Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) State Grant Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) Grant Competitions, Matching Funds, and Re-Grants | osse Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) Grant Competitions, Matching Funds, and Re-Grants OSSE Announces the Winners of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (FY26) Adult and Family Education Consolidated Competitive Grant On Monday, June 30, 2025, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), in collaboration with the DC Workforce Investment Council (WIC), announced the winners of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title II Adult and Family Education Consolidated Competitive Grant for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (FY26).

Through this competitive grant process, OSSE, in alignment with the District of Columbia Unified State Plan, sought eligible providers of demonstrated effectiveness to provide integrated education and training services to District youth and adults.

The FY26 OSSE AFE Consolidated Competitive Grant awardees are: Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School Briya Public Charter School Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation Four Walls Career and Technical Education Center Latin American Youth Center Career Academy So Others Might Eat (SOME) Center for Employment Training Southeast Welding Center, Inc. YouthBuild Public Charter School Based on the sub-grantees’ performance, student outcomes, and the availability of funding, these sub-grantees may be eligible to receive continuation funding for up to three additional years (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029).

Integrated Education & Training (IE&T) programs are based on a service approach that provides adult education and literacy activities concurrently and contextually with targeted workforce preparation and training.

This model is prioritized in WIOA and is considered a national best practice in adult education and workforce development due to its ability to reduce the amount of time it takes for adult learners to become prepared for gainful employment along a career pathway. Focusing on these funds on the IE&T program model is a continuation of the successful approach that OSSE began in program year 2017-18.

The transition to this programmatic approach led to significant improvements in performance outcomes over the past eight years. In FY24, OSSE AFE IE&T programs and students achieved a 63.

72 percent measurable skill gains rate which falls within the highest quartile in the nation, and a credential attainment rate (inclusive of secondary credentials and industry-recognized certifications) of 41 percent which falls within the second highest quartile in the nation.

Each of the OSSE AFE Consolidated Competitive Grant awardees identified one or more industries of focus, including Business and Office Administration, Construction, Early Childhood Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Tourism, and Entertainment, Information Technology, Security and Law, and Transportation, Infrastructure and Utilities; all of which are aligned with the District's Workforce Investment Council 's list of high-demand employment sectors.

Sub-grantees will deliver services in partnership with adult education programs, industry-specific training programs, industry partners, and social service organizations that provide non-academic support services, such as case management, supported-referrals to other services and public benefits, and childcare, to name a few.

These collaborations will ensure that District residents can enter a funded program and advance along a clearly articulated career pathway with seamless transitions between partnering programs. OSSE congratulates the OSSE AFE Consolidated Competitive Grant awardees and acknowledges all of the work they do in service to, and on behalf of, District residents.

Request for Application (RFA) Release Date: Monday, March 31, 2025 The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is the District of Columbia agency responsible for the supervision of adult education and adult literacy. OSSE will award on a competitive basis both federal and local funding to eligible providers that have demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education activities.

The federal funds are authorized by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 and Section 60305 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021), also commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The local funds are authorized under the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 2000 (D.

C. Law 13-176; D. C.

Official Code § 38-2602(b)), as amended and the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Act of 2017, sec. 4052.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria: An eligible provider is an organization that has demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education activities to eligible individuals and may include: 1) a local educational agency; 2) a community-based organization; 3) a faith-based organization; 4) a volunteer literacy organization; 5) an institution of higher education; 6) a library; 7) a public housing authority; 8) a public or private nonprofit organization that is not described above and has the ability to provide adult education and literacy activities to eligible individuals; 9) any other organization or entity; 10) a consortium, of agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries or authorities described above; and 11) a partnership between an employer and an entity described above.

Applications will be scored on the following categories (1) project information, which includes sub-categories including, but not limited to organization mission and goals and statement of need; (2) program design; (3) other program elements, such as instructional program or student assessment; and (4) fiscal management.

Grant funds will be awarded to eligible providers with demonstrated effectiveness to offer Integrated Education and Training (IE&T) programs, inclusive of 1) adult education and literacy activities, 2) workforce preparation activities, 3) workforce training, 4) digital literacy and digital skills training, 5) supportive services, and 6) transition services to District residents with basic skills deficiencies, limited English proficiency and barriers to employment to pursue their desired career paths.

Grant funds to support the provision of these services are subject to OSSE’s receipt of funding from the U.S. Department of Education, District of Columbia City Council and U.S. Department of Commerce. Length of the Award: Funding will be used to serve eligible District residents from July 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2026.

Based on continued funding availability, sub-grantee performance, and student progress and outcomes during and at the end of this grant period, providers with evidence of demonstrated effectiveness may be eligible to receive continuation funding, if available, for up to three additional years.

