Department of Education

CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Page

Appropriations Language ....................................................................................................... M-1

Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes...................................................................... M-2

Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers ............................................................................ M-3

Summary of Changes ............................................................................................................ M-4

Authorizing Legislation........................................................................................................... M-5

Appropriations History............................................................................................................ M-6

Summary of Request ............................................................................................................. M-7

Activities:

Career and technical education: State grants ....................................................................M-9

Career and technical education: National programs.........................................................M-19

Adult education: Adult basic and literacy education State grants .....................................M-22

Adult education: National leadership activities .................................................................M-28

State Tables*

State tables reflecting final 2018 allocations and 2019 and 2020 estimates are posted on the 

Department’s webpage at: https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/index.html
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

M-1

Appropriations Language

For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, the Carl D. Perkins Career and 

Technical Education Act of 2006 ("Perkins Act"), and the Adult Education and Family Literacy 

Act ("AEFLA"), [$1,925,686,000] $1,842,159,000, of which [$1,134,686,000] $1,051,159,000

shall become available on July 1, [2019] 2020, and shall remain available through September 

30, [2020] 2021, and of which $791,000,000 shall become available on October 1, [2019] 2020, 

and shall remain available through September 30, [2020] 2021:

1 Provided, That notwithstanding 

section 114(e)(1) of the Perkins Act, $13,000,000 shall be available for innovation and 

modernization grants under section 114(e) of such Act:

2 Provided further, That, notwithstanding

section 211(a)(1) of the AEFLA, of the amounts made available for the AEFLA, [$13,712,000] 

$73,712,000 shall be for national leadership activities under section 242:3 Provided further, That 

of the amounts made available in the preceding proviso, $60,000,000 shall be for grants to 

States to support pre-apprenticeship activities that help low-skilled adults meet the entrance 

requirements of apprenticeship programs:4 Provided further, That the Department shall award 

the grants authorized in the preceding proviso to States by distributing 50 percent of such funds 

in the same manner as prescribed in section 211(c) of the AEFLA and distributing remaining 

50 percent of such funds based on each State's relative share of unemployed persons who are 

eligible individuals as defined in section 203(4) of the AEFLA.

5

(Department of Education 

Appropriations Act, 2019.)

NOTES

Each language provision that is followed by a footnote reference is explained in the Analysis of Language 

Provisions and Changes document that follows the appropriation language.
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

M-2

Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes

Language Provision Explanation

1 ...of which [$1,134,686,000] 

$1,051,159,000 shall become available on 

July 1, [2019] 2020, and shall remain 

available through September 30, [2020] 

2021, and of which $791,000,000 shall 

become available on October 1, [2019] 2020, 

and shall remain available through 

September 30, [2020] 2021:

This language provides funds appropriated 

on a forward-funded basis for Career and 

Technical Education and Adult Education 

programs, as well as advance funding for 

Career and Technical Education.

2 Provided, That notwithstanding section 

114(e)(1) of the Perkins Act, $13,000,000 

shall be available for innovation and 

modernization grants under section 114(e) of 

such Act:

This language overrides the statutory 

language that limits the funds than can be 

used for innovation and modernization grants

and makes $13 million available for this 

purpose.

3 Provided further, That, notwithstanding 

section 211(a)(1) of the AEFLA, of the 

amounts made available for the AEFLA, 

[$13,712,000] $73,712,000 shall be for 

national leadership activities under section 

242:

This language overrides the statutory 

language establishing the distribution of Adult 

Education funding which otherwise reserves 

12 percent of the total appropriation for 

National Leadership Activities, providing a 

specific amount for that program.

4 Provided further, That of the amounts made 

available in the preceding proviso, 

$60,000,000 shall be for grants to States to 

support pre-apprenticeship activities that help 

low-skilled adults meet the entrance 

requirements of apprenticeship programs:

This language provides funding for State 

grants supporting pre-apprenticeship 

programs.

5 Provided further, That the Department shall 

award the grants authorized in the preceding 

proviso to States by distributing 50 percent of 

such funds in the same manner as 

prescribed in section 211(c) of the AEFLA 

and distributing remaining 50 percent of such 

funds based on each State's relative share of 

unemployed persons who are eligible 

individuals as defined in section 203(4) of the 

AEFLA.

This language establishes the manner in 

which the funding provided for preapprenticeship grants are to be allocated to 

States.
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

M-3

Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation/Adjustments/Transfers 2018 2019 2020

Discretionary:

Discretionar yAppropriation........................................................... $1,830,686 $1,925,686 $1,842,159

Advance:

Advance for succeeding fiscal year........................... -791,000 -791,000 -791,000

Advance from prior year............................................ 791,000 791,000 791,000

Total, budget authority ................................1,....... 830,686 1,925,686 1,842,159
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

M-4

Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

2019.................................................................................................. $1,925,686

2020.................................................................................................. 1,842,159

Net change ................................................................ -83,527

Increases:

2019 base

Change

from base

Program:

Increase for Career and Technical Education National 

Programs to provide additional funding for innovation 

and modernization grants. $7,421 +$12,579

Increase for Adult Education National Leadership 

Activities to support pre-apprenticeship activities that 

help low-skilled adults meet the entrance requirements 

of apprenticeship programs. 13,712 +60,000

Subtotal, increases +72,579

Decreases: 2019 base

Change

from base

Program:

Decrease funding for Adult Basic and Literacy Education 

State Grants to provide funding for other Administration 

priorities. $641,955 -$156,106

Subtotal, decreases -156,106

Net change -83,527
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

M-5

M-5

Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2019

Authorized

Footnote

2019

Estimate

Footnote

2020

Authorized

Footnote

2020

Request

Footnote

Career and technical education (Carl D. Perkins CTEA):

CTAE State grants (Title I)............................................................. $1,229,569 $1,262,598 $1,246,782 $1,262,598

CTAE National programs (Section 114) ......................................... 7,651 7,421 7,758 20,000

Adult education (Adult Education and Family Literacy Act

(AEFLA)):

AEFLA Adult basic and literacy education State grants (AEFLA)..... 651,2611 641,955 665,6401 485,849

AEFLA National leadership activities (AEFLA section 242).............. 13,2911 13,712 13,5731 73,712

Unfunded authorizations(UA)

UA Grants to States for workplace and community transition 

training for incarcerated individuals (HE Amendments 

of 1998, Title VIII-D).......................................................... Indefinite 0 Indefinite 0

Total definite authorization .............................................................1,901,772 1,933,753

Total annual appropriation ............................................................. 1,925,686 1,842,159

Portion of request not authorized ............................................ 60,000

1

A total of $664,552 thousand in fiscal year 2019 and $678,640 thousand in fiscal year 2020 is authorized for Adult Education, of which 2 percent, not to exceed 

$15,000 thousand, must be reserved to carry out National Leadership Activities.
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

