purpose if such programs, services, or activities are related to family literacy activities. Prior to providing family literacy activities for individuals who are not eligible individuals, an eligible provider shall attempt to coordinate with programs and services that do not receive funding under this title.

(d) 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.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3321)

(a) An eligible agency must establish, within its grant or contract competition, a process that provides for the submission of all applications for funds under AEFLA to the appropriate Local Boards.

(b) The process must include—

(1) Submission of the applications to the appropriate Local Board for its review for consistency with the local plan within the appropriate timeframe; and

(2) An opportunity for the local board to make recommendations to the eligible agency to promote alignment with the local plan.

(c) The eligible agency must consider the results of the review by the Local Board in determining the extent to which the application addresses the required considerations in § 463.20.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3122(d)(11), 3321(e), 3322)

(a) Each eligible provider seeking a grant or contract must submit an application to the eligible agency containing the information and assurances listed below, as well as any additional information required by the eligible agency, including:

(1) A description of how funds awarded under this title will be spent consistent with the requirements of title II of AEFLA;

(2) A description of any cooperative arrangements the eligible provider has with other agencies, institutions, or organizations for the delivery of adult education and literacy activities;

(3) A description of how the eligible provider will provide services in alignment with the local workforce development plan, including how such provider will promote concurrent enrollment in programs and activities under title I, as appropriate;

(4) A description of how the eligible provider will meet the State-adjusted levels of performance for the primary indicators of performance identified in the State's Unified or Combined State Plan, including how such provider will collect data to report on such performance indicators;

(5) A description of how the eligible provider will fulfill, as appropriate, required one-stop partner responsibilities to—

(i) Provide access through the one-stop delivery system to adult education and literacy activities;

(ii) Use a portion of the funds made available under the Act to maintain the one-stop delivery system, including payment of the infrastructure costs for the one-stop centers, in accordance with the methods agreed upon by the Local Board and described in the memorandum of understanding or the determination of the Governor regarding State one-stop infrastructure funding;

(iii) Enter into a local memorandum of understanding with the Local Board, relating to the operations of the one-stop system;

(iv) Participate in the operation of the one-stop system consistent with the terms of the memorandum of understanding, and the requirements of the Act; and

(v) Provide representation to the State board;

(6) A description of how the eligible provider will provide services in a manner that meets the needs of eligible individuals;

(7) Information that addresses the 13 considerations listed in § 463.20; and

(8) Documentation of the activities required by § 463.21(b).

(b) [Reserved]

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3322)

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.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3272(5))

(a) For the purposes of this section, 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, in the content domains of reading, writing, mathematics, English language acquisition, and other subject areas relevant to the services contained in the State's application for funds. An eligible provider 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.

(b) There are two ways in which an eligible provider may meet the requirements in paragraph (a) of this section:

(1) An eligible provider that has been funded under title II of the Act must provide performance data required under section 116 to demonstrate past effectiveness.

(2) An eligible provider that has not been previously funded under title II of the Act 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 in paragraph (a) of this section.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3272(5))

Not more than five percent of a local grant to an eligible provider can be expended to administer a grant or contract under title II. In cases where five percent is too restrictive to allow for administrative activities, the eligible agency may increase the amount that can be spent on local administration. In such cases, the eligible provider must negotiate with the eligible agency to determine an adequate level of funds to be used for non-instructional purposes.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3323)

An eligible provider receiving a grant or contract under this part may consider costs incurred in connection with the following activities to be administrative costs:

(a) Planning;

(b) Administration, including carrying out performance accountability requirements;

(c) Professional development;

(d) Providing adult education and literacy services in alignment with local workforce plans, including promoting co-enrollment in programs and activities under title I, as appropriate; and

(e) Carrying out the one-stop partner responsibilities described in § 678.420, including contributing to the infrastructure costs of the one-stop delivery system.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3323, 3322, 3151)