Adult Literacy and Basic Adult Education Questions and Answers
- Can our organization submit one proposal
for a combined welfare education program and an adult literacy
education program or do we need two separate proposals?
Only school districts are eligible to apply for the welfare education program (WEP) funds. Community based organizations, volunteer organizations, institutions of higher education, educational opportunity centers, libraries, public housing authorities and consortia of said agencies may apply for adult literacy education (ALE) funding.
- Can the monies from this RFP be used to operate
our GED®® testing site? If not, when is the RFP for the GED®®
testing centers due to be released?
No the funding can not be used for GED®® test centers. The RFP for GED®® test centers will be released in late summer.
- On page 2 of the RFP we are told that the project
period is from January 1, 2007 - June 0, 2008. On page one of the
RFP, we are asked to compete budget narratives and FS-20 forms for
the period January 1, 2007 - June 30, 2007. However, in the general
information section on page two, we are told "Successful applicants
will be funded for September 1, 2006 through June 30, 2008 pending
satisfactory performance and availability of funds." Although
I assume that the January 1, 2007 date is the accurate timing for the
start of this program, please confirm.
Programs will be funded January 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008. The first budget period will be January 1, 2007 - June 30, 2007. The second budget period will be July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008.
- In the funding considerations section, it states
that the minimum award is $100,000 per year, but in the funding section
it is stated that budget narratives and FS-20 forms must be for the
period 1/1/2007-6/30/2007, a six month period. The questions is should
we write the budget for 6 month, which would be for $50,000 in the
first period with the understanding that the following year, the full
award will be for $100,000?
Yes, that is correct.
- The bottom of the Application Cover Page asks for "Funding
requested for this proposal: $-------". Does this refer to the
six month period 1/1/07 - 6/30/07or to the entire 18 months
of the award? How are we to understand the $100,000 minimum
award per year? Are you talking about an annualized rate
of $100,000 for a 12 month period or do we mean that the
FS-20 budget for the 6 month period 7/1/07-6/30/07 must
be at least $100,000?
The funding requested should refer to the six month period. The following year the budget will be twice that amount.
- Does the 10-page limit include the budget narrative,
or just the project narrative?
The project narrative is limited to 10 pages. Materials submitted in addition to those requested will not be reviewed.
- We are planning to apply for funding for an Adult
Literacy Program, not a Welfare Education Program. On page 5, under
project description, there are two points that we don't know if we
need to address: "How the proposed Welfare Education Program leverages
additional funds, such as Food Stamp, Employment and Training funds." and "How
the proposed Workplace Literacy program demonstrates an ability to
leverage cash or in-kind support from unions or employers." Do
we need to address these points in our proposal?
No they do not have to be addressed.
- I am still unclear about distinguishing some "instructional" costs
from "administrative" ones. I understand that teachers,
teachers' benefits, classroom space, classroom materials and supplies,
etc. are clearly "instructional". What about that portion
of , etc., normally done
by bilingual instructional assistants -- can we consider
a portion of their salaries and benefits as "instructional costs"?
What about ALIES/NRS data entry: is that considered an "instructional
cost"? What about Best Plus testing that is not only done by teachers
but is also done as part of the job description for Program Director
and/or Instructional Facilitator, etc.: can we apportion some part
of those salaries and benefits as "instructional"? What about
staff development training (including Best Plus continued training,
regular teacher observation and feedback, staff meetings centered facilitated
to address instructional concerns, etc.) that is also done as part
of the job description for Program Director and/or Instructional Facilitator:
can we apportion some part of those salaries and benefits as "instructional"?" Allowable
expenditures" on page 9 of the Guidelines--which bulleted items
are considered to be "instructional costs," and which, if
any, are "administrative costs"?
Direct instructional services to students or assessment of students, as well as data collection including NRS goal setting, outcome checking, follow-up and reporting are considered instructional services. Staff development is allowable but is not considered instructional. Student field trips, student transportation and child care are not allowable costs.
- Are there percentage designations for amount of
direct instruction vs counseling/case management activity?
In the proposal narrative section Item #7 states that instructional costs must make up at least 85% of the total budget and administrative costs cannot exceed 10% of the total budget. Agencies are not required to take all or any administrative costs. The remaining 5% may be used to fund counseling/case management activities.
