Funding Opportunities for Innovative Adult Education Programs
The recent issue of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) [www] Connection, Issue #83, announces the New Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) [www] – Wave III applications for funding opportunities to serve adults and boost college readiness.
NGLC is a collaborative, multi-year grant program aimed at increasing college readiness and completion through applied technology. Grant money will be issued in multiple funding "waves," with applications currently open for Wave III [www] grants.
The current round of applications for Wave III, are available to all entities, taxable, and non-exempt organizations, and U.S. federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies. This includes adult education program applicants and will especially seek to help both low income and students of color reach their educational goals.
CALPRO Online Workshops Coming Up
The California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO) will offer six online workshops in real time, beginning in February 2012. These highly interactive professional learning events are open all eligible adult educators, i.e., those who currently work in programs that receive funding through the California Department of Education, Adult Education Office.
Spring 2012 workshops in real time include:
- Teaching Critical Thinking series of three workshops in February:
Session 1: Critical Thinking and Metacognition (Feb. 3)
Session 2: Problem Solving and Decision Making (Feb. 10)
Implementing Critical Thinking Strategies (Feb. 17) - Integrated and Contextualized Workforce Skills in the Adult Education Classroom
Session 1: Transferable Skills for the Workplace (offered in two parts: April 17 and 19) - Integrated and Contextualized Workforce Skills in the ESL Classroom,
Session 2. Contextualized Instructional Strategies (offered in two parts: May 8 and 10) - Integrated and Contextualized Workforce Skills in the ABE/ASE Classroom,
Session 2. Contextualized Instructional Strategies (offered in two parts: May 15 and 17)
Subject experts facilitate these online workshops in 90-minute segments; enrollment is limited and on a first-registered, first–enrolled basis.
Register today through the statewide adult education professional development calendar [www]!
For more information about these workshops go to: http://calpro-online.org/onlinerealtimeworkshops.asp [www].
Nearly $98.5 Million in Workforce Innovation Fund Grants
On Dec. 22, 2011, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced the availability of approximately $98.5 million through the Workforce Innovation Fund (the Fund) to support innovative approaches for the design and delivery of employment and training services. The fund invests in programs that support, evaluate and enhance workforce investment strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations. Approximately 20 to 30 grants ranging from $1 million to $12 million are expected to be funded. A solicitation for grant applications (SGA) was published in the Dec. 23, 2011 edition of the Federal Register [pdf]. Applications under this announcement must be received by no later than 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on March 22, 2012.
Eligible applicants include Local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and consortia of Local Workforce Investment Boards. Adult Education agencies may want to contact their local WIB to see if they will be applying for funding, and if a partnership with the adult school might be an asset.
Federal Budget Includes Adult Education Funding
Federal Budget
The federal legislature finally managed to pass an omnibus budget bill last week that includes a 0.189% across-the-board cut to all programs, but other than that, adult education is level funded at $596.1 million. EL Civics remained funded at $74.8 million and national leadership activities remain at $11.3 million. This is good news for adult education, as the federal budget for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title II remains intact.
WIA Reauthorization
The saga of reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act continues. Rep. Hinojosa (D-TX) reintroduced the Adult Education and Economic Growth Act (H.R. 2226) [www] last June. Since then, republicans in early December introduced two competing measures, the Streamlining Workforce Development Programs Act [www] (H.R. 3610) and the Local Job Opportunities and Business Success (JOBS) Act [www] (H.R. 3611). Democrats say that HR 3610 "would dismantle the national commitment to the millions of Americans [www] seeking job assistance, skills assessment, career counseling, and job training programs." Rep. George Miller (D-CA), a strong advocate for adult literacy services, is one of those opposing the bill, along with Rep. Hinojosa and others. Democrats indicate that they will be introducing additional legislation on WIA reauthorization in the new year.
Information from the National Coalition for Literacy December Public Policy Update [www]
Legislative and budget updates on OTAN.
In this issue
Workshops
OTAN offers free online and face-to-face workshops to adult educators and staff throughout California. Workshops are planned to fit a wide variety of skill levels! Find out more at www.otan.us/training.
Online
View more and register for Webinars
Face-to-Face Workshops
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