M-6

Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget Estimate

to Congress

Footnote

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate

Allowance Footnote Appropriation Footnote

2011 $1,942,707 $1,991,4471$1,942,5412$1,737,4513

(2011 Advance for 2012) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000)

Rescission (P.L. 112-74) -(1,495)

2012 1,683,392 1,738,94641,738,94641,737,154

(2012 Advance for 2013) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000)

2013 1,737,154 1,737,15451,737,15451,646,533

(2013 Advance for 2014) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000)

2014 1,750,154 N/A61,737,94911,702,686

(2014 Advance for 2015) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000)

2015 1,722,686 N/A61,720,93971,707,686

(2015 Advance for 2016) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000)

2016 1,915,686 1,700,60981,669,73181,720,686

(2016 Advance for 2017) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000)

2017 1,808,686 1,720,68691,720,68691,715,3149

(2017 Advance for 2018) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000) (785,628)

2018 1,476,441 1,720,68610 1,720,68610 1,830,68610

(2018 Advance for 2019) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000)

2019 1,637,159 1,945,26511 1,855,68611 1,925,68611

(2019 Advance for 2020) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000) (791,000)

2020 1,842,159

(2020 Advance for 2021) (791,000)

 

1

The level for the House allowance reflects the House-passed full-year continuing resolution.

2

The level for the Senate allowance reflects Committee action only.

3

The level for appropriation reflects the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 

(P.L. 112-10).

4

The level for the House allowance reflects an introduced bill and the level for the Senate allowance reflects Senate 

Committee action only.

5

The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2013 appropriations bill, which 

proceeded in the 112th Congress only through the House Subcommittee and the Senate Committee.

6

The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action.

7

The level for the Senate allowance reflects Senate Subcommittee action only.

8

The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2016 appropriations bill, which 

proceeded in the 114th Congress only through the House Committee and Senate Committee.

9

The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect Committee action on the regular annual 2017 appropriation 

bill; the Appropriation reflects the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017.

10 The level for the House allowance reflects floor action on the Omnibus appropriations bill; the Senate allowance 

reflects Committee action on the regular annual 2018 appropriations bill; the Appropriation reflects the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141).

11 The levels for the House and Senate allowance reflect Committee action on the regular annual 2019 appropriations 

bill; the Appropriation reflects enactment of the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and 

Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 115-245).
ACC OUNT

M-7

M-7

Summary of R equest

Click here for accessible version

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FISCAL YEAR 2020 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET

(in thousands of dollars)

Amount Percent

 1. Career and technical education (Carl D. Perkins CTEA):

(a) State grants (Title I)

Annual appropriation D 401,598 471,598 471,598 0 0.00%

Advance for succeeding fiscal year D 791,000 791,000 791,000 0 0.00%

Subtotal 1,192,598 1,262,598 1,262,598 0 0.00%

(b) National programs (section 114) D 7,421 7,421 20,000 12,579 169.51%

Subtotal, Career and technical education 1,200,019 1,270,019 1,282,598 12,579 0.99%

 2. Adult education:

(a) Adult basic and literacy education State grants (AEFLA) D 616,955 641,955 485,849 (156,106) -24.32%

(b) National leadership activities (AEFLA section 242) D 13,712 13,712 73,712 60,000 437.57%

Subtotal, Adult education 630,667 655,667 559,561 (96,106) -14.66%

1,830,686 1,925,686 1,842,159 (83,527) -4.34%

Total, Budget authority 1,830,686 1,925,686 1,842,159 (83,527) -4.34%

Current 1,039,686 1,134,686 1,051,159 (83,527) -7.36%

Prior year's advance 791,000 791,000 791,000 0 0.00%

NOTES: D = discretionary program; M = mandatory program

Detail may not add to totals due to rounding. 

Career, Technical, and Adult Education

Total, Appropriation

Cat 

Code

2018 

Appropriation 

2019 

Appropriation

2020 

President's 

Budget

2020 President's Budget Compared 

to 2019 Appropriation
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

M-8

Summary of Request

Programs in the Career, Technical, and Adult Education account support State and local efforts

to improve their career and technical education programs and their adult education and literacy 

systems. The objective of the career and technical education programs is to develop the 

academic, career, and technical skills of youth and adults in high schools, community colleges, 

and correctional institutions by: (1) promoting the integration of academic, career, and technical 

instruction, and (2) supporting State and local program improvements. Adult education 

programs support local efforts to provide educational services to adults who lack the basic or 

English literacy skills needed to benefit fully from job training, obtain better jobs, complete 

secondary education, succeed in postsecondary education, and become full participants in their 

children’s education. 

The Administration requests a total of $1.8 billion for this account. This request includes 

$1.3 billion for Career and Technical Education State Grants, $20.0 million for Career and 

Technical Education National Programs, $485.8 million for Adult Education State Grants, 

and $73.7 million for Adult Education National Leadership Activities.

The request for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) State Grants program would 

support the President’s workforce development agenda and fund the first year of full 

implementation of the Perkins Act, as amended and reauthorized by the Strengthening Career 

and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. The $20.0 million request for CTE National 

Programs, which is $12.6 million over the fiscal year 2019 appropriation, would support 

activities to improve the quality and effectiveness of CTE programs across States, and provides 

approximately $13 million to for grants under the newly authorized Innovation and 

Modernization authority focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 

fields, including computer science.

The $485.8 million request for Adult Education State Grants, a reduction of $156.1 million, or 

24 percent, would support State and local efforts to promote adult literacy, employment and selfsufficiency; help parents gain the skills needed to become a full partner in their children’s 

educations; and, assist adults in the completion of a secondary education. The request includes 

funding for Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) State Grants to support 

the unmet needs of immigrants learning English. IELCE grants help States and communities 

provide adult English Learners with expanded access to high-quality English literacy programs

linked to civics education.

The $73.7 million request for Adult Education National Leadership Activities includes a 

$60.0 million increase to support pre-apprenticeship activities that help low-skilled adults meet 

the entrance requirements of apprenticeship programs.
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

M-9

Activities:

Career and technical education: State grants 

(Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, Title I)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2020 Authorization: $1,246,782

Budget Authority: 

2019 2020 Change 

Annual appropriation $471,598 $471,598 0

Advance for succeeding 

fiscal year $791,00 $791,00 0

Total $1,262,598 $1,262,598 0

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Career and Technical Education (CTE) State Grants are authorized under the Carl D. Perkins 

Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 as amended and reauthorized by the 

Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). The 

program assists States and Outlying Areas in expanding and improving career and technical 

education in high schools, technical schools, and community colleges. Each State uses program 

funds to support a variety of career and technical education programs developed in accordance 

with its State plan. 

