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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 98-857

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Grant Funds for a Family Literacy Program, Act 143 of 1986 for Program Year 1998-99

[28 Pa.B. 2514]

   Act 143 of 1986, as approved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and signed into law on October 22, 1986, established the Pennsylvania Adult Literacy Education Grant Program. A portion of the appropriation has been set aside for family literacy defined in the act as: ''An educational program designed to provide literacy training for adults, educational services for children and activities for parents and children together, at the same or at different sites.''

   The purpose of the Pennsylvania Family Literacy Program is to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy through an intergenerational instructional program, to improve the educational opportunities for children and adults by integrating early childhood and adult education for parents into a unified family program, and to implement collaborative relationships that build on existing community resources creating a new range of services. The program shall also assist children and adults to meet challenging education performance standards.

   The Secretary shall consider, but not be limited to, the following factors when evaluating proposals for adult literacy instruction programs:

   1)  Percentage of eligible adults expected to be enrolled for instruction who are receiving either State or Federal public assistance, or who are unemployed workers or displaced homemakers.

   2)  Percentage of eligible adults in any local area who do not have certificates of graduation from a secondary school and who are not currently enrolled in adult literacy education programs.

   3)  Percentage of eligible adults expected to be enrolled who are members of minority groups.

   4)  Percentage of eligible adults with less than a fifth grade reading level to be served.

   Eligible applicants include literacy councils, libraries, local education agencies, community colleges, and public and private nonprofit agencies, organizations and institutions. Priority consideration will be given to applications that will conduct programs that expect to enroll high numbers of eligible adults who are receiving public assistance; do not have high school diplomas; are members of minority groups; and/or have less than a 5th grade reading level. Priority also will be given to programs that provide client outreach and referral activities that are coordinated with other adult education literacy programs and early childhood education programs, county assistance offices, social service agencies, offices of employment security, Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs, and other community groups or agencies that provide services and assistance to persons in need of basic literacy skills.

   Program applicants are required to collaborate with other local educational agencies and community-based organizations. Applicants should seek organizations with demonstrated and documented quality in providing adult literacy, early childhood education or parenting education building on existing community services and not duplicating services available in the community. Potential partners include adult education agencies, Head Start, Family Centers, and/or school district based K--4 programs. Given the limited size of the grant and the large number of other local, State and Federal programs focused on adult literacy or early childhood education, it is critical that applicants use these funds as the link to provide a comprehensive family literacy program created from among these various sources of support. The Program requires that applicants coordinate with some organizations for service delivery and collaborate with others for program planning. Working together with other agencies and building community partnerships is essential to the program's success. Interagency relationships may develop along a continuum of restructuring and redefining philosophies, roles and expectations.

   Grant awards will range from $60,000 to $80,000 for a unit of family literacy. Each unit must serve a minimum of 20 families in the required four components for family literacy programs. Adult services of up to 25 hours per week must be made available in order to meet welfare to work requirements for welfare recipients that are in compliance with local welfare-to-work requirements.

   Application due dates: Act 143 State Family Literacy Program Grant awards: July 17, 1998.

   Application Procedures and Program Guidelines will be mailed to current adult basic education providers after June 1, 1998. Others desiring additional information or Application Procedures and Program Guidelines may obtain them by making a written request to: Chief, Special Programs and Projects Division; Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education; Pennsylvania Department of Education; 333 Market Street, 12th Floor; Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333.

   All potential applicants are urged to attend a proposal development workshop for the Family Literacy Initiative. These workshops will be conducted at the following times and places:

June 12--Radisson Motel, Sharon, PA   3 p.m.-5 p.m.
June 17--Centre Co.VoTech, Cafeteria, Pleasant Gap10 a.m.-12 noon
June 18--Chester Co. IU, Diamond Rock Rm., Exton, PA 10 a.m.-12 noon

   Please register by calling the Bureau at (717) 787-5532. In order to ensure timely administration and processing of applications, both grant writer and the fiscal officer should attend the workshop.

EUGENE W. HICKOK,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-857. Filed for public inspection May 29, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]


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