Available Funding for Award: OSSE expects to award multiyear funding to up to ten eligible providers of demonstrated effectiveness to serve a total of 1,000+ District residents collectively each year. All grant recipients will receive the same level of funding to serve 100+ adult learners. The cost per customer amount will range from $5,000 for a total award of $500,000 to $6,800 for a total award of $680,000 each year.

Awards are subject to OSSE’s receipt of funding from the U.S. Department of Education, District of Columbia City Council and U.S. Department of Commerce. Application Process: The Request for Applications (RFA) and paper-based application will be posted on the District of Columbia Office of Partnerships and Grant Services website here and on the AFE web-page here on Monday, March 31, 2025 .

Applicants will be able to submit applications through OSSE’s Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) at grants. osse. dc.

gov starting Wednesday, April 30, 2025 . A pre-application conference will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 1-2:30 p. m.

and Monday, May 5, 2025 10-11:30 a. m. The purpose of the pre-application conference is to answer questions to clarify the RFA requirements and provide supplemental information to assist potential eligible applicants in submitting responses to the RFA.

While participation in the conference is “optional,” interested parties are encouraged to participate and register for one of the conferences by clicking on the applicable link. Eligible providers may also wish to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply. While the submission of this notice is optional, it is helpful for the review process in determining the resources needed to efficiently conduct the application review process.

Interested individuals should complete the form online by Friday, May 9, 2025 here . Questions regarding the grant competition must be submitted in writing using the Adult and Family Education Consolidated Competitive Grant Question Submission Form by clicking on this link osseafe. wufoo.

com/forms/q4jg7og16sxex6/ . Questions submitted in writing will be accepted through Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 3 p. m.

When you submit a question, you will automatically receive a confirmation notification indicating that your question(s) has been received by OSSE. OSSE will post responses to the questions received between Monday, March 31, 2025 and Wednesday, April 23, 2025 in one summary document on the OSSE web site - Adult Education Providers and Partners, Grants at osse. dc.

gov/node/388 by close of business on Friday, May 2, 2025 Please note that applicants must apply for the OSSE Adult and Family Education Consolidated Competitive Grant in OSSE’s Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by the due date of Wednesday, May 21, 2025 by 3 p. m. regardless of whether an Optional Notice of Intent to Apply was submitted.

An external review panel will be convened to review, score, and rank each application for a competitive grant. The review panel will be composed of external neutral, qualified, professional individuals selected for their expertise, knowledge or related experiences. Each application will be scored against a rubric and applications will have multiple reviewers to ensure accurate scoring.

Upon completion of its review, the panel shall make recommendations for awards based on the scoring rubric(s). The State Superintendent or her designee will make all final award decisions. Applications must be submitted in EGMS by Wednesday, May 21, 2025 by 3 p.

m. Late applications will not be accepted. Awards will be announced by Monday, June 30, 2025 .

Prospective applicants will find below the OSSE AFE Consolidated Competitive Grant - Request for Applications (RFA), the OSSE AFE Grant Application (paper-based), and other required documentation that must be completed and submitted in OSSE’s Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by 3 p. m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 .

Additionally, the documents below include sample documents that prospective applicants are encouraged to review. Evidence of Demonstrated Effectiveness Tables - Only eligible providers of demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy activities may apply for funding.

Therefore, OSSE AFE will pre-screen each application to determine whether the applicant meets OSSE’s acceptable level of performance prior to forwarding the application to the grant readers for review, scoring and funding consideration. The OSSE Adult and Family Education Consolidated Competitive Grant was released in OSSE’s Enterprise Grants Management System on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

FY26 OSSE AFE Consolidated Competitive Grant – Request for Applications ( PDF | Word ) FY26 OSSE AFE Consolidated Competitive Grant – Section VI Evidence of Dem Effectiveness Tables FY26 OSSE AFE Consolidated Competitive Grant – Section X Blank Paper-Based Application Revised: FY26 OSSE AFE Grant Budget & Finance Tracker Workbook FY26 OSSE AFE Key Personnel Workbook FY26 OSSE AFE Schedule of Program Offerings Workbook Sample FY25 OSSE AFE Lesson Planning & Classroom Observation Workbook with Rubrics Sample FY25 OSSE AFE Quarterly & Year-End Reporting Workbook FY26 OSSE AFE Consolidated Competitive Grant - Pre-Application Conference PowerPoint ( PDF 1 slide per page | PDF 2 slides per page ) FY26 OSSE AFE Consolidated Competitive Grant - Pre-Application Conference Webinar Recording ( 1 of 2 on April 3, 2025 | 2 of 2 on May 5, 2025) OSSE AFE Grant Competition Reference Guide v.

1. 0 OSSE AFE Grant Competition Reference Guide v 2. 0 For additional information, please email [email protected] or contact the staff below in the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Adult and Family Education program.

Adult Education and Training