(1) (a) There is created in the office the adult education and literacy grant program to provide funding for local education providers that are members of workforce development partnerships through which eligible adults receive basic education in literacy and numeracy that leads to additional skills acquisition, postsecondary credential attainment, and employment.

(b) A local education provider may apply to the office to receive a grant pursuant to this article in accordance with the rules, procedures, forms, and timelines adopted by the state board. The office shall review each application and recommend appropriate grant recipients to the state board.

(c) Subject to available appropriations, the state board, taking into consideration the recommendations of the office, shall award adult education and literacy grants to local education providers. The grants awarded are payable from appropriations from the general fund and from the adult education and literacy grant fund created in section 22-10-107. The state board shall establish the amount and duration of each grant awarded and may award a grant for multiple fiscal years, subject to annual renewal. A grant recipient that receives a multi-year grant must annually submit to the office the necessary information to determine whether the grant recipient is making sufficient progress toward achieving the goals of the adult education and literacy program that were specified in the grant application. If the office finds that a grant recipient is not making sufficient progress toward achieving the goals, the state board shall not renew the grant for subsequent fiscal years.

(d) A local education provider may use grant moneys received pursuant to this article in combination with any moneys received from other public or private sources. A local education provider may use grant moneys received pursuant to this article on behalf of a student who is enrolled in or has completed the adult education and literacy program and is receiving training from a postsecondary education or training provider or from a workforce development provider that participates in the workforce development partnership with the local education provider.

(2) The state board, in accordance with the "State Administrative Procedure Act", article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., shall promulgate rules to implement the grant program, which rules must include:

(a) The time frames for submitting applications, reviewing applications, and awarding grants;

(b) The grant application requirements. At a minimum:

(I) Each applicant must demonstrate that it is an active member of a workforce development partnership through which students receive basic education in literacy and numeracy that leads to additional skills acquisition, postsecondary credential attainment, and employment; and

(II) Each application must specify the measurable goals of the adult education and literacy program that the applying local education provider expects to achieve using the grant moneys;

(c) Any factors in addition to those listed in subsection (3) of this section that the office may consider in recommending grant recipients to the state board and that the state board may consider in awarding grants;

(d) The basis for establishing the amount and duration of each grant;

(e) The information that each grant recipient must submit to the office to evaluate the recipient's use of the grant and to prepare the report required in section 22-10-105; and

(f) Any additional rules that the state board finds are necessary to implement the grant program.

(3) The office, in evaluating grant applications, and the state board, in awarding grants, may consider, at a minimum, the following factors:

(a) The percentage of eligible adults expected to be enrolled in the adult education and literacy programs funded by the grant who are members of minority groups;

(b) The percentage of eligible adults in the area to be served using grant moneys who do not have high school diplomas or the equivalent and who are not currently enrolled in adult education and literacy programs;

(c)

(I) The percentage of eligible adults expected to be enrolled in the adult education and literacy programs funded by the grant who are receiving either state or federal public assistance; or

(II) The percentage of eligible adults in the area to be served who are unemployed workers; and

(d) The demonstrated success of the local education provider in enabling adults to attain basic literacy and numeracy skills and in assisting them, through collaboration with postsecondary education or training providers and workforce development providers, to achieve additional skills attainment, postsecondary credential attainment, and employment.