Grants and Compliance
On July 22, 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act-Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (WIOA-AEFLA) was signed into law. The North Carolina Community College System Office is the designated state agency responsible for the allocation of federal and state funds under this Act. The College and Career Readiness Unit, under the NCCCS Programs and Student Services Division, provides leadership, oversight, professional development, technical assistance, and monitors and evaluates programs funded through WIOA-AEFLA grants.

In January 2018, the North Carolina Office of Adult Education opened a multiyear grants competition to eligible providers as required by WIOA Title I, § 463.20. Grant funds made available under section 222 (a)(1) of the Act, to NCCCS, required a competitive grant process to award funds to eligible providers to enable the them to develop, implement, and improve adult education and literacy activities within the State. In conducting the competitive grant process, the System Office ensured that all eligible providers had direct and equitable access to apply and compete for grants or contracts. Upon receipt of applications, the first step was for the local Workforce Development Board to review the extent to which the application is aligned to local workforce priorities. The grant applications were then returned to the System Office for evaluation by external grant review panels. Each application was evaluated by a rubric addressing the 7 requirements and 13 considerations of the WIOA, Title ll Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. Those grant applications that successfully met the competitive criteria were recommended to the State Board of Community Colleges for funding.

A subrecipient of the funds must be an eligible institution that has demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy activities that may include: a local education agency; a community-based organization or education agency; a volunteer literacy organization; an institution of higher education; a public or private nonprofit agency; a library; a public housing authority; a nonprofit organization that is not described previously and has the ability to provide literacy services to eligible individuals; a consortium or coalition of agencies, organizations, institutions libraries, or authorities described previously; a partnership between and employer and an entity described above. All funded providers are expected to meet or exceed the State negotiated target for measurable skill gains. An eligible applicant must have demonstrated effectiveness as required for each Title II grant (231, 225, 243). The funding authority for these grants is the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014, Title II, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. As required by WIOA Title I, section 463.20, the North Carolina Office of Adult Education opened a multi-year grant competition. Grant funds made available under section 222 (a)(1) of the Act, to NCCCS, required a competitive grant process to award funds to eligible providers to enable them to develop, implement, and improve adult education and literacy activities.(Click to Continue)