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Request for Proposals for Adult Education State Grant Program: English Literacy/Civics Education

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 89
POLICY CODE: DD

TO: Superintendents of Schools and Adult Education Directors
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
DATE: April 16, 2009
RE: Request for Proposals for Adult Education State Grant Program: English Literacy/Civics Education

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to announce the potential availability of grant funding under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Title 11 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, to operate English Literacy/Civics Education programs for adults in fiscal year 2010.

DEFINITION OF CIVICS EDUCATION
Civics Education, as defined in the November 17, 1999 Federal Register, means “an educational program that emphasizes instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, naturalization procedures, civic participation and U.S. history and government to help students acquire the skills and knowledge to become more active and informed parents, workers and community members.”

PURPOSE
The purpose of this initiative is to provide an integrated program of services that incorporates English Literacy and Civics Education. To effectively participate in the education, work and civic opportunities of this country, immigrants and other limited English proficient people must not only master English, but be able to understand and navigate governmental, educational and workplace systems and key institutions such as banking and health care.

PROGRAM PRIORITIES
Local providers must describe an integrated program of services that incorporates English Literacy and Civics Education. Organizations may apply to use these funds for the following purposes:

  1. English instruction for learners of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), with additional instruction in civics education, including rights and responsibilities of citizenship, naturalization procedures, U.S. history and government and activities designed to prepare participants for success as community members and fulfill civic responsibilities.
  2. Provide instructional services to immigrants specifically related to acquiring citizenship.
  3. Provide English instruction designed to assist participants in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to become active and informed parents, workers and citizens.
  4. Utilize existing and/or develop instructional materials related to fulfilling items 1 through 3 above.
  5. Take advantage of staff development to assist English Literacy/Civics Education staff to be able to develop and provide the necessary services to assist participants in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to become active and informed parents, workers and citizens.

 

FUNDS AVAILABLE: $76,928 – grants will be awarded pending availability of federal funds.

PROJECT PERIOD: July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. The grant period will be for 1 year only.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: (1) local educational agencies; (2) community based organizations of demonstrated effectiveness; (3) volunteer literacy organizations of demonstrated effectiveness; (4) institutions of higher education; (5) public or private non-profit agencies; (6) libraries;(7) public housing authorities; (8) non-profit institutions that are not described in any of these descriptions and have the ability to provide literacy services to adults and families; and a consortium of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries or authorities described in items (1) through (8). Community-based organizations and non-profit institutions include non-profit faith-based organizations.

GRANTS
The Request for Proposal and application package, which includes: 1) Application, 2) Budget Form, 3) Payment Schedule Form, and 4) Rider A–Scope of Work may be downloaded at http://www.maine.gov/education/aded/dev/literacy.htm .

 

Grants will be rated by a team of readers made up of both practitioners in the field and representatives from the Department of Education. The total possible score is 150. The following categories will be rated in applications for FY2010:
Cover Page 5 Points
Narrative 100 Points
Budget/Costs 40 Points
Assurances 5 Points

Grant approval and funding decisions will be based on the application rating, documented need in the geographic area of service, and non-duplication of services.

 

FINANCIAL
All grant applications require a financial match of 25% in local dollars. A maximum of 5% of the requested federal funds may be spent on planning and administration.

DIRECTIONS AND DEADLINE: Three (3) copies of the Application, at least one with original signature of the authorized agent, must be clearly marked “Application – English Literacy/Civics Education" and delivered to the Division of Purchases, 4th Floor, Burton Cross State Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, 9 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333, no later than 2:00 P.M. local time on May 28, 2009. Please note that only applications received at the Division of Purchases will be considered. Applicants submitting applications by mail are responsible for allowing adequate time for delivery. Applications received after the 2:00 P.M./May 28th deadline will be rejected without exception. FAXED and ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

For the application, information and/or technical assistance, please contact: Jeffrey A. Fantine, State Director of Adult Education, Maine Department of Education, 23 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333 Telephone (207) 624-6755 or e-mail jeff.fantine@maine.gov .

Answers to written questions received prior to May 1, 2009 related to this request will be placed on the Department of Education website at www.maine.gov/education/aded/dev/ , by May 8, 2009. Questions may be submitted to Jeffrey A. Fantine, State Director of Adult Education, Maine Department of Education, 23 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333 or e-mail jeff.fantine@maine.gov .

One grant writing workshop for this cycle will be held over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) on April 27, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Please call Lisa Perry at 624-6752 or email at lisa.perry@maine.gov for the locations and to register.