Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-308 - Adult Education

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.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-308

Adopted effective December 14, 1984 (Supp. 84-6). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 1292, effective June 26, 2006 (Supp. 09-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 1781, effective 9/23/2013.