Perkins V made several changes to the CTE State Grants program, including more closely 

aligning the program with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was 

reauthorized in 2014, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, reauthorized in 2015; 

incorporating new performance indicators; no longer requiring States to negotiate performance 

targets with the Department; defining which students must be included in the accountability 

system; revising the allocation formula; expanding the list of special populations who must be 

served under the program and whose performance must be disaggregated by grantees; and 

allowing State leadership activities funds to be used to support pay for success initiatives.

Starting in fiscal year 2019 the Department will allocate funds to States, including the District of 

Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, through a new formula that sets baseline funding 

at the same amount received by each State in fiscal year 2018. Any additional funds above the 

fiscal year 2018 level will be distributed through a formula based on State per-capita income 

and population in three age cohorts (15-19, 20-24, and 25-65). The formula also provides for a 

minimum State allocation of at least 0.5 percent of the total funding available for States, and an 

additional provision limits the amount of funds that may be distributed to States initially receiving 

0.5 percent or less of the funds designated for States.

In addition, the Pacific territories receive 0.13 percent of the total appropriated for State Grants 

to operate the same kinds of career and technical education programs as the States. Within that 

set-aside, the statute calls for initial allocations of $660,000 to Guam, $350,000 each to 
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

Career and technical education: State grants

M-10

American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, and $160,000 for Palau; any remaining 

funds are distributed among Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands based 

on their share of the set-aside. Also, 1.25 percent of the total appropriation for State Grants is 

set aside for grants to federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations, and 

0.25 percent is set aside for competitive grants to organizations that primarily serve and 

represent Hawaiian Natives.

Under the statute:

 Programs must, among other things, integrate academic and career and technical 

education; promote student attainment of challenging academic standards along with 

technical skills; provide strong linkages between secondary and postsecondary education, 

provide activities to prepare special populations for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand 

industry sectors or occupations that will allow graduates to earn a living wage; and provide 

work-based learning opportunities and opportunities to gain postsecondary credit while still 

attending high school.

 States must set performance targets (“State-determined levels of performance”) for a 

number of “core indicators” specified in the law. 

o The core indicators for secondary education programs focus on the high school 

graduation rates for CTE concentrators in high school graduation, as measured by the 

4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, and, at the State’s discretion, the extended-year 

adjusted cohort graduation rate, as defined in the Elementary and Secondary Education 

Act (ESEA); proficiency in challenging academic standards, as measured by the 

academic assessments required by Title I of the ESEA; participation in postsecondary 

education or advanced training, military service, in a service program that receives 

assistance under title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, volunteer 

service in the Peace Corps, or employment, in the second quarter after exiting from 

secondary education; and participation in CTE programs that lead to employment in 

fields that are traditionally dominated by one gender (non-traditional fields). 

In addition, States must choose at least one indicator of CTE program quality from the 

following: graduation from high school with a recognized postsecondary credential; 

graduation from high school with postsecondary credits in a relevant CTE program; or 

graduation from high school having participated in work-based learning. States also 

have the option of including any other statewide valid and reliable measure of student 

success in CTE.

CTE concentrators at the secondary level are students who have completed at least 

two courses in a single career and technical education program or program of study.

o The core indicators for postsecondary education programs focus on CTE concentrators 

who, during the second quarter after completing a post-secondary program, continue to 

participate in postsecondary education, or participate in advanced training, military 

service, in a service program that receives assistance under title I of the National and

Community Service Act of 1990, volunteer service in the Peace Corps, or are placed or 

retained in employment; CTE concentrators who receive a recognized postsecondary 
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

Career and technical education: State grants

M-11

credential during participation in or within 1 year of program completion; and 

participation in CTE programs that lead to employment in non-traditional fields.

CTE concentrators at the postsecondary level are students who have earned at least 

12 credits within a career and technical education program or program of study or

completed such a program if the program encompasses fewer than 12 credits or the 

equivalent in total

 At least 85 percent of State Grant funds must be allocated by formula to local educational 

agencies (LEAs) and postsecondary institutions, and a State may reserve up to 15 percent 

of those funds to make grant awards to local agencies in rural areas, areas with high 

percentages or high numbers of career and technical education students, or areas with 

performance gaps, or to foster innovative and promising CTE programs or promote 

programs of study and career pathways that are aligned with State-identified high-skill, highwage, or in-demand occupations or industries. 

 States may use up to 10 percent of their allocations to carry out State leadership activities, 

such as preparing individuals for non-traditional fields in current and emerging professions, 

programs for special populations, activities that expose students, including special 

populations, to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations; supporting individuals in 

State institutions, such as State correctional institutions, including juvenile justice facilities, 

and educational institutions that serve individuals with disabilities; recruiting, preparing, or 

retaining CTE teachers and faculty; and providing technical assistance for subgrantees.

 States may use up to 5 percent of their allocations, or $250,000 (whichever is greater) for 

administration.

This is a forward-funded program that includes advance appropriations. A portion of the funds 

becomes available for obligation on July 1 of the fiscal year in which the funds are appropriated 

and remains available for 15 months through September 30 of the following year. The remaining 

funds become available on October 1 of the fiscal year following the year of appropriation and 

remain available for 12 months, expiring at the same time as the forward-funded portion. 

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

2015 ...................................................... ............................ $1,117,598

2016 ........................................................ ............................ 1,117,598

2017 ........................................................ ............................ 1,112,226

2018 ........................................................ ............................ 1,192,598

2019 ........................................................ ............................ 1,262,598

FY 2020 BUDGET REQUEST

The Administration requests $1.3 billion for Career and Technical Education (CTE) State Grants

for fiscal year 2020, the same amount as the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. The request 

supports the President’s workforce development agenda and would fund the first year of full 
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

Career and technical education: State grants

M-12

implementation of the Perkins Act as amended and reauthorized by the Strengthening Career 

and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act.

In 2013, 80.7 percent of high school graduates earned at least one CTE credit.1 High quality 

CTE programs can provide students with critical knowledge they need to choose careers along 

with the skills they need to pursue them.

The fiscal year 2020 request will support State and local efforts to meet new requirements to 

support better alignment of career and technical education programs with State, regional, and 

local economic needs, as well as the use of up-to-date information on in-demand industries and 

occupations in career guidance and counseling and will help ensure students attain the skills 

they need to find high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs where they live. In addition, State and 

local recipients must include work-based learning (along with competency-based and applied 

learning) as an element of career and technical education programs funded under Perkins V, 

which can improve student motivation to work hard in school by demonstrating the connection 

between academic learning and on-the-job skills. This requirement aligns with the President’s 

goal of expanding the use of apprenticeships, a type of work-based learning, particularly for high 

school students. Apprenticeships and other work-based learning experiences are critical to the 

Department’s efforts to promote multiple pathways both to postsecondary education 

opportunities and challenging, rewarding careers.

