You are here - OLRC Home   |   Site Index   |   Contact Us
		Go to.... - OLRC Home - About Us - Aspire - Projects - Publications - News & Events

April 1999

6.1 Local Applications

The State will employ a multiyear competitive grant application process to award funds for local activities that are in accordance with the considerations for funding described in Section 231(e) of the Adult Education and Literacy Act, Title II, of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Each eligible provider desiring to be considered for a grant or contract under authority of the Act shall submit an application to the Ohio Department of Education containing information and assurances required by the Department including:
(1) a description of how funds awarded under this Title will be spent; and
(2) a description of any cooperative arrangements the applicant has with other agencies, institutions, or organizations, for the plaCtrl-Entering, delivery, and evaluation of adult education and literacy programs and services.

6.2 Eligible Local Service Providers

For purposes of this Title, eligible local service providers include the following entities with demonstrated effectiveness in improving literacy skills of adults and families:
(1) a local educational agency;
(2) a community-based organization;
(3) a volunteer literacy organization;
(4) an institution of higher education;
(5) a public or private nonprofit agency;
(6) a public library;
(7) a public housing authority;
(8) a nonprofit institution not identified above that has the ability to provide literacy services to adults and families;
(9) a consortium of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities identified in items 1-8 above.

In order to be considered for a grant or contract under authority of this Title, private nonprofit agencies, organizations, and institutions, including volunteer and community-based organizations, must have secured formal tax exempt status as authorized by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and be so certified by the Internal Revenue Service.

No grant or contract may be made under authority of this plan for any educational program, activity, or service that is related to sectarian instruction, religious worship, or is provided by a school or department of divinity.

For purposes of this Title, for-profit agencies, organizations, and institutions are not eligible to apply for an award or contract at either the direct grant or sub-grant level. A sub-grant level may mean the inclusion of a for-profit entity as a member of a consortium application submitted by an eligible provider entity on behalf of a consortium.

6.3 Notice of Availability

ACtrl-Enterouncements of the availability of funds under this Title will be made by the following means:
(1) direct written notice to local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, Private Industry Councils, public libraries, public housing authorities, identified volunteer literacy and community based organizations, Community Action Agencies, appropriate state professional organizations and associations, identified state program partner offices, and other eligible providers requesting direct notice;

(2) written aCtrl-Enterouncement in publications and newsletters of The Ohio Department of Education, The Ohio Literacy Network, The Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education, The Ohio Literacy Resource Center, selected Ohio newspapers, and other identified publications and newsletters.

6.4 Local Application Process

Eligible local service providers will be provided direct and equitable access to funds under this Title by (1) allowance to apply directly to the Ohio Department of Education for consideration for a direct grant or contract and, (2) the use of the same aCtrl-Enterouncement and application process that provides all applicants with a reasonable and fair opportunity for selection.

Applications will be solicited, reviewed, and selected for funding on a multi-year basis according to the following tentative schedule and process:

February	Notice of fund availability made throughout the state
March-April	Preparation and submission of local applications
May-June	Review of applications, selection, and tentative notice of funding allocations
July	BegiCtrl-Entering of authorization and service period

6.5 Evaluation of Applications

The Ohio Department of Education will employ a competitive application review process for multi-year grants and contracts that considers:
(1) the degree of establishment of measurable goals for expected participant outcomes and achievements;

(2) the past effectiveness in providing literacy skills for adults and families, and, following adoption of State performance measures under Section 212 of the Act, success in meeting or exceeding such performance measures, especially with respect to those adults with the lowest levels of literacy;

(3) the commitment to serve individuals in the proposed service community who are most in need of literacy services, including individuals who are low-income or have minimal literacy skills;

(4) whether or not the proposed program:

a. is of sufficient intensity and duration for participants to achieve substantial learning gains; and
b. uses instructional practices, such as phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, fluency, and reading comprehension that research has proven to be effective in teaching individuals how to read;

(5) whether proposed activities are built on a strong foundation of research and effective educational practice;

(6) whether proposed activities effectively employ advances in technology, as appropriate, including the use of computers;

(7) whether proposed activities provide learning in real life contexts to ensure that an individual has the skills needed to compete in the workplace and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship;

(8) whether proposed activities are staffed by well-trained instructors, counselors, and administrators

(9) whether proposed activities coordinate with other available resources in the community, such as by establishing strong linkages with elementary and secondary schools, postsecondary educational institutions, One-Stop Employment and Training Centers, Adult Vocational Education Programs, Ohio Works First, other job training programs, and appropriate social service agencies;

(10) whether proposed activities offer flexible schedules and support services, such as child care and transportation, that are necessary to enable individuals, including individuals with disabilities or other special needs, to attend and complete programs;

(11) whether proposed activities maintain a high quality information management system that has the capacity to report participant outcomes and to monitor program performance against State agency performance measures;

(12) whether local applicants have a demonstrated need for additional English literacy programs.

(13) whether local applicants describe the steps they propose to take to ensure equitable access and equitable participation by addressing special needs of students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries in order to overcome barriers to equitable participation including barriers based on gender, race, color, national origin, disability, or age.

As indicated in Section 5.2, Additional Performance Indicators, the state has elected to use the revised Indicator of Program Quality as an additional set of performance indicators. The following table illustrates the relationship of these quality indicators to establish considerations for awarding grants and contracts to local service providers. It is the intention of the process for completion and evaluation of local applications to integrate these two sets of elements.

Relationship between the 12 considerations for awarding grants and Ohio's Indicators of Program Quality
Considerations	IPQ
1. Measurable Goals	1.0 Students demonstrate progress and attainment of skills 1.1 Students complete education requirements
2. Past effectiveness in improving literacy skills	1.0 Students demonstrate progress and attainment of skills 1.1 Students complete education requirements
3. Serve most in need	3.0 Program plaCtrl-Entering responsive to commuity need 7.0 Recruits from population in need of service
4. Intensity and Duration	3.0 Program plaCtrl-Entering responsive to commuity need 4.0 Curriculum and instruction based on individual participant need
5. Activities based on research	2.0 Environment conducive to adult learning 3.0 Program planing responsive to community need 4.0 Curriculum and instruction based on individual participant need
6. Uses technology	3.0 Program plaCtrl-Entering responsive to commuity need 4.0 Curriculum and instruction based on individual participant need
7. Real-life context	1.0 Students demonstrate progress and attainment of skills 3.0 Program plaCtrl-Entering responsive to commuity need 4.0 Curriculum and instruction based on individual participant need
8. Well-trained persoCtrl-Enterel	5.0 Ongoing professional development
9. Coordination/linkage (Internal)	3.0 Program plaCtrl-Entering responsive to commuity need 6.0 Idenitify students' needs and provide support directly or through referral
10. Flexible scheduling and support (External)	6.0 Idenitify students' needs and provide support directly or through referral
11. Information Management System	3.0 Program plaCtrl-Entering responsive to commuity need
12. Demonstrated need for literacy programs	3.0 Program plaCtrl-Entering responsive to commuity need 7.0 Recruits from population in need of service
13. Equitable access and participation	6.0 Idenitify students' needs and provide support directly or through referral 7.0 Recruits from population in need of service

6.6 Special Rule (administrative rules and policy)

Whenever the State implements any rule or policy relating to the administration or operation of a program authorized under this Title that has the effect of imposing a requirement not imposed under Federal law, the State shall identify, to eligible local service providers, the rule or policy as being State imposed. This identification shall also apply to any rule or policy that is based on a State interpretation of a Federal statute, regulation, or guideline. If such rules or policies are created, the agency will send a copy of such to the U.S. Department of Education when it is implemented.