Federal grant programs / Department of Education

Adult Education - Basic Grants to States (84.002)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$3.5 billion
• Grant awards363
• Typical award$4.9 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$713 million
• Size rank116 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• Annual funding rose from $671 million in fiscal 2021 to $713 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 116th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 78% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 57 states and territories.

What the program funds

To fund local programs of adult education and literacy services, including workplace literacy services, family literacy services, and English literacy and integrated English literacy-civics education programs. Participation in these programs is limited to adults and out-of-school youths aged 16 and older who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent and who are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in a secondary school under State law. See 29 U.S.C. 3271.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Formula grants are made to designated eligible State agencies that under State law are responsible for administering or supervising statewide policy for adult education and literacy, including such entities as State educational agencies (SEAs), postsecondary agencies, or workforce agencies. State agencies must provide direct and equitable access to: local educational agencies; public or private nonprofit agencies; community-based organizations of demonstrated effectiveness; institutions of higher education; volunteer literacy organizations of demonstrated effectiveness; libraries; public housing authorities; nonprofit institutions not described above that have the ability to provide literacy services to adults and families; and consortia of the entities described above.

What the money can and cannot pay for

WIOA lists specific performance measures on which States are assessed. These include: demonstrated improvements in literacy skill levels in reading, writing, and speaking the English language, numeracy, problem-solving, English language acquisition and other literacy skills; placement in, retention in, or completion of postsecondary education, training, unsubsidized employment, or career advancement; receipt of a high school diploma or its equivalent; other objective, quantifiable measures, as identified by the State agency. Not more than 12.5 percent of the State allotment may be used for State leadership activities, including professional development; 82.5 percent or more of the State allotment must be used to support local programs and corrections education and other institutionalized individuals. Not more than 20 percent of the State allotment may be used for correctional education and other institutionalized individuals; not more than 5 percent or $85,000, whichever is greater, of the State allotment may be used for State administrative costs. AEFLA reserves a portion of the program's appropriation for English literacy and civics education services to immigrants and other limited English proficient populations. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 76.564-76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on 202-708-7770.

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Part Subtitle A, Subpart Section 211 (c),Public Law 113-128.Statutory Formula: Title Chapter Part Subpart Public Law Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (P.L. 113-128), Title II, Subtitle A, section 211(c). 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 “hold-harmless” 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. Matching Requirements: Percent: Other To receive a grant, States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico must provide a nonfederal contribution in an amount equal to 25 percent of the total amount of funds expended for adult education and literacy activities in the State. To receive a grant, eligible outlying agencies must provide a nonfederal contribution in an amount equal to 12 percent of the total amount of funds expended for adult education and literacy activities.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Deadlines

Sep 30, 2025 to Mar 31, 2026

Award range and average, in the agency's words

FY23: $1,000,533 -$116,770,172 average $13,754,101; FY24: $940,665 -$117,000,872 average $13,774,056

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 86% of the money, colleges and universities 13% and nonprofits 0.2%.

By state

56 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.