Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2006

Priorities are to support programs and/or collaborations that:

1. provide a continuum of Adult Basic Education (ABE) instructional and support services. Grantees must offer adult students access to instructional services from basic literacy or beginning English language proficiency through high school level skills;

2. provide instructional and support services based on the needs and assets that have been identified through a community planning partnership or other planning process;

3. provide high quality services that are effective in assisting adults to think critically and achieve their goals as family members, workers, community members, and life-long learners;

4. enable adults to succeed in post-secondary education;

5. serve the students most in need of literacy and English communication skills;

6. integrate ABE instructional services with other workforce development services; and

7. implement highly effective teaching methods based on research and evidence based practice.

Eligible applicants are public and private non-profit entities that include cities and towns, school districts, community colleges and other institutions of higher learning, correctional facilities, and community-based organizations. Cities or towns with less than 1,800 adults in need of ABE services must apply as part of a collaboration. However, one or more cities/towns with less than 1,800 adults in need of services may apply, if the applicant can demonstrate that significant geographic isolation is a barrier to collaboration (e.g., an island such as Martha's Vineyard).

Institutions (other than for incarcerated adults) with 200 or more eligible residents in a single location may apply independently or as part of a collaboration. If the number of eligible residents is fewer than 200, collaboration with another eligible entity would be required.

Funds may be used for ABE instructional services, including Adult Basic Education/literacy, pre-adult secondary education, adult secondary education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), pre-literacy ESOL, and Adult Diploma classes that are designed in accordance with the Guidelines for Effective Adult Basic Education and the ABE Rates System.

Eligible students are individuals 16 years of age or older who: are not enrolled in a secondary school; have the capacity to acquire basic reading and writing skills; lack the level of reading, writing, and/or numeracy skills expected of a high school graduate (even if they possess a high school diploma); and/or are limited English proficient.

Applicants proposing to operate a Community Adult Learning Center may also apply for the following non-rate based classes: supplemental non-rate based classes (e.g., writing, computer literacy, health, citizenship); and the stand alone non-rate based classes (GED preparation in a content area and drop-in learning center).

Applicants proposing to operate a Community Adult Learning Center may also apply for one or more of the following program service options: ABE for the Homeless; Participatory Health Education; Family Literacy; and Volunteer Tutoring. Note: Refer to the Guidelines for Effective ABE and the following component/service option details for additional information.

A limited amount of available funds will be set-aside for the following.

Space - The Department will support up to 50% of the cost of the space related to the operation of the Community Adult Learning Center. Cost must be proportionate to Department-funded program's usage of the space. All facilities must be ADA compliant. Applicants that provide substantial matching funds for space costs will receive priority for the space set-aside funding.

Childcare - Childcare must be provided in a safe, suitable, and stimulating environment available to parents during class hours. Applicants that provide substantial matching funds or in-kind childcare resources for parents in ABE programs will receive priority for the childcare set-aside funding.

Student Transportation - Transportation funds may cover a portion of student transportation to and from the instructional services. Allowable costs include: vehicle insurance; bus fares; mileage; modest lease/purchase costs on vans/mini-bus; and/or personnel costs for a driver. Documentation regarding the use of transportation funds is required. Applicants that provide substantial matching funds or in-kind resources for student transportation will receive priority for the student transportation set-aside funding.

Student Leadership - Programs may request set-aside funds for projects and/or activities that create opportunities for student participation, including but not limited to, the following areas: planning; evaluation; governance; curriculum development; mentoring; outreach; and public relations. Programs that incorporate specific leadership training for students and/or health education will be given priority for student leadership set-aside funding. Requests should not exceed $2,000.

Reimbursement for Staff Travel for Programs Serving Rural Communities - Programs with multiple sites serving rural communities may apply for funds (above the allocation in the ABE rates) for staff travel to required meetings, etc. Note: A community is designated as rural if the community resides in a county with a population density of less than 750 people per square mile AND the community has a population density of less than 750 people per square mile.

7/1/2005 - 6/30/2006 (State-funded - Fund Code: 345)

9/1/2005 - 8/31/2006 (Federally-funded - Fund Codes: 340, 359)

Monday, January 10, 2005

Competitive proposals must be received at the Department by 3:00 p.m. on the date due.

