Q&A Posted January 20, 2011
Adult Education and Career Pathways
Adult Education and Family Literacy

Question 1:  Where is it required in the application or strategic plan that applicants provide their current number and percentage of students who transition and complete postsecondary education and their ‘projections’ for future increases in the number and percentage of students who transition? 

Answer 1:  There is no need to establish baseline data.  The first goal sets a target of 50% for the 2015-16 cohort of adult general education students earning a GED or adult high school diploma. 

The second goal is based on a continuous improvement approach.  The expectation is that whatever the completion percentage is for a particular cohort, the goal will be to increase it by five percentage points the following year.  The table below shows the timeline for this continuous improvement goal.

Completer Cohort	Three-Year Postsecondary Completion Target	Data Availability	Completion Rate	Target for the Next Cohort	
2010-11	*	October 2014	A%	A+5%	
2011-12	A+5%	October 2015	B%	B+5%	
2012-13	B+5%	October 2016	C%	C+5%	
2013-14	C+5%	October 2017	D%	D+5%	
2014-15	D+5%	October 2018	E%	E+5%	
2015-16	E+5%	October 2019	F%	*	

Example

Completer Cohort	Three-Year Postsecondary Completion Target	Data Availability	Completion Rate	Target for the Next Cohort	
2010-11	*	October 2014	25%	30%	
2011-12	30%	October 2015	34%	39%	
2012-13	39%	October 2016	45%	50%	
2013-14	50%	October 2017	49%	54%	
2014-15	54%	October 2018	58%	63%	
2015-16	63%	October 2019	68%	*	

Question 2:  Without a baseline number and percentage being provided or a provision for upfront ‘projections’ of increases in the number and percentage, how will future ‘increases’ in the number and percentage of adult education students who transition to postsecondary be measured by DOE? 

Answer 2: See answer to Question #1 above regarding three-year postsecondary completion rate data.  Regarding the transition rate, data will be provided on the following schedule:

Completer Cohort	Data Availability	One-Year Transition Rate Target	
2010-11	October 2012	 	
2011-12	October 2013		
2012-13	October 2014		
2013-14	October 2015		
2014-15	October 2016		
2015-16	October 2017	50%	

Question 3:  As a part of the application to be submitted for funding, should applicants provide written narrative to address/respond/explain each of the four ‘Grantee Responsibilities’ outlined on pages two through four of the RFP?

Answer 3:  No, this information was included so that applicants would understand what their responsibilities would be for this grant.

Question 4:  For funded agencies that invoice for payment, since no specific grant ‘deliverables’ are identified in the RFP, do these agencies have the flexibility of determining what ‘they’ consider to be grant deliverables and determine the related deliverable amount associated with each deliverable – for inclusion on the Invoice Form?

Answer 4:  Yes, the agency may determine their deliverables for the program and must complete and submit with their application the Scope of Work Performance-Based Project Deliverables Form in accordance with the instructions in the RFP including the amounts associated with each deliverable including amounts.

Question 5:   Is the allocation amount in Attachments section titled Allocation Chart the maximum amount of funding that can be requested?

Answer 5: The Allocation Chart depicts the maximum amount available for each county.  Applicants must follow the Project Application Submission Category Identification Form instructions in the RFP when applying for county allocations.

Question 6:  When can applicants expect to receive award letters if they are selected? Just wondering as this will impact setting up the steering committee, etc.

Answer 6:  Once the competitive scoring process has been completed, awarded applications will be processed for funding.  The approval of these awards is a high priority, therefore, all effort will be made to complete the entire award process as quickly as possible.

Question 7:  After this grant period, is there any expectation of additional dollars to sustain services or continue development of the career pathways concept?

Answer 7:  The Department of Education will identify opportunities for the alignment of financial resources to support the Adult Education Career Pathways System.  The federal Adult Education Aid to District grants will be aligned with the goal of this RFP in future competitions.  

Question 8:  What considerations will be given to possible additional budget cuts and the impact the cuts may have on services offered with this funding?

Answer 8:  In event additional state budget cuts are imposed that impact local programs ability to the implement the Adult Education Career Pathways System, local decisions would be made regarding how to realign resources to continue to offer these services.  This funding is authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA).  

Question 9:  Do all the services supported by this funding have to be adult education based or can job training services be included since the emphasis is on career pathways?  

Answer 9: This funding must be used to support adult education activities as authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA).

Question 10: If 5% Administrative Cost is not enough funding to implement a project of this scope, and our agency will need to hire a full time Project Coordinator to manage the grant, how will we accomplish the grant tasks?  We request consideration be given to Special Rule (b) so we can have funding available for a half-time Project Coordinator to oversee and accomplish the grant tasks.

Answer 10: Under the special rules provision agencies are allowed to negotiate for greater than 5% administrative costs.  Instructions for initiating and completing the Special Rule provisions will be posted on the Division’s website.

Question 11:  The RFP states that selected grantees must participate in professional development activities in 2011.  Is this referring to the workshops being offered in January 2011?  

Answer 11:  No, this requirement applies to grantees that have received their award letters after the competition ends.  In April, 2011, through Regional Training Councils (RTC), the DOE will conduct a needs assessment to determine regional training needs - including those for Adult Education Career Pathways.  Professional development opportunities include CHOICES workshops, adult education topics offered through the RTCs, ACE of Florida, and Florida TechNet. The January 2011 workshops will provide information and strategies for building an AECP system.  Selected grantees can determine, based on the training topic, what individuals or teams can benefit from the training.

Question 12:  Is there a correlation between the CPT, PERT, and the TABE? 

Answer 12:  We are not aware of any correlation studies between the College Placement Tests (CPT), TABE, or CASAS tests, but you may contact the publisher of TABE and CASAS for further information.  The FLDOE is in year one of phasing in the implementation of the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), and both the CPT and the PERT are being used at this time.  

Question 13:  How does the ACT fit into the evaluation process? 

Answer 13: Students that can present passing scores on each of the ACT and SAT tests are exempt from taking college placement tests such as the PERT.

Question 14: Is it permissible for adult education students to participate in dual enrollment and may this be funded through the grant? 

Answer 14:  Students can enroll in a postsecondary program while enrolled in adult education, but the postsecondary course cannot be funded with federal adult education funds.

Question 15:  May grant funds be used to pay for supportive services such as CPT/PERT testing, childcare, and student transportation? 

Answer 15: The PERT can be used while the student is still enrolled in the adult education program and is an allowable cost.  Transportation costs such as bus passes are allowable, but programs must ensure that the bus tickets are used only to attend adult education classes.  Programs can partner with One-Stops and social agencies for childcare and transportation services.

Question 16:  Are materials such as brochures, posters, billboards, or other items that are used to recruit students to the adult education program allowed with this grant?

Answer 16:  Yes, these are allowable costs.

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