Adult Education - Basic Grants to States

To fund local programs of adult education and literacy services, including workplace literacy services, family literacy services, and English literacy and integrated English literacy-civics education programs. Participation in these programs is limited to adults and out-of-school youths aged 16 and older who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent and who are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in a secondary school under State law. See 29 U.S.C. 3271.

Formula grants are made to designated eligible State agencies that under State law are responsible for administering or supervising statewide policy for adult education and literacy, including such entities as State educational agencies (SEAs), postsecondary agencies, or workforce agencies. State agencies must provide direct and equitable access to: local educational agencies; public or private nonprofit agencies; community-based organizations of demonstrated effectiveness; institutions of higher education; volunteer literacy organizations of demonstrated effectiveness; libraries; public housing authorities; nonprofit institutions not described above that have the ability to provide literacy services to adults and families; and consortia of the entities described above.

Statutory Formula: Title Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Part Subtitle A, Subpart Section 211 (c),Public Law 113-128.Statutory Formula: Title Chapter Part Subpart Public Law Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (P.L. 113-128), Title II, Subtitle A, section 211(c). The statute requires the Department to make an initial allotment of $250,000 to each State and $100,000 to each Outlying Area, and to distribute remaining funds on the basis of each State�s share of qualifying adults. Qualifying adults are defined as individuals aged 16 and older who lack a high school diploma or the equivalent, who are beyond the age of compulsory education in their States, and who are not currently enrolled in school. The statute includes a �hold-harmless� provision ensuring that each State receives at least 90 percent of its previous year�s allocation. If funding is insufficient to satisfy...