The request will also support implementation of strengthened accountability requirements by 

ensuring that States use comparable definitions of CTE concentrators in measuring program 

performance. This change will help stakeholders better assess program outcomes—something 

that has been difficult because previous authorizations of the program have allowed States to 

determine which students would be included in accountability systems and how.

The 2020 Budget also includes a legislative proposal to double the American Competitiveness 

and Workforce Improvement Act fee for the H-1B visa program (to $3,000 per worker for large 

employers and $1,500 for small employers) to prepare American workers for jobs that are 

currently being filled by foreign workers, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and 

Math (STEM) fields. Under the proposal, the prescribed allocations for Department of Labor job 

training grants (50 percent) and foreign labor certifications (5 percent) would remain the same. 

The National Science Foundation’s allocation for the Innovative Technology Experiences for 

Students and Teachers program (10 percent) would remain the same, while its allocation for 

STEM scholarships would decrease from 30 percent to 15 percent, a level that would 

nonetheless maintain absolute funding levels under current estimates. The proposal would 

initiate a new 15 percent allocation for the Department of Education’s CTE State Grants. The 

remaining 5 percent would be maintained for Department of Homeland Security processing 

costs. This proposal would, therefore, increase the amount of funds available for CTE State 

Grants which will, in turn, support additional CTE programs that both help prepare America’s 

students for a broad range of careers with family-supporting wages and meet the workforce 

needs of their communities.

 

1

https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ctes/tables/h176.asp
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

Career and technical education: State grants

M-13

PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES 

(dollars in thousands)

Output Measures 2018 2019 2020

Formul a funds: State grants $1,173,159 $1,242,018 $1,242,018

Formul a funds: Range of awards to States $4,693–$120,196 $5,037–$127,059 $5,037–$127,059

Formul a funds: Territories allocation $1,550 $1,641 $1,641

Formul a funds: Indian set-aside $14,907 $15,782 $15,782

Formul a funds: Indi an set-aside: Number of grants 30 30 30

Formul a funds: Native Hawaiian grants $2,982 $3,157 $3,157

Formul a funds: N ati ve Hawaiian grant: Number of grants 7 7 7

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

This section presents selected program performance information, including, for example, GPRA 

goals, objectives, measures, and performance targets and data; and an assessment of the 

progress made toward achieving program results. Achievement of program results is based on 

the cumulative effect of the resources provided in previous years, and those requested in fiscal 

year 2020 and future years, as well as the resources and efforts invested by those served by 

this program. 

For fiscal year 2020, the Department will be revising the performance measures to reflect 

implementation of the reauthorized Perkins Act; consequently, no targets are provided for the 

current measures for fiscal year 2020.

Goal: Increase access to and improve educational programs that strengthen education 

achievement, workforce preparation, and lifelong learning.

Objective: Ensure that secondary and postsecondary CTE concentrators, including special 

populations, meet rigorous academic standards, attain technical skills, and make successful 

transitions to further education and employment.
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

Career and technical education: State grants

M-14

Measure: The percentage of CTE concentrators scoring at the proficient level or above on 

State reading/language arts assessments.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 77% 72.6%

2016 77 70.9

2017 78 67.4

2018 78

2019 75

Measure: The percentage of CTE concentrators scoring at the proficient level or above on State 

mathematics assessments.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 72% 65.2%

2016 72 64.8

2017 72 56.0

2018 72

2019 68

Measure: The percentage of CTE concentrators who graduated in the reporting year.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 93% 93.4%

2016 93 93.8

2017 93 93.9

2018 94

2019 94

Additional information: States measure reading/language arts and mathematics achievement 

by determining the percentage of CTE concentrators who took State assessments and who 

attained a level of proficient or advanced on those assessments. Performance targets are 

averages of the performance targets the Department negotiated with individual State agencies. 

The source of data is the Consolidated Annual Report that State agencies submit to the 

Department. Note that definitions of CTE concentrators are not comparable across States, and 

that many CTE students take the State assessments before they begin their coursework in CTE 

(i.e., in 9th or 10th grade).
CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

Career and technical education: State grants

M-15

Measure: The percentage of secondary CTE concentrators attaining technical skills.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 80% 80.0%

2016 80 76.1

2017 81 81.2

2018 81

2019 81

Measure: The percentage of secondary CTE concentrators earning a diploma, a GED, or a 

proficiency credential in conjunction with a secondary school diploma.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 95% 95.3%

2016 95 95.8

2017 95 95.9

2018 96

2019 95

Measure: The percentage of secondary CTE concentrators placed in postsecondary 

education, advanced training, military service, or employment.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 85% 83.8%

2016 85 84.0

2017 85 83.2

2018 85

2019 85

Measure: The percentage of secondary CTE concentrators participating in programs in 

nontraditional fields.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 38% 37.0%

2016 38 38.0

2017 38 37.2

2018 38

2019
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Measure: The percentage of secondary CTE concentrators completing programs leading to 

nontraditional fields.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 38% 35.3%

2016 38 35.3

2017 38 33.6

2018 38

2019 38

Measure: The percentage of postsecondary CTE concentrators attaining technical skills. 

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 84% 79.9%

2016 84 80.2

2017 81 80.9

2018 81

2019 81

Measure: The percentage of postsecondary CTE concentrators earning an industryrecognized credential, certificate, or degree.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 58% 54.6%

2016 58 54.9

2017 54 57.5

2018 55

2019 55

Measure: The percentage of postsecondary CTE concentrators retained in postsecondary 

education or transferring to a baccalaureate degree program.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 73% 69.4%

2016 73 69.2

2017 69 69.8

2018 70

2019 70
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Measure: The percentage of postsecondary CTE concentrators placed in military service, 

employment, or apprenticeships. 

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 75% 73.2%

2016 75 75.2

2017 73 77.1

2018 74

2019 74

Measure: The percentage of postsecondary CTE concentrators participating in nontraditional 

programs.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 25% 23.6%

2016 25 23.7

2017 24 23.4

2018 24

2019 24

Measure: The percentage of postsecondary CTE concentrators completing nontraditional 

programs.

Year Target Percentage Actual Percentage

2015 22% 21.1%

2016 22 20.9

2017 21 20.0

2018 22

2019 22

Additional information: Performance targets are based on the performance targets the 

Department negotiates with each State. In order to encourage consistency in how States define 

outcomes and concentrators, the Department published non-regulatory guidance providing 

suggested measures, measurement approaches, and data definitions for each indicator. 

However, not every State opted to adopt the Department’s suggested approaches, limiting the 

comparability and validity of State-reported postsecondary performance data. 