- On page 7 of the Application Instructions, in the
Program Budget category, it says that Instructional Costs must make
up 85% of the total budget, and that Administrative Costs cannot exceed
10% of the total budget. Can you please outline which costs are instructional
costs? Do they Staff time and materials for assessment and registration;
Staff time for follow-up on results for core outcomes; Staff supervision;
Staff development; Job readiness and other workshops; Pre and post-testing;
educational counseling; and career counseling.
Staff development, job readiness and other workshops, and counseling are not instructional costs but may be funded with the remaining 5% of the budget.
- On page 7 of the Application Instructions, in the
Program Budget category, it says that Instructional Costs must make
up 85% of the total budget, and that Administrative Costs cannot exceed
10% of the total budget. Can you itemize or describe what would be
included as administrative costs? How do they differ from Indirect
Costs?
Administrative costs can be at the program level. Indirect costs are also administrative but are at the executive/administrative level. For example central administrative staff such as executive directors and business office staff are indirect costs.
- Are rent, utilities and telephone expenses allowable
costs or must they be included as part of administrative expenditures?
Rent and utilities for classroom use are considered instructional. All other rent would be considered administrative expenditures.
- Is the salary of the Program Coordinator, that is,
the person responsible for supervision of instructors and instruction,
an instructional cost?
No.
- In the Budget Section, will any of the 20 points
be awarded based on lowest per participant cost?
No points will be based on participant cost.
- In the Funding area of this RFP (Welfare Education
and Adult Literacy Education Programs), the total of the funding is
$8,275,000 ($1,000,000 + 2,000,000 + 1,950,000 + 3,325,000), approximately
$8.3 million. In the General Information section, though, the state
says, "Approximately $9.3 million in State funding is available
through this request for proposals.." There is a difference of
$1,025,000 between the two RFP areas. Please clarify or correct the
apparent discrepancy.
The amounts listed in the proposal were based on the best estimate of funding at the time the RFP was written. There may be additional ALE funding, but it remains to be seen if those funds will be distributed through this RFP.
- The WEP RFP application (p.6) requires letters of
support from the DSS. Is that one letter from the WIB or one from each
DSS in the WIB, if more than one county comprises the local WIB? Are
these letters of support part of the 10 page max for the narrative?
Is the abstract part of the 10 page max for the narrative?
One letter of support from the DSS in each county that will be served by the WEP program. The letters of support from the DSS are not considered part of the ten page maximum; however the abstract is considered part of the ten page maximum.
- If competition is statewide, am I correct in assuming
that there will be a max of 10 grant awards if the min award is $100,000.00
and there is $1,000,000.00 available?
Yes, that is correct.
- The RFP directs us to report on students served
by WEP separately from students served by programs funded under Title
II of the Workforce Investment Act, what does this mean?
WEP can not be used to enrich a WIA Title II program. WEP grants should serve students who otherwise would not be served under other funding sources.
- "Program Budget" is listed under "Program
Narrative" in the "Application Instructions." The
bullets list the forms and the worksheet required, state the percentages
of the budget for instructional costs and administration, and request
a budget narrative. Am I supposed to write about these documents in
my 10-page narrative in addition to attaching them? Am I supposed to
describe or state my instructional and administrative costs in the
narrative, or do I just comply with the required minimum and maximum
percentages in the budget attachments?
The budget narrative and FS-20 are separate from the program narrative. The budget narrative should clearly describe how the costs relate to the program narrative, including the roles and responsibilities of the staff .
- The timeline is different on the Funding Section
and the General Information section. The Funding section says that
the project period is from 1/1/07 - 6/30/08, and the General Information
section says that successful applicants will be funded from 9/1/06
- 6/30/08. Does this mean that agencies can collect start-up money
for the period from 9/1/06 - 12/31/06?
The 9/1/06 is an error. Successful applicants will be funded beginning January 1, 2007.
- In the section on Funding Considerations it says: "The
rating process will favor proposals that serve students at the lowest
levels of literacy." Does this mean students at BE and/or ESL
Level 1, or students below BE and/or ESL Level 4. In other words,
what NRS levels comprise 'the lowest levels of literacy' as listed
in this section?
The lowest levels of literacy refer to ABE and/or ESL levels 1 and 2. Agencies which serve at least 60% of students in these levels will be given priority.
- Can we include Family Literacy Outcomes even if
we are not proposing to operate a Family Literacy program, but are
proposing to integrate family literacy activities into the core curriculum?
