(a) There shall be a statewide AEL program delivery system that provides AEL services on a coordinated basis within each workforce area.

(b) An eligible grant recipient must apply directly to the Agency for AEL funding.

(c) Each eligible grant recipient must demonstrate an ability to:

(1) plan and develop a service delivery strategy that includes a broad analysis of the educational, economic, and workforce development trends across the entire workforce area to provide eligible AEL students with comprehensive and locally responsive services; and

(2) expand, improve, and coordinate delivery of education, workforce training, workforce development, and support services.

(d) Each eligible grant recipient applying for AEL funding on behalf of an AEL consortium must:

(1) meet the requirements set forth in subsection (c)(1) - (2) of this section;

(2) designate an entity to serve as the AEL lead organization of the consortium; and

(3) designate an entity to serve as AEL fiscal agent for the AEL consortium. The AEL fiscal agent is responsible for making and filing all financial reports to the AEL grant recipient that will review all reports and submit to the Agency on behalf of the consortium.

(e) An AEL grant application must reflect service delivery strategies for the workforce area. In workforce areas that are heavily populated or have large service regions, the Agency may elect to contract with more than one AEL grant recipient within a workforce area.

(f) An AEL grant recipient, awarded AEL funds by the Agency, shall be responsible for performing all services and activities required to fully comply with contract performance requirements and all contract terms and conditions. Responsibilities include, but are not limited, to the following:

(1) Communication. (A) The AEL grant recipient shall serve as the point of contact with the Agency. (B) For an AEL consortium, on behalf of AEL consortium members, the AEL grant recipient shall: (i) transmit questions and grant-related needs for AEL consortium members to the Agency; and (ii) carry out the programmatic functions of an AEL grant by communicating regularly with members of the AEL consortium and by sharing information, policy or procedural changes, and technical assistance provided by the Agency to oversee the grant.

(2) Monitoring. The AEL grant recipient shall: (A) monitor programmatic and fiscal progress against goals and project deliverables; and (B) timely notify the Agency of problems related to achievement of programmatic and fiscal goals of the grant in accordance with appropriate systems to receive and compile outcome measures and fiscal reports.

(3) Technical assistance. The AEL grant recipient shall carry out the programmatic and reporting functions of an AEL grant by providing or requesting technical assistance for its program, or in an AEL consortium for AEL consortium members, related to the design, implementation, and internal evaluation of their AEL services or support services.

(4) Professional development. The AEL grant recipient shall plan and coordinate the provision of necessary professional development opportunities for its program, or in an AEL consortium to the AEL consortium members.

(5) Reporting. The AEL grant recipient shall: (A) collect and compile all fiscal and programmatic information regarding the activities, expenses, and performance outputs and outcomes of the AEL grant; and (B) submit this information to the Agency.

(6) Workforce area coverage. (A) The AEL grant recipient shall ensure that services are provided to the portion of the workforce area designated in the AEL grant application, whether through in-person services or distance learning, or a combination of methods. (B) For an AEL consortium, the AEL grant recipient shall ensure that services are provided to the portion of the workforce area, as designated for the consortium in the AEL grant application, whether through in-person services or distance learning, or a combination of methods. (i) If a consortium member fails to perform in accordance with the AEL consortium's coordinated service delivery plan, the AEL grant recipient shall provide technical assistance, as appropriate; (ii) If a consortium member withdraws from a consortium, the AEL grant recipient shall ensure that a letter of intent to withdraw is provided to the Agency's grant contract manager. The AEL grant recipient shall coordinate with remaining consortium members to develop an alternative proposal for service delivery and submit it to the Agency for approval; (iii) If an AEL lead organization of a consortium withdraws from a consortium or from its role as the lead organization of the consortium, the AEL grant recipient must ensure that a letter of intent to withdraw is provided to the Agency contract manager. The AEL grant recipient must coordinate with remaining consortium members to identify an alternative lead organization of the consortium and submit it to the Agency for approval; and (iv) If, in a workforce area with multiple consortiums that cover the entire workforce area, one or more consortiums withdraws, the AEL grant recipient shall ensure that a letter of intent to withdraw is provided to the Agency's grant contract manager. The Agency will coordinate with the remaining consortiums to develop an alternative proposal for service delivery for the entire workforce area.

(g) For an AEL consortium, the Agency reserves the right to reevaluate an AEL grant in light of any change in the AEL consortium membership based on the consortium's continued ability to meet the terms of the original grant award as demonstrated through an alternative proposal. The Agency's reevaluation may include termination of all awards under the AEL consortium if deemed appropriate.

(1) If an AEL consortium or AEL consortium member withdraws, the funds and activities committed to in the application shall not be shifted to another AEL consortium, AEL consortium member, or a new institution without written Agency approval.

(2) The AEL grant recipient shall contact the Agency's grant contract manager to discuss options for replacement grants within the AEL consortium.

Source Note: The provisions of this §805.42 adopted to be effective February 24, 2014, 39 TexReg 1205; amended to be effective December 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 8150