The Perkins Act defines nontraditional fields as occupations or fields of work, including careers 

in computer science, technology, and other current and emerging high-skill occupations, for 

which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of the individuals employed in 

each such occupation or field of work. Performance targets are averages of the performance 

targets the Department negotiated with individual State agencies. 
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Efficiency Measures

The Department adopted Federal cost per participant as the efficiency measure for secondary 

participants in the program. This is also the efficiency measure included in common measures 

for job training programs adopted by the Department and other Agencies. The efficiency 

measure for postsecondary students is the Federal cost per postsecondary CTE concentrator 

placed or retained in employment, placed in military service, or entering apprenticeships after 

leaving postsecondary education.

Although the Department is able to calculate these measures at the national and State levels, 

State definitions of participants vary, limiting the validity and reliability of comparisons across 

States. 

Measure: Federal cost per student.

Year Cost per secondary student

2015 $80

2016 72

2017 71

Measure: Federal cost per postsecondary CTE concentrator placed or retained in 

employment, placed in military service, or entering apprenticeships after leaving postsecondary 

education.

Year Cost per postsecondary student

2015 $127

2016 128

2017 120
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Career and technical education: National programs

(Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, Section 114)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2020 Authorization: $7,758

Budget Authority:

2019 2020 Change 

$7,421 $20,000 +$12,579

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended by the recently 

enacted Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V),

includes an authority for National Programs to support research, development, dissemination, 

evaluation, assessment, capacity building, and technical assistance activities aimed at 

improving the quality and effectiveness of career and technical education (CTE) programs under 

the Act. 

The reauthorized program requires the Department to work with the Institute of Education 

Sciences to (1) collect performance information about, and report on, the condition of CTE and 

on the effectiveness of CTE programs under the Act; and (2) carry out research and evaluation 

activities for each year for which funds are appropriated under the Act. The Department must 

submit to Congress an annual report on the performance of State and local programs on the 

core indicators of performance under CTE State Grants. In addition, an interim report on 

program evaluation and research activities is due to Congress 2 years after enactment of 

Perkins V; a final report is due 4 years after enactment of Perkins V; and biennial updates are 

due for succeeding years. The Act also requires that the National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) collect and report information on CTE. 

Perkins V authorizes new Innovation and Modernization grants within CTE National Programs to 

identify, support, and rigorously evaluate evidence-based and innovative strategies to improve 

and modernize CTE programs under the Act. The Department may use up to 20 percent of the 

funds authorized for CTE National Programs to carry out these grants. Eligible applicants 

include entities eligible to receive funds under CTE State Grants to carry out secondary or 

postsecondary CTE programs or consortia that include CTE providers, business or industry 

representatives, and stakeholders (as defined under Sec. 3(19) of the Act). At least 25 percent 

of the funds for these grants must be used for awards to serve rural areas, contingent on receipt 

of enough applications of sufficient quality, and the Department must give priority to applications 

for projects that will predominantly serve students from low-income families. Grantees must 

provide matching funds equal to 50 percent of their grant award (in cash or in-kind) from nonFederal sources. 
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This is a forward-funded program. Funds become available for obligation from July 1 of the 

fiscal year in which they are appropriated and remain available through September 30 of the 

following year.

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were: 

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

2015............................................................. ............................ $7,421

2016.............................................................. ............................ .7,421

2017.............................................................. ............................ .7,421

2018.............................................................. ............................ .7,421

2019.............................................................. ............................ .7,421

FY 2020 BUDGET REQUEST

The Administration requests $20 million for Career and Technical Education (CTE) National 

Programs for fiscal year 2020, an increase of $12.6 million from the fiscal year 2019 

appropriation, intended to support an expanded Innovation and Modernization grants program 

focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including 

computer science. The Administration believes the newly authorized Innovation and 

Modernization authority holds great promise for expanding the limited evidence base for 

effective CTE programs that can both expand individual opportunity and support the Nation’s 

economic growth and competitiveness, but that currently authorized funding levels are simply 

insufficient to make good on this promise. 

At the authorized level, funding available for Innovation and Modernization grants is 

approximately $1.5 million, too little to support more than 1-2 awards at the level required for 

both effective implementation of innovative projects and the rigorous evaluations needed to 

assess outcomes. For this reason, the request includes appropriations language to override the 

authorized funding level and provide more substantial funding, $13 million, for these grants that 

will allow the program to accomplish its intended purpose. 

The proposed increase also reflects the President’s commitment to improving STEM education 

and expanding apprenticeships as a demonstrated pathway to middle class jobs in a constantly 

changing economy. Targeting resources to support STEM education, including computer 

science and coding, is imperative to better equip America’s young people with the relevant 

knowledge and skills that would enable them to secure high-paying stable jobs throughout their 

careers. As the role of technology grows in driving the American economy, many jobs will 

increasingly require skills in STEM; consequently, there is growing employer demand for 

workers with these skills, especially in the field of computer science. The Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS) projects that STEM occupations will grow faster over 10 years than the average 

for all occupations. In particular, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook notes that 

employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 

13 percent from 2016 to 2026, adding over 500,000 new jobs over that period. The median 

annual wage for such jobs was $84,580 in May 2017, compared to a median of $37,690 for all 
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occupations.1 Moreover, wages in STEM occupations are higher than the median for all 

occupations, and STEM jobs pay more at all levels of education compared with other 

occupations.2 For example, adults in STEM occupations who have a high school diploma or less 

earn approximately $500,000 more in lifetime earnings than adults in other occupations with the 

same level of education.3

The remainder of National Programs funds would support ongoing implementation of the 

reauthorized Perkins V, as well as research and evaluation activities mandated under the 

statute.

PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES

(dollars in thousands)

Output Measures 2018 2019 2020

Research and evaluation $3,000 $3,500 $3,500

National reporting system 1,213 1,158 1,200

Other program improvement activities 3,208 2,763 2,300

Innovation and modernization grants:

Innovati on competiti on: Funding for new awards 0 0 $12,870

Innovati on competiti on: Number of new awards 0 0 13-17

Innovati on competiti on: Range of new awards 0 0 $675-1,000

Innovati on competiti on: Peer review of new award 

applications 0 0 $130

 

1

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer and Information 

Technology, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm (visited 

February 7, 2019).

2

Vilorio, D. 2014. "STEM 101: Intro to Tomorrow's Jobs." Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Spring. Washington, DC: 

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

3 Carnivale, A., N. Smith, and M. Melton. 2011. STEM. Washington, DC: Georgetown University, Center on Education 

and the Workforce.
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Adult education: Adult basic and literacy education State grants

(Adult Education and Family Literacy Act)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2020 Authorization: $665,0671

Budget Authority:

2019 2020 Change

$641,955 $485,849 -$156,106

1

A total of $678,640 thousand is authorized for Adult Education, of which 2 percent, not to exceed $15,000 thousand, 

must be reserved to carry out National Leadership Activities.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Adult Education State Grants, authorized by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act 

(AEFLA), support programs that help adults become literate, obtain the knowledge and skills 

necessary for employment and self-sufficiency, obtain a secondary school diploma, and 

transition to postsecondary education and training. The program also helps individuals who are 

English language learners improve their English proficiency and assists adults who are parents 

in obtaining the educational skills necessary to become full partners in the educational 

development of their children. As reauthorized in 2014 by the Workforce Innovation and 

Opportunity Act (WIOA), the AEFLA promotes the integration of adult education with 

occupational education and training, including through the development of career pathways 

systems that enable adults to learn new skills, obtain higher paying jobs, and build careers in 

high-growth, high-demand occupations. The Adult Education State Grants program is closely 

aligned with Department of Labor (DOL) workforce development, job-training, and employment 

programs, including through provisions requiring common performance measures, the 

integration of the AEFLA activities in unified or combined State plans, and partnering through 

WIOA’s one-stop delivery system.