The answer is yes if you are referring to National Reporting System outcomes.
- Do we need to include copies of all the assurances
attached to the document, or is the Executive Director's signature
on the Cover Page sufficient for satisfying the Assurance section on
the Application Checklist?
Assurances must be included with the application.
- There is a Program Component Worksheet on page 8
of the Application Instructions, and another Program Component Worksheet
at the end of the Application Instructions. As the two Program Component
Worksheets ask slightly different information, are we expected to fill
out both?
One Worksheet requires agencies to include information if they are applying for WEP. If an agency is applying for WEP they must complete the form which requires information about FA/200% participant status. Agencies applying for ALE need only to complete one set of Worksheets. The period of service is 1/106-6/30/07.
- In the Program Component Worksheet at the end of
the Application Instructions, if we are providing civics, family literacy
activities, and career, family and life skills as part of our core
ABE and ESL curriculum, do we list those hours under those categories,
even though we have already listed them in the ABE or ESL category?
Is it acceptable to list those hours in both (for example) ESL and
Civics on this chart?
No, the hours should be listed separately. Student numbers may be duplicative but contact hours should be mutually exclusive.
- Neither Program Component Worksheet asks us to divide
ESL or ABE by NRS level, although the Core Outcome Target Worksheet
asks for a breakdown of outcome achievement by NRS level. Are the
NRS levels required to be added to the Program Component Worksheet,
or is discussing them in the narrative sufficient?
The NRS levels must be completed in the Core Outcome Targets chart.
- In the RFP it states that WEP participants must
be eligible for Public Assistance or Food Stamps. Many low income
individuals choose not to apply for benefits. Is there an income chart,
based on household size and income, that can be used to determine eligibility
if a participant is not actually receiving these benefits? Is there
any provision to consider an individual with a documented disability
(physical, learning, or emotional) as a household of one to qualify
for eligibility? Does food stamp eligibility equal 200% poverty level?
Will clients need to show documentation that they are eligible for
Public Assistance?
Refer to the TANF guidelines 00-LCM 20 at the OTDA website http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/
and
search the website using 00-LCM 20. The guidelines
provide examples and evidence of eligibility, and the
documentation required for students served in the program. - May 16 year old students live outside the nine component
school districts boundaries of BOCES 2?
Yes if they are living in the county you are proposing to serve.
- On page 3, the announcement lists three "General
Program Requirements," assisting adults to (1) become literate
and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency;
(2) obtain the educational skills necessary to become full partners
in the educational development of their children; and (3) complete
a secondary school education. Are applicants required to address all
three goals?
No, these are the overall goals/mission of the adult education program.
- Page 1 of the announcement states, "Budget
Narratives and SF-20 Forms in this application must be for the period
January 1, 2007 - June 30, 2007." However, page 10 of the application
instructions in the section concerning "Budget Category and Narrative
Forms," states, "Budget Narratives should be for the period
of January 1, 2007-June 30, 2008." Would you prefer an explanation
for the 6-month period ending June 2007 or for the 18-month period
ending June 2008?
You must only prepare a six month budget narrative only.
- Will program performance in 2005-2006 be taken into
account? Automatically?
SED is expected to submit a program wide performance report to the NYS Division of the Budget. However, individual agency performance will not be taken into consideration for this RFP.
- Can this grant fund classes/programs that work with
what we have traditionally called ESL B students--those with little
or no literacy in NL--with smaller class size and ADA?
Yes this grant can fund classes that work with low literacy ESL students.
- Is there a maximum grant amount for ALE as there
is for WEP?
No there is no maximum.
- Is the TABE required at any of the six ESL levels?
No the TABE is not required at any of the six ESL levels at this time.
- The "Program Component Worksheet" on page
8 of the Application asks for the number of students and contact hours
projected for 1/1/07 to 6/30/07. The second "Program Component
Worksheet" which follows the FS-20 asks for the number of students
and contact hours projected for 2006-07. Are these the same numbers?
Yes, the numbers are the same.
- Can our participants be undocumented in the U.S.?
Programs are not required to make participants show evidence that students are in the country legally. However, for WEP all participants must meet TANF eligibility guidelines.
- Can students served by this program also generate
EPE?
Yes, however separate WEP programs must be established so that agencies may report students served by the WEP funding.