Virginia Adult Education Competitive Grant

The Virginia Adult Education Five-Year Competitive Grant Application is administered by the Virginia Department of Education Office of Adult Education to support adult basic education, literacy, workforce preparation, and English language acquisition programs across the Commonwealth. This funding opportunity is authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act as part of Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, along with supplemental state funding from the Virginia Acts of Assembly. The program is designed to strengthen Virginia’s workforce development system by equipping adults with foundational academic skills, workforce readiness, and pathways to postsecondary education and employment. The purpose of this grant is to fund eligible providers to deliver comprehensive adult education and literacy services aligned with regional workforce needs. These services must include adult education, literacy, English language acquisition, workforce preparation, and integrated education and training. Additional optional services may include civics education, workplace literacy, and family literacy programs. Providers must align programming with Local Workforce Development Board plans and emphasize career pathways leading to industry-recognized credentials and employment in high-demand occupations. Programs must also support co-enrollment with other workforce partners and provide access through Virginia Career Works Centers. Funding is distributed through multiple streams, including federal AEFLA funds and several state funding sources such as General Adult Education funds, State Lead Coordinating Agency funds, and lottery-supported initiatives like PluggedIn VA and Race to GED. For certain program types, such as Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education and Corrections Education, competitive awards range from 50000 to 200000 depending on projected enrollment. Applicants must allocate at least 95 percent of federal funds toward instructional activities and no more than five percent toward administrative costs unless justified. A mandatory local match of at least 15 percent of federal funds is required and may be fulfilled through cash or in-kind contributions. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations that demonstrate effectiveness in delivering adult education services. These include local education agencies, nonprofit organizations, community-based and faith-based organizations, higher education institutions, libraries, public housing authorities, and partnerships or consortia among such entities. Applicants must demonstrate prior effectiveness through measurable skill gains or credential attainment before being invited to submit a full application. Only those passing this initial screening phase may proceed to full application review. The application process consists of two phases. First, applicants must submit a demonstrated effectiveness screening tool by January 21, 2026. Those meeting the required threshold are invited to submit a full application package, which is due by March 30, 2026 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. The full application must include a narrative, budget workbook, and appendices. Applications are reviewed by both Local Workforce Development Boards and a statewide review panel, with evaluation based on federal requirements and state-defined scoring rubrics. Awards are expected to be announced by July 1, 2026. Evaluation criteria focus on responsiveness to regional needs, alignment with workforce plans, program design quality, instructional practices, partnerships, and data management capacity. Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to meet federal performance indicators, including employment outcomes, credential attainment, and measurable skill gains. Strong emphasis is placed on collaboration with workforce partners, integration of career pathways, and use of data systems such as LACES for reporting and program improvement. The grant period runs from July 1, 2026 through September 30, 2031, providing five years of program support contingent on continued compliance and funding availability. Applicants must adhere to strict reporting, financial management, and accountability requirements, including quarterly reporting and participation in monitoring activities. Questions regarding the application must be submitted in writing to the Office of Adult Education via email, and updates are provided through official channels and supporting materials such as webinars and FAQs. This funding opportunity is part of a recurring statewide effort to sustain and improve adult education services aligned with workforce development priorities.

Align closely with Local Workforce Development Board plans; demonstrate measurable outcomes and prior effectiveness; ensure strong partnerships and workforce alignment