Adult Education Basic State Grants

The statute requires the Department to make an initial allotment of $250,000 to each State and 

$100,000 to each Outlying Area, and to distribute remaining funds on the basis of each State’s 

share of qualifying adults. Qualifying adults are defined as individuals aged 16 and older who 

lack a high school diploma or the equivalent, who are beyond the age of compulsory education 

in their States, and who are not currently enrolled in school. The statute includes a “holdharmless” provision ensuring that each State receives at least 90 percent of its previous year’s 

allocation. If funding is insufficient to satisfy the hold-harmless provision, each State receives 

the same proportion of available funding as in the previous year.

A State may use up to 12.5 percent of its grant for State leadership activities and an additional 

5 percent or $85,000 (whichever is greater) for State administration. At least 82.5 percent of a 
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State’s grant must be used for local awards; of this amount, up to 20 percent may be used to 

educate incarcerated and other institutionalized individuals. Of the funds provided by the State 

agency to eligible entities, at least 95 percent must be used for instructional activities.

States make subgrants to eligible entities that provide adult education and literacy activities, 

including adult education, literacy, workplace adult education, family literacy English language 

acquisition, integrated English literacy and civics education, workplace preparation, and 

integrated education and training. Eligible providers may be any organizations of demonstrated 

effectiveness and include local educational agencies (LEAs), community colleges, libraries, and 

community- and faith-based organizations. In distributing funds, States must give equitable 

access to all types of eligible entities, taking into account the extent to which such entities meet 

a variety of criteria including: responsiveness to the regional needs identified in the local 

workforce plan, the ability to serve individuals in the community identified in that workforce plan, 

past effectiveness in improving the literacy skills of adults and families, programs built on a 

strong foundation of research about effective practices, and coordination with other available 

resources in the community. 

State leadership funds must be used to align adult education to the State Unified Plan required 

by WIOA, establish and operate high-quality professional development to improve instruction, 

provide technical assistance to eligible providers, and monitor and evaluate the quality and 

improvement of adult education services in the State. Funds may also be used for a variety of 

other activities to improve adult education and literacy services. 

The common performance accountability system created by WIOA includes six primary 

indicators of performance that focus on employment outcomes and earnings; educational 

attainment, including obtaining credentials required for employment; and the effectiveness of 

programs in serving employers.

Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education State Grants (IELCE)

The statute requires that 12 percent of the program funds be used to support grants to States 

for the IELCE program, which provides services designed to help adult English language 

learners, including professionals with degrees and credentials in their native countries, 

achieve competency in the English language and acquire the basic and more advanced 

skills needed to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States. 

Using data from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics on the 

number of legal immigrants, the Department allocates 65 percent of funds based on each 

State’s share of a 10-year average of immigrants admitted for legal permanent residence. The 

remaining 35 percent is allocated to States that have experienced recent growth in immigration, 

as measured by the average number of immigrants in the 3 most recent years. No State 

receives an award of less than $60,000. 

Adult Education State Grants is a forward-funded program. Funds become available for 

obligation from July 1 of the fiscal year in which they are appropriated and remain available 

through September 30 of the following year.
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Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

2015......................................................... ............................ $568,955

2016........................................................... ............................581,955

2017........................................................... ............................581,955

2018........................................................... ............................616,955

2019........................................................... ............................641,955

FY 2020 BUDGET REQUEST

The Administration requests $485.8 million for Adult Education State Grants for fiscal year 2020, 

a decrease of $156.1 million from the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. The request would provide 

significant resources to support adult education while also maintaining the fiscal discipline 

necessary to support the President’s goal of increasing support for national security and public 

safety without adding to the Federal budget deficit. In addition, the effectiveness of the program 

as implemented following the WIOA reauthorization remains unclear pending the collection of 

data on new performance measures as well as the outcome of an ongoing evaluation.

The request recognizes, however, that there continues to be a need for Federal investment in 

adult education programs, in part because of data suggesting that the United States is losing 

ground to many of its economic competitors as measured by the employment-related skills of 

working-age adults. The 2013 International Survey of Adult Skills (ISAS) indicated that the 

average performance in literacy and numeracy of American adults was significantly lower than 

the international average. Additionally, the U.S. has a higher percentage of working-age adults 

with low literacy skills than seven other industrialized nations.

1

In numeracy, the 2015 ISAS 

found that only 34 percent of adults in the United States scored in its top three levels of 

numeracy, whereas the average among all countries of the Organisation for Economic 

Co-operation and Development was 43 percent.2

PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES 

(dollars in thousands) 

Output Measures 2018 2019 2020

Adult basic and literacy State grants (ABL) $542,920 $564,920 $427,547

Range of awards to States $791–$85,330 $820–$87,940 $678–$66,094 

Integrated English literacy and civics 

education State grants $74,035 $77,035 $58,302

Range of awards to States $60–$14,683 $60–$15,098 $60–$11,415

 

1 OECD (2013), Time for the U.S. to Reskill?: What the Survey of Adult Skills Says, OECD Skills Studies, OECD 

Publishing.

2 OECD (2015), Survey of Adult Skills, Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies.
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Output Measures 2018 2019 2020

Number of participants in Adult basic 

and literacy and English literacy 

and civics education 1,430,000 1,460,000 1,270,000

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

This section presents selected program performance information, including, for example, GPRA 

goals, objectives, measures, and performance targets and data, and an assessment of the 

progress made toward achieving program results. Achievement of program results is based on 

the cumulative effect of the resources provided in previous years and those requested in fiscal 

year 2020 and future years, as well as the resources and efforts invested by those served by 

this program.

The Department revised the performance measures for Adult Education State Grants to meet 

the requirements of WIOA. The new performance accountability system became effective on 

July 1, 2016. 

Goal: To support adult education systems that result in increased adult learner 

achievement in order to prepare adults for family, work, citizenship, and future learning. 

Objective: Provide adult learners with opportunities to acquire basic foundation skills (including 

English language acquisition), complete secondary education, and transition to further 

education and training and to work.

