Submission and Approval of Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) Project Applications

1. Who determines how much money is available to local programs for a given year?
   The Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education, Adult Basic and Literacy Education Unit calculates the allocation for each funded program. The allocation is based on the total federal and state appropriations and is distributed according to the formula established in the state plan. The total allocation is generally the sum of federal and state funds. The respective amounts of the federal and state funds are indicated in the approval letter that accompanies the approved project application.

2. How and when are the local programs notified of the amounts of money available?
   The allocation amounts are announced through letters normally mailed to the superintendent/agency director and project directors in May or June of each year. If, because of Congressional or Ohio General Assembly delay, the exact and final allocations cannot be determined at that time, then tentative allocations are provided for use in preparing the applications.

3. When is the application due in the Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education?
   The announcement of the application process occurs in February. The application is submitted to the Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education in April. The effective date for Instructional ABLE grants will be July 1 through the indicated closing date in the approved application which is usually June 30.

4. Who reviews and approves the application?
   The application is reviewed by the ABLE program consultant assigned to that program. After any necessary revisions have been made in the application by program representatives and the office's program consultant, the application is forwarded to the State Director of the Adult Basic and Literacy Education Unit for review and approval.

5. Who should receive a copy of the approved application?
   An approved application and approval letter will be mailed by the Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education to the agency superintendent/agency director and treasurer. It is the responsibility of the superintendent/agency director to ensure that copies of the approved application are provided to all other persons who are required by public law or federal regulations to receive the application.

6. May the amount of the budget included in the application be different from the program's allocation?
   Yes. The amount of the approved budget may be less than the program's allocation, but not greater.

7. What happens to the unapproved portion of the allocation?
   The district/agency may submit a revised budget during the project year increasing the total amount of the budget up to, but not exceeding, the amount of the allocation. However, if the allocation exceeds the amount of the approved budget at the end of the year for which the allocation was made, the unapproved balance becomes available for possible use as carryover funds during the following year. If the district/agency will not use all of the unspent portion of the allocation as carry-over money, the amount that is not needed should be released by letter for reallocation to other programs.