Local Board Review of the WIOA Title II AEFLA Applications for PY 23-27

Workforce Services Information Notice
WSIN22-20

Issued: November 30, 2022

The California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), the Employment Development Department (EDD), and the California Department of Education (CDE) announces the process for the Local Workforce Development Boards (Local Board) review of eligible provider applications submitted for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title II – Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) grant Request for Applications (RFA) for Program Years (PY) 2023-2027.

Local Boards are required to coordinate activities with education and training providers within the Local Workforce Development Area (Local Area), as specified under the WIOA Section 107(d)(11) and Title 20 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 679.370(n). In accordance with WIOA Title II, the Local Boards are required to review all AEFLA applications submitted to the CDE by eligible providers within the Local Area to determine whether the applications are consistent with their Local Plans (Title 20 CFR 679.370[n]) and to submit a recommendation to the CDE. The AEFLA application review and recommendation period will occur from January 4–24, 2023. Prior to the review, Local Board Executive Directors will receive emailed instructions and a password to access applications on the online portal.

The CDE Adult Education Office is hosting a webinar to provide details about the Local Boards review process for the WIOA Title II: AEFLA grant applications.

Webinar:          Local Board Review of WIOA Title II – AEFLA PY 23-27 Application
Date:                  Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Time:                 10 – 11 a.m.

For additional information about the webinar and to register for the event, visit the California Adult Education, Professional Development Events webpage.

Scoring Process Overview

The AEFLA application contains 12 considerations to which an eligible provider must respond. While strongly encouraged to read each eligible provider’s entire application, Local Boards are only required to read the following considerations most relevant to Local Plan alignment:

  • Consideration 1: Needs Assessment
  • Consideration 4: Alignment with AJCC Partners
  • Consideration 8: Facilitate Learning in Context
  • Consideration 10: Partnerships and Support Services for Development of Career Pathways

Local Boards will score the applications using one of three criteria:

  • Strongly Aligned – indicates the applicant already has relevant alignment strategies and activities in place and is engaged in a strong partnership with the Local Board. These applicants, if ultimately funded, will be designated as model operations that can inform training and development for others.
  • Aligned – provides a baseline that suggests the applicant has sufficiently demonstrated an understanding of the Local Plan and has identified some alignment strategies and activities that are or will be implemented.
  • Minimally Aligned – could suggest one of several factors, depending on the comments in the review. Examples include the following:
    • The applicant is new to collaborating with the Local Board.
    • The applicant has been unsuccessful in past attempts to collaborate.
    • The applicant’s type of provider (Library literacy programs for instance, have more challenges in aligning with workforce entities).

Specific recommendations for improving alignment will be compiled and shared with the CWDB. The CDE Adult Education Office will use the Local Board comments to develop and provide technical assistance and/or seek support from the CWDB to promote alignment at the local level. In addition to scoring, reviewers are encouraged to provide recommendations to promote further alignment with the Local Plan. The CDE Adult Education Office will consider the review and recommendations provided by the Local Boards when determining the awarding of funding.

For more information, visit the CDE RFA WIOA Title II website.

For questions, contact the CWDB at WorkforcePartnerships@cwdb.ca.gov or the CDE at adulteducation@cde.ca.gov.

/s/ KIMBERLEE MEYER, Chief
Central Office Workforce Services Division