Measure: The percentage of participants during the program year who are enrolled in adult 

basic education programs and are achieving measurable skill gains toward a credential or 

employment.

Year Target Actual

2017 44.0%

2018 45.0% 46.2

2019 46.5

2020 47.0

Measure: The percentage of participants during the program year who are enrolled in English 

literacy programs and are achieving measurable skill gains toward a credential or employment.

Year Target Actual

2017 44.0%

2018 45.0% 45.5

2019 46.0

2020 46.5
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Additional information: The two measures above reflect performance accountability 

requirements under WIOA. The Department will have 2019 data in January 2020. 

Measure: The percentage of adults who earn a high school diploma or recognized equivalent.

Year Target Actual

2015 68% 66%

2016 73 75

2017 75 72

Additional information: The Department developed a data-quality review process for States 

based on its “Standards for Evaluating Program Performance Data.” High school diplomas 

issued are certified by LEAs or the State educational agency, and high school equivalency 

(HSE) credentials are confirmed through a data match with the State’s administrative database.

Under WIOA, this measure will be replaced by “the percentage of program participants who 

obtain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and who are employed or are in 

an education or training program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential within 1 year 

after exit from the program.” The Department will report baseline data and targets in the fiscal 

year 2021 President’s Budget. 

Measure: The percentage of adults who enroll in a postsecondary education or training 

program.

Year Target Actual

2015 35% 28%

2016 38 29

Additional information: This measure will no longer be a stand-alone measure under WIOA’s 

performance accountability measures. Rather, a modified version is one of the ways in which 

grantees can meet the measurable skill gains measures mentioned above. 

Measure: The percentage of adults who obtain a job by the end of the first quarter after their 

program exit quarter.

Year Target Actual

2015 42% 45%

2016 43 44

Measure: The percentage of adults who retain employment in the third quarter after exit.

Year Target Actual

2015 62% 64%

2016 63 69

Additional information: As required by WIOA, the two measures above will be replaced by 

data on “the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during 

the second quarter after exit from the program” and “the percentage of program participants 

who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program.” The 
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Department will report baseline data and targets in the fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2022

President’s Budgets, respectively.

Efficiency Measures

Prior to the passage of WIOA, the Department had two efficiency measures for the Adult 

Education State Grants program: (1) the annual Federal cost per participant and (2) the annual 

Federal cost per student learning gain or high school diploma/HSE attainment. These measures 

will be replaced by “the annual Federal cost per measurable skill gain” and “the annual Federal 

cost per secondary school diploma.” Data for these measures will reported beginning with the 

fiscal year 2021 President’s Budget.
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Adult education: National leadership activities

(Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Section 242)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2020 Authorization: $13,5731

Budget Authority:

2019 2020 Change 

$13,712 $73,712 +$60,000

1

A total of $678,640 thousand is authorized for Adult Education, of which 2 percent, not to exceed $15,000 thousand, 

must be reserved to carry out National Leadership Activities.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Adult Education National Leadership Activities address major policy priorities in adult education, 

including program improvement, accountability, professional development, and increasing 

access to learning opportunities for adults. The Department uses program funds to support 

applied research, development, dissemination, evaluation, and program improvement activities 

to assist States in their efforts to improve the quality of adult education programs. Examples of 

these activities include training institutes, training on research-based reading and math 

instruction, national and international adult literacy surveys, and technical assistance on using 

technology to improve instruction.

In addition, the Department is required to carry out certain national leadership activities, 

including assistance to States in meeting the requirements of the performance accountability 

provisions in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), assistance to local 

providers of adult education services upon request from one or more States, and carrying out 

research on effective adult education and literacy services. 

This is a forward-funded program. Funds become available for obligation from July 1 of the 

fiscal year in which they are appropriated and remain available for 15 months through 

September 30 of the following year.

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

2015........................................................... ............................$13,712

2016............................................................. ............................ 13,712

2017............................................................. ............................ 13,712

2018............................................................. ............................ 13,712

2019............................................................. ............................ 13,712
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FY 2020 BUDGET REQUEST

The Administration requests $73.7 million for Adult Education National Leadership Activities for 

fiscal year 2020, an increase of $60.0 million from the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. The 

request includes appropriations language that overrides the authorized fiscal year 2020 funding 

level for this program and that would provide authority for a new pre-apprenticeship grants 

initiative. The request also supports ongoing activities designed to enhance the quality and 

outcomes of adult education and literacy programs.

Fast-Track Pre-Apprenticeships for Low-Skilled Adults

The $60 million increase proposed for fiscal year 2020 would support State efforts to create preapprenticeship programs that increase the number of adults who are able to meet the basic 

entrance requirements of apprenticeship programs. The proposal is responsive to section 6 of 

the President’s Executive Order 13801, “Expanding Apprenticeships in America,” which directs 

the Secretaries of Education, Labor, and Defense to promote pre-apprenticeships. American 

companies often cannot find skilled workers necessary to fill job openings, and an increasing 

number of employers are creating apprenticeships to give workers customized training to meet 

their specific needs. Unfortunately, millions of low-skilled adults do not have the basic skills 

needed to enter or complete many apprenticeship programs for middle-skill jobs that pay good 

wages. In 2014, about one-quarter of unemployed adults ages 16 to 65 had not completed high 

school or its equivalent, and another one-half had only a high school credential. The Program 

for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies survey and assessment administered 

by the National Center for Education Statistics in 2012 and 2014 found that 42 percent of 

unemployed adults in the U.S. had numeracy skills at or below the lowest proficiency level and 

could only carry out basic one-step math processes involving counting, sorting, performing 

arithmetic operations, and understanding simple percents.

1 They could not, for example, 

understand and use Ohm’s Law to determine electrical current or understand the trigonometric 

tables and calculators used by machine tool technicians.

2 Consequently a substantial proportion 

of unemployed adults are unprepared to participate in these expanded training opportunities for 

jobs in emerging fields that pay family-sustaining wages. 

The Department would award the proposed pre-apprenticeship funding by formula to States, 

with 50 percent of the funds allocated under the existing Adult Education State Grants statutory 

formula and 50 percent allocated on the basis of unemployment data. Programs would be 

 

1 Rampey, B.D., Finnegan, R., Goodman, M., Mohadjer, L., Krenzke, T., Hogan, J., and Provasnik, S. (2016). Skills 

of U.S. Unemployed, Young, and Older Adults in Sharper Focus: Results From the Program for the International 

Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) 2012/2014: First Look (NCES 2016-039). U.S. Department of 

Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.

2 Charles A. Dana Center and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana (2013). What Students Need to Know: 

Mathematics Concept Inventories for Community College Workforce Education Programs. Austin, TX: Charles A. 

