Workforce Investment Act Grantees Named - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

Workforce Investment Act Grantees Named - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Winners of Federal Workforce Investment Act Grant

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that 198 community colleges, school districts, libraries, and nonprofits will share more than $86 million in federal grants to help adults find meaningful jobs and become better informed citizens.

"These funds will help adults learn to read, write, and speak English so they can find good jobs to support their families and become more productive members of their communities," Torlakson said.

The Workforce Investment Act, Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (WIA) funds classes in Adult Basic Education, high school subjects, English as a Second Language, and citizenship. To be eligible for the classes, students must be at least 18 years old, not currently enrolled in school, and lacking in jobs skills and fluency in English. In addition, they must not yet have a high school diploma.

The WIA is a competitive grant. The $86 million available in this round of funding went to local educational agencies, libraries, and nonprofits—including $28.3 million to those located in Los Angeles County; $12.5 million to the Bay Area; $8.7 million to Orange County; $7.5 million to San Diego County; $11.5 million to Sacramento Valley counties; $8.5 million to Inland Empire counties; $4.8 million to San Joaquin Valley counties; and $1.5 million to the Central Coast counties.

For a complete list of grantees, visit the California Department of Education's Funding Results Workforce Investment Act, Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Web page.

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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100