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.

Source Note: The provisions of this §805.2 adopted to be effective February 24, 2014, 39 TexReg 1205; amended to be effective July 20, 2016, 41 TexReg 5231; amended to be effective December 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 8150; amended to be effective November 24, 2022, 47 TexReg 7749