Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024
A. For the
purposes of this rule the following definitions apply:
1. "Adult Basic Education" (ABE) means
instruction in reading, writing and math equivalent to grades one through
eight, speaking and citizenship skills.
2. "Adult Secondary Education" (ASE) means
instruction in reading, writing, math, science and social studies equivalent to
the completion of high school.
3.
"Eligible applicants" may include local educational agencies, community based
organizations, volunteer literacy organizations, institutions of higher
education, public or private nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher
education, public or private nonprofit agencies, libraries, public housing
authorities, and consortiums of any of the aforementioned entities.
4. "English Language Acquisition for Adults"
(ELAA) means a program of instruction designed to help individuals of limited
English proficiency achieve competency in the English language, including
reading, writing, listening and speaking.
5. "Literacy" means an individual's ability
to read, write and speak in English, compute and solve problems at levels of
proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family and in
society.
6. "Project" means the
approved and funded application which is administered by the eligible
applicant.
B.
Application for funding
1. Only eligible
applicants may apply for funding.
2. Contracts shall be awarded through a
competitive funding process.
3.
Applications shall include budgets and be submitted according to the standard
procurement and grants management policies of the Department of Education for
the awarding of competitive grants.
C. Board priorities and criteria for
application approval
1. Priority shall be
given to projects funded during the previous fiscal year which:
a. Adhered to all applicable state and
federal rules and regulations.
b.
Operated in an efficient and effective manner demonstrating high levels of
student educational gains as measured by standardized assessments and student
retention as compared with the state average for these projects.
c. Completed and submitted all required state
and federal reports.
d. Utilized
volunteers where possible.
2. Equal opportunity for project application
approval will be given to eligible applicants who demonstrate previous
comparable experience and performance in another adult literacy
program.
3. Criteria for approval
shall include a determination by the project review committee that the
application meets state and federal rules and regulations and the policies and
procedures contained in the Arizona State Plan for Adult Education.
D. Use of funds and student
reporting
1. Federal and state funds shall not
be co-mingled.
2. Projects shall
not assess students a tuition charge for instruction or fees for books,
instructional supplies, or materials used in the program.
3. Student attendance hours reported to the
Adult Education Division shall not be used in securing financing from any other
source. Classes taught by volunteers are not to be reported unless they are
administered and supervised by the local project.
E. An adult education certificate issued by
the Board shall be required to teach in the Adult Education Program.
F. Students enrolled in adult education
classes must be at least 16 years of age and officially withdrawn from
school.
G. Course of study
1. Adult Basic Education (A.B.E.) students
shall be functioning academically below the eighth grade level. The sequential
course of study shall:
a. Develop and improve
communication and computational skills of students.
b. Raise the general educational level of
students.
c. Improve the student's
ability to benefit from occupational training.
d. Increase opportunities for more productive
and profitable employment.
e.
Assist students to be better able to meet their adult responsibilities as
parents, citizens and as co-workers.
2. Adult Secondary Education (A.S.E.)
students shall be functioning below the 12th grade level. The course of study
shall:
a. Give the students a foundation in
the areas of English, social studies, literature, science and math.
b. Enable students, through the development
of critical thinking, to utilize new learning experiences in recognizing,
evaluating and solving problems of daily life.
c. Attempt to motivate students to continue
their education through more advanced study and to become more proficient in
observing and adopting new skills in a changing society.
d. Equip students with the knowledge
prerequisite for satisfactory achievement on a High School Equivalency Test
approved by the State Board of Education.
3. English Language Acquisition for Adults
(ELAA) and citizenship students shall be resident aliens. The course of study
shall:
a. Develop an increasing ability to
speak, understand, read, and write English.
b. Encourage the student to become a
participating citizen and give insight into the values of such
participation.
c. Help the student
prepare for the Naturalization Test for U.S. Citizenship by developing a
background in American history and government.
d. Create a desire for continued learning and
self-realization.
H. Reports
1. Each project shall maintain bookkeeping
records and must be able to substantiate expenditures.
2. A financial report shall be filed
quarterly for each project with the Adult Education Division within 30 days
after the close of the quarter.
3.
Projects shall be completed by June 30. A fiscal completion report which has
been reconciled with the County School Superintendent's Office, or if another
agency, that agency's comparable administrative office, shall be filed with the
Adult Education Division within 60 days after the project ending
date.
4. Participation in the
project reporting system designed to collect student and staff attendance,
demographic information and student performance data is required. These reports
shall be filed with the Adult Education Division monthly.
5. An annual written report on the year's
activities, including internal written monitoring reports, shall be submitted
to the Adult Education Division, no later than August 15.
I. If changes in the approved program or
budget are desired, an amendment shall be submitted to the Adult Education
Division for review and approval prior to expending any funds for the proposed
changes.