FY27 Adult Education and Literacy Professional Development Network- Federal

The following deliverables are required for the Adult Education and Leadership Technical Assistance Program. Directions for submitting proposals are identified in the Grant Application Section. Support for Workforce-Aligned English Language Acquisition Instruction, including Evidence-Based Reading Instruction, Assessment, and Instructionally Embedded Technology Integration, delivered through In Person, On Site, and Virtual Support. • Coordinate and deliver professional development and technical assistance to WIOA Title II providers related to the English Language Acquisition Content Standards, aligned with workforce readiness foundational contexts. • Coordinate and deliver ELL NRS Assessment Training to WIOA Title II providers. • Coordinate and deliver the Evidence Based Reading Instruction for the Illinois Professional Development Network. • Coordinate and deliver professional development and technical assistance for Technology Integration by embedding technology and AI utilization within ELA instructional training and coaching, rather than providing standalone or isolated technology or AI tool training, to support workforce-focused instructional practice. • Support the Integrated English Language and Civics Education Program. • Support Workplace Literacy Programs designed for English Language Acquisition. • Engage with the Illinois Adult Education Professional Development Network Partners to coordinate offerings, including courses in the iLEARN system and conference events. • Assist the ICCB Division of Adult Education with projects related to English Language Acquisition for the workforce, technology integration, and Evidence Based Reading instruction. • Assist the ICCB Division of Adult Education in maintaining, analyzing, and reporting professional development participation data, including participation rates across funded programs, to identify trends, gaps in engagement, and opportunities for targeted technical assistance and continuous improvement. Promote and maintain the Illinois Adult Education Hotline. • Maintain the Adult Education Hotline through managing customer-based phone calls, text messages, and online forms to connect potential adult learners with ICCB Funded Adult Education Programs. • Identify and implement strategies to integrate AI into the hotline to support learners and improve sustainability. • Promote the Hotline through social media posts and other relevant outreach strategies.

This grant is provided through the Illinois Community College Board. Funding available, up to $300,000.00. The grant period is July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. A renewal plan must be submitted in the Spring of 2027, and funding for the second year is contingent upon sufficient appropriation and a program’s satisfactory performance in the preceding year. All grant funds shall be subject to the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705). All funds granted for the operation of this program must be used exclusively for the purposes stated in the approved proposal and must be expended in accordance with the approved budget and the grantee’s policies and procedures related to such expenditures. Funds may only be expended for activities occurring during the grant period.

Federal regulation limits administrative costs at up to 5% of the total Federal award. Local administrative costs for AEFLA are defined in WIOA Sec 233. These include indirect cost and several direct costs for planning, administration (including performance and accountability), professional development, activities in alignment with local workforce plans, and supporting one-stop operations. These in aggregate cannot exceed 5%.

Extensions will not be granted for any reason.

Review the documents posted on the ICCB Grants Opportunity page for more details.

Submit a support ticket with an e-mail listed above. Amplifund customer support is available Monday through Friday 7:00am to 7:00pm Central time. Attachments

To be eligible, an applicant must be in the state of Illinois, in good standing with Illinois, and be • Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) • Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) • Public or Private nonprofit agencies To be considered for funding under this AEL PDN TA Request for Proposal, an applicant of demonstrated effectiveness must include experience in several of the following areas, as appropriate to the scope of the proposed services: • A minimum of 3 years of professional development and technical assistance for programs serving adult education and literacy. • A minimum of 3 years of experience in providing professional development on topics related to at least 3 of the following: 1) the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act, 2) service integration, 3) English Language Acquisition, 4) workplace literacy, and 5) curriculum and instruction, leading to increased student outcomes. • Experience supporting Workplace Literacy and/or incumbent worker education initiatives, including English Language Acquisition instruction delivered in workforce or employment-aligned contexts. • Ability to travel on-site to funded programs and provide targeted technical assistance. • Demonstrated capacity to manage a multilingual hotline’s recruitment/awareness tool to connect potential adult learners to Title II-funded Adult Education Programs. Funding for this project is contingent upon a sufficient federal appropriation and the program’s satisfactory performance in the preceding year.

See ICCB's Grant opportunity web page for the Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application documents, which are also available on the Grants Management System.

An informational meeting will be held via web conference. Registration for the webinar is not required. See the information listed below. It is not mandatory that an eligible program attend an informational meeting, but it is highly encouraged. The informational meetings will begin and end promptly at the times designated below. An opportunity for questions will be provided. In case of unexpected problems, visit the ICCB website https://www.iccb.org/grant- opportunities/ for cancellations and/or rescheduled sessions. Time: April 2nd, 2026, 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Webex Meeting: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/j.php?MTID=m61d6408edf8d524fa841c989663aaa9a It is recommended you test your connection to Webex, including your microphone and camera settings (if applicable), at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.