Dana Center. Retrieved from: https://dcmathpathways.org/sites/default/files/resources/2016-

12/What%20Students%20Need%20to%20Know_Mathematics%20Concept%20Inventories%20for%20Community%2

0College%20Workforce%20Education%20Programs.pdf
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designed in collaboration with employers and apprenticeship program sponsors, and States 

would be required to submit a plan that describes how they intend to use the funds, along with 

letters of support from one or more employers or apprenticeship program sponsors. As under 

the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), States would award funds competitively

among eligible providers to implement accelerated pre-apprenticeship basic skills programs that 

prepare individuals to meet the entry requirements of new and existing apprenticeship programs 

in the State. These customized programs would equip participants with the numeracy and 

literacy skills required to succeed in particular fields or occupations. State labor market demand 

(consistent with the State WIOA plan) and the availability of apprenticeship opportunities within 

the State would determine the industry sectors that the partnerships would target. States would 

be encouraged to give priority to partnerships that propose to use technology-based strategies 

such as adaptive learning to provide personalized learning experiences. Rather than creating a 

new stand-alone program, these grants would make use of existing infrastructure within States,

including coordination with State and local workforce boards, to target State and local economic 

and workforce priorities. 

Other activities supported through the fiscal year 2020 request include the following:

 Evaluating Adult Education and Literacy Activities, which supports rigorous research and 

evaluation on effective adult education and literacy activities in addition to an independent 

evaluation of AEFLA programs at least every 4 years in order to improve services and 

outcomes for adult education program participants. 

 The Literacy Information and Communications System, which includes an online resource 

collection of instructional and professional development materials; a professional 

development center to assist States with training and technical assistance services intended 

to meet statutory requirements; and the technology infrastructure needed to support the 

collection, maintenance, and dissemination of adult education resources.

 The National Reporting System, which receives, stores, and generates reports on the 

outcomes, participation, and student descriptive data for AEFLA programs submitted by 

States. It also specifies methodologies for collecting and reporting the data and includes 

technical assistance resources to increase the knowledge of State staff and the capacity of 

State data systems. Investments in this area will help to ensure that local providers and 

States collect and report high quality data and become skilled in using this information in 

program management and decision-making.

 Evidence-based Reading Instruction, which assists States in meeting their statutory 

requirement to establish or operate high quality professional development programs focused 

on the essential components of reading instruction for adults. 

 Innovation Initiatives, which includes activities such as integrated education and training

efforts, a career pathways innovation challenge, modernization of the Adult Numeracy 

Initiative to align with current State standards, technology-based student coaching strategies 

to increase student persistence, and a recognition and dissemination initiative for innovative 

adult education programs.
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PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES 

(dollars in thousands)

Output Measures 2018 2019 2020

Evaluating Adult Education and Literacy 

Activities 0 $6,589 $3,500

Literacy Information and Communications 

System $1,856 2,176 2,500

National Reporting System 1,522 1,600 1,600

Evidence-based Reading Instruction 860 600 600

Innovation Initiatives 7,948 735 2,838

Other technical assistance, logistical 

support, and evaluation 1,526 2,012 2,674

Pre-Apprenticeship grants 0 0 60,000

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

This section presents selected program performance information, including, for example, GPRA 

goals, objectives, measures, and performance targets and data, and an assessment of the 

progress made toward achieving program results. Achievement of program results is based on 

the cumulative effect of the resources provided in previous years and those requested in fiscal 

year 2020 and future years, as well as the resources and efforts invested by those served by 

this program. 

Goal: To support research, evaluation, information dissemination, and other activities to 

help States improve adult education and literacy programs.

Objective: To support adult education systems that result in increased adult learner 

achievement in order to prepare adults for family, work, citizenship, and future learning. 

Measure: The percentage of States submitting high-quality learner assessment data through 

the National Reporting System (NRS).

Year Target Actual

2015 100% 89%

2016 100 91

2017 100 91

2018 100 86

2019 90

2020 90

Additional information: The program office has developed a data-quality review process for 

States based on the Department’s “Standards for Evaluating Program Performance Data.” This 

process leads to a determination of whether each State has submitted high quality adult learner

assessment data. In 2018, 49 of 57 “States” (the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
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Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and the U.S. Virgin 

Islands) submitted high-quality learner assessment data. Due the variety of factors involved in 

collecting, analyzing, and reporting data, the Department has determined that a target of 

100 percent is inappropriate and has adjusted the target to 90 percent. 

Other Information

Beginning in 2008, the Department, in collaboration with the National Institute of Child Health 

and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health, supported a study of adult and 

adolescent literacy instruction through the National Academies of Sciences. The resulting 

2012 report, “Improving Adult Literacy Instruction: Options for Practice and Research,” explores 

in depth the factors that affect literacy development in adolescence and adulthood and 

examines the implications for strengthening literacy instruction for those populations. The report 

covers such topics as: technologies that can assist with multiple aspects of teaching, 

assessment, and accommodations for learning; use of evidence-based practices and 

professional development; improving learner persistence through the use of educational 

technologies; social service support and incentives; and enhanced coordination of program 

improvement, evaluation, and research.

The Department’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) funded a competition in fiscal year 2011 

for its first national research and development center on cognition and adult literacy, which 

began work in September 2012. The primary goals of this center, the Center for the Study of 

Adult Literacy (CSAL), are to: (1) build the understanding of the underlying cognitive and 

motivational processes that contribute to or impede struggling adult readers’ development, 

(2) examine the adequacy of measurement instruments and assessments for the population, 

and (3) develop and evaluate a multi-component reading intervention for this population. 

Since 2012, CSAL has tested approximately 900 adult literacy students on a battery of 

assessments to help determine this population’s underlying skill profiles and has worked with 

approximately 500 adult education students for the pilot and supplemental studies and an 

additional 340 postsecondary students for a supplemental study. 

The Center also has developed materials to help teach fundamental reading skills (e.g., fluency 

and comprehension) and has tested its feasibility in several programs. These materials contain 

30 lessons on reading comprehension, 31 lessons on more basic skills (e.g., sounding out

words), and 35 interactive computer-based lessons. In addition, the Center supports an online 

reading repository that contains links to free texts, organized by reading level and content.1 

Since its launch, the student portal that connects to the reading repository has been accessed 

over 17,000 times, the research portal over 2,200 times, and the teacher portal over 3,700 

times. Since the beginning of CSAL, the researchers have collaborated with over 30 education 

organizations (e.g., school boards, education community-based organizations). The researchers 

of CSAL have met with staff from the Departments of Education and Labor to discuss research 

 

1

http://csal.gsu.edu/content/library-resources
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activities and findings and possibilities for further coordination. CSAL is currently in a no-cost 

extension to complete ongoing supplemental studies, analyze results from the primary and pilot 

studies, and disseminate findings to researcher, practitioner, policymaker, and other stakeholder 

communities. CSAL will end in late 2019 but adult literacy research remains allowable under 

IES’s Education Research Grants.
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