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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
adult education; grant program; appropriations
Purpose
Establishes an adult education community college coenrollment grant program (adult education grant program) and the Adult Education Community College Coenrollment Fund (Adult Education Fund). Appropriates $3,500,000 to the Adult Education Fund and $1,500,000 to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) in FY 2022.
Background
ADE maintains a division of adult education that is under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education (SBE).The division of adult education services provides comprehensive services to students at least 16 years old who are not enrolled in a kindergarten through grade 12 school including educational programs to assist students in earning a high school equivalency diploma, connecting to employment and job training opportunities, transitioning to postsecondary education and becoming proficient in English (A.R.S. § 15-232).
Appropriations made to the SBE or ADE for adult education may be expended for adult education costs. An adult education provider offering a course of study for adult education is eligible for funding from the SBE, if all applicable standards are met and may also charge supplemental fees to adults participating in the program (A.R.S. § 15-234).
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) helps job seekers access employment, education, training and support services. Under the WIOA, eligible training service providers include institutions of higher education providing a program that leads to recognized postsecondary credentials, apprenticeship programs, public or private providers that provide training and providers of adult education and literacy activities (WIOA).
H.B. 2824 appropriates $3,500,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2022 to the Adult Education Fund and $1,500,000 from the state GF in FY 2022 to ADE for increasing the capacity of adult education programs and services.
Provisions
Adult Education Grant Program
1. Directs ADE to establish an adult education grant program that:
a) provides adult learners pursuing a high school equivalency diploma with enhanced study services; and
b) leads to the issuance of both a high school equivalency diploma and a community college-offered, industry-recognized credential or degree.
2. Requires an eligible grant applicant to be a high school equivalency program provider through ADE as part of the WIOA.
3. Requires ADE to establish application criteria for the adult education grant program.
4. Instructs new program applicants to include:
a) an implementation plan including programs offered, recruitment strategies and supports for program completion;
b) the requested funding amount and the number of individuals it will serve;
c) a description of the administrative structure, activities, staff and budget; and
d) a description of specific outcomes, goals and metrics used to determine adult learner success.
5. Directs program applicants reapplying for a grant to include:
a) the funding amount received in the previous grant cycle, including the number of students served and that successfully completed a program;
b) an implementation plan for the new grant cycle, including programs offered, recruitment strategies, and supports for program completion;
c) the requested funding amount and the number of individuals it will serve in the new grant cycle;
d) a description of the administrative structure, activities, staff and budget for the new grant cycle; and
e) a description of specific outcomes, goals and metrics used to determine adult learner success in the new grant cycle and performance in the previous grant cycle.
6. Requires grant recipients to annually report the following to ADE:
a) the number and completion rate of enrolled adult learners;
b) the average progress of participants towards meeting completion criteria;
c) the number and type of earned industry-recognized credentials; and
d) a descriptive summary of the adult education program offered.
7. Requires ADE, before June 30, to submit an annual report to the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives with a copy provided to the Secretary of State, each year monies are appropriated into the Adult Education Fund.
8. Terminates the adult education program on July 1, 2031.
Adult Education Fund
9. Establishes the Adult Education Fund administered by ADE consisting of legislative appropriations and any other monies.
10. Allows ADE to:
a) accept and spend federal monies, private grants, gifts, contributions and devises to support the grant program; and
b) retain up to five percent of monies received for administrative costs.
11. Directs ADE to use fund monies to award grants to high school equivalency program providers.
12. Requires recipients to use the grant monies for scholarships to eligible adult students for free or reduced costs to participate in a community college-offered, industry-recognized credential or degree, based on ADE criteria.
13. Allows ADE to use a portion of monies to be used for additional supports to ensure the success of adult learners in the adult education program.
14. Specifies the Adult Education Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing.
Miscellaneous
15. Appropriates $3,500,000 from the state GF in FY 2022 to the Adult Education Fund.
16. Appropriates $1,500,000 from the state GF in FY 2022 to ADE to expand and increase the capacity of adult education programs and services.
17. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 2/16/21 DPA 7-2-0-1
APPROP 2/17/21 DPA 11-1-0-1
3rd Read 3/4/21 42-18-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 12, 2021
JO/JS/gs