The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
(1) Adult education--Programs, activities, and services
that include adult education, literacy, workplace adult education
and literacy activities, family literacy activities, English language
acquisition activities, integrated English literacy and civics education,
workforce preparation activities, or integrated education and training.
(2) AEL consortium--A partnership of educational, workforce
development, social service entities, and other public and private
organizations that agree to partner, collaborate, plan, and apply
for funding to provide AEL and related support services. Consortium
members shall include an AEL grant recipient, AEL fiscal agent, an
AEL lead organization of a consortium, and AEL service provider(s).
Consortium members may serve in one or more of the functions in accordance
with state statutes and Commission rules.
(3) AEL fiscal agent--An entity that is assigned financial
management duties as outlined in an Agency-AEL contract or is assigned
this function as a member of an AEL consortium.
(4) AEL grant recipient--An eligible grant recipient
within a local workforce development area (workforce area), as defined
in §800.2 of this title, that is awarded AEL funds by the Agency
through the statewide procurement process described in §805.41
of this chapter (relating to Procurement and Contracting). The AEL
grant recipient also may act as an AEL lead organization of a consortium,
AEL fiscal agent, or AEL service provider as designated in an agreement
with an AEL consortium.
(5) AEL lead organization of a consortium--An organization
designated as the AEL consortium manager in a written agreement between
AEL consortium members. The AEL lead organization of a consortium
is responsible for planning and leadership responsibilities as outlined
in the written agreement and also may serve as an AEL grant recipient,
AEL fiscal agent, or AEL service provider. If a consortium does not
identify the lead organization of a consortium through a written agreement,
the AEL grant recipient will be presumed to assume the responsibility
of the lead organization of the consortium.
(6) AEL service provider--An entity that is eligible
to provide AEL services as specified in the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (WIOA) §203(5)/29 United States Code §3272(5)
and Texas Labor Code, §315.003.
(7) Assessment services--The processes, administration,
review, and consultation provided to individuals in accordance with
the AEL assessment procedure and other agency guidance that direct
placement, progress, achievement, and overall program accountability
in AEL and other services, including the identification of potential
academic or support service needs.
(8) Clock hour--60 minutes.
(9) College and career transitional support--Support
that may include, but is not limited to, recruiting and outreach,
intensive individual case management, career and academic counseling,
enrollment and financial aid support, self-advocacy skills development,
academic and career support strategies, college and workforce system
capacity building, student data records management, and providing
access to other support and employment services.
(10) Contact time--The cumulative sum of minutes during
which an eligible adult student receives instructional, counseling,
assessment, or testing services (except for testing services used
to determine eligibility) from a staff member supported by federal
and state AEL funds as documented by local attendance and reporting
records.
(A) Student contact time generated by volunteers may
be accrued by the AEL program when volunteer services are verifiable
by attendance and reporting records and volunteers meet requirements
under §805.21 of this chapter (relating to Staff Qualifications
and Training).
(B) A student contact hour is 60 minutes.
(11) Digital literacy skills--The skills associated
with:
(A) using technology to enable users to find, evaluate,
organize, create, and communicate information; and
(B) developing digital citizenship and the responsible
use of technology.
(12) Eligible grant recipient--An entity, as specified
in state and federal law, that is eligible to receive AEL program
funding. Eligible grant recipients are organizations that have demonstrated
effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy activities,
and may include:
(A) a local educational agency;
(B) a community-based organization or faith-based organization;
(C) a volunteer literacy organization;
(D) an institution of higher education;
(E) a public or private nonprofit agency;
(F) a library;
(G) a public housing authority;
(H) a nonprofit institution that is not described in
any of subparagraphs (A) - (G) of this paragraph and has the ability
to provide adult education and literacy services to eligible individuals;
(I) a consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations,
institutions, libraries, or authorities described in any of subparagraphs
(A) - (H) of this paragraph; and
(J) a partnership between an employer and an entity
described in any of subparagraphs (A) - (I) of this paragraph.
(13) Literacy--An individual's ability to read, write,
and speak in English, and to compute and solve problems at levels
of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of
the individual, and in society.
(14) Principles of adult learning--A wide variety of
research-based professional development topics that include instructional
and advising characteristics specific to adults, and support the range
of knowledge, skills, and abilities adults need to understand and
use information, express themselves, act independently, effectively
manage a changing world, and meet goals and objectives related to
career, family, and community participation. Instructional principles
include, but are not limited to, engaging adults and customizing instruction
on subjects that have immediate relevance to their career and personal
goals and objectives, building on their prior knowledge and experience,
and supporting them in taking responsibility for their learning.
(15) Proctoring--Support in the administration of tests
or pretests under the guidance of a staff member who oversees program
assessment services and/or accountability assessment.
(16) Professional development--Encompasses all types
of facilitated learning activities for instructors and staff of AEL
programs and organizations participating in AEL programs and services.
Professional development can be face-to-face or virtual and can be
a workshop, lecture, presentation, poster session, roundtable discussion,
study circle, or demonstration to accomplish a predetermined educational
or learning outcome that is tracked in the statewide AEL data management
information system.
(17) Program year--The AEL program year is July 1 through
June 30.
(18) Substitute--An instructor who works on call, does
not have a full-time assignment, and does not assume permanent responsibilities
for class instruction. An individual is considered a substitute if
he or she instructs a particular class for four or fewer consecutive
class meetings.
(19) Support services--Services such as transportation,
child care, dependent care, housing, and needs-related payments, which
are necessary to enable an individual to participate in activities
as defined in WIOA §3(59).
(20) Workforce preparation activities--Activities,
programs, or services described in WIOA §203(17), which are designed
to help an individual acquire a combination of basic academic skills,
critical thinking skills, digital literacy skills, and self-management
skills, including competencies in utilizing resources, using information,
working with others, understanding systems, and obtaining skills necessary
for successful transition into and completion of postsecondary education,
training, or employment.
(21) Workforce training--Services described in WIOA §134(c)(3)(D),
including the following:
(A) occupational skills training, including training
for nontraditional employment;
(B) on-the-job training;
(C) incumbent worker training;
(D) programs that combine workplace training with related
instruction, which may include cooperative education programs;
(E) training programs operated by the private sector;
(F) skill upgrading and retraining;
(G) entrepreneurial training;
(H) transitional jobs;
(I) job readiness training provided in combination
with services described in any of subparagraphs (A) - (H) of this
paragraph;
(J) AEL activities, including activities of English
language acquisition and integrated education and training programs,
provided concurrently or in combination with services described in
any of subparagraphs (A) - (G) of this paragraph; and
(K) customized training conducted with a commitment
by an employer or group of employers to employ an individual upon
successful completion of the training.
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