1. Letter of Intent to Apply Form: [ WORD | PDF ]

2. Part I - General - Program Unit Signature Page - (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants): [ WORD | PDF ]

3. Part II Budget Detail Pages (Include both pages): [ WORD | PDF | EXCEL | Instructions ]

4. Part III - Required Program Information: [ WORD | PDF ]

5. Statement of Assurances: [ WORD | PDF ]

6. Schedule B - Cost Sharing or Matching Schedule: [ WORD | PDF ]

• See Table 2 for instructions and requirements: [ WORD | PDF ]

All applicants must submit a program design that is consistent with the Guidelines for Effective ABE and the ABE Rates System.

All applicants must complete and submit the following required components of the Department of Education's web-based planning and reporting system, the System for Managing Accountability and Results Through Technology (SMARTT). (See Additional Information.)

Elements of the SMARTT Plan

• Class Plan

• Class Funding Detail Sheet

• Flex/Set-Aside/Foundation Sheet

• DOE Direct Staff Plan

• DOE Direct Staff Salary Analysis

• DOE Direct Project Staff Salary Report

• DOE Direct Summary Sheet

• DOE Direct Prototype Budget Sheet

• Volunteer Plan (if applicable)

• Administrative Cost Worksheet

• Non-DOE Staff Plan

• Non-DOE Project Staff Salary Report

• Non-DOE Summary Sheet

• Non-DOE Prototype Budget Sheet

• Summary (of both DOE and Non-DOE) Budget Sheet

• Summary (of both DOE and Non-DOE) Staff Plan

Hard copies of the above components of the SMARTT plan must be submitted in Appendix C.

Applicants are required to provide an auditable matching share of 20% of the total amount of the requested grant award. Currently funded grantees must provide a matching share that is not less than their current matching share (maintenance of effort amount) or 20% of the requested amount, whichever is greater.

Applicants must sign the Statement of Assurances and adhere to the eligibility requirements therein.

• ABE Curriculum Frameworks

• ABE Professional Standards

• Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual

• Class Size Chart

• Countable Outcomes Manual

• Glossary

• Guidelines for Effective Adult Basic Education (Revised 10/2004): [ WORD ] | [ PDF ]

• Indicators of Program Quality

• Needs Points Chart

• SMARTT Program Planning (Elements the SMARTT Plan)

The Letter of Intent to Apply Form must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 19, 2004. It should be sent by Certified, Registered, or Return Receipt Requested mail.

Mail to:

Karen McCabe
Adult and Community Learning Services
Massachusetts Department of Education
75 Pleasant Street 4^th Floor
Malden, MA 02148-4906

Proposal
Submission
Instructions:

Due:
Monday,
January 10, 2005

Submit 7 sets of the proposal, with an original signature (in blue ink) of the Superintendent/Executive Director/President on TWO sets.

Proposals are due on Monday, January 10, 2005 by 3:00 p.m.

Mail to:

Charlene Collins, Fiscal Liaison
Adult and Community Learning Services
Massachusetts Department of Education
75 Pleasant Street 4^th Floor
Malden, MA 02148-4906

All applicants requesting funding to operate a Community Adult Learning Center must respond to Sections I through V.

Applicants proposing to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services that incorporate significant Civics Education must respond to Section VI.

Applicants requesting set-aside funds must respond to Section VII. Responses to Section VII Request for Set-aside Funds are not assigned any points.

All applicants must respond to Section VIII.

Applicants applying to operate a Community Adult Learning Center but not proposing to provide English Language/Civics Education services must limit their response to no more than 25 pages, single-spaced with 12-point font for Section I - Community Assets and Needs through Section VI - Evaluation/Continuous Improvement.

Applicants applying to operate a Community Adult Learning Center and proposing to provide English Language/Civics Education services must limit their response to no more than 2 additional pages or 27 pages total, single-spaced with 12-point font.

Applicants applying for set-aside funds must limit their response to no more than 3 additional pages, single-spaced with 12-point font.

Responses to Section VIII - Budget are not included in the page limit.

Paginate the proposal including Appendices.