Functional Statements > Office of Career, Technical, and Adult

Division of Adult Education and Literacy

The Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) is the principal policy and program advisor to the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) on all adult education matters, pursuant to the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), related legislation, and Departmental regulations. DAEL supports programs and other activities that help adults become literate, obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency, obtain a secondary school diploma, and transition to postsecondary education and training. AEFLA also helps individuals who are English language learners improve their English proficiency and assists adults who are parents in obtaining the educational skills necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children. DAEL has overall responsibility for providing a broad range of services specified in the Act, including providing technical and program improvement assistance to National, State, and local adult education systems, programs, and organizations and carrying out national leadership functions in adult education.

DAEL administers the Adult Education formula grant program to the States and provides States’ assistance to improve program quality and capacity. Critical responsibilities include interpreting national trends in the economy, workforce and education as they pertain to adult literacy and developing strategies for translating research into practice for millions of low-level literacy adults. DAEL works with states and other constituents to ensure accountability and effective program performance, assists in the identification and analysis of best practices, and develops strategies for leveraging resources at the community level. DAEL is also responsible for administering the National Leadership Activities program and has the primary responsibility for ensuring that the requirements for providing technical assistance to help States and local providers meet the performance accountability requirements of the statute and carrying out research and evaluation of adult education and literacy activities are met. Division staff, in collaboration with the Policy, Research and Evaluation Staff, provides day-to-day programmatic direction and support to adult education research and evaluation programs.

DAEL maintains on-going communication and strategic collaboration with other Divisions within OCTAE, POCs across the Department, and other Federal Agencies as well as develops reports and recommendations for U.S. participation in adult education and lifelong learning activities.

The Division is divided into the following three components:

• Accountability Branch
• Monitoring and Administration Branch
• Innovation and Improvement Branch

Accountability Branch (AB)

The Accountability Branch (AB) is responsible for overall accountability of all DAEL grantees and for the Division's accountability to both the Administration and Congress. Functions located with the AB include state and local performance accountability, data collection and reporting, and financial reporting. The AB works closely with the Monitoring and Administration Branch (MAB) to accomplish its core responsibilities. The AB gathers and compiles data necessary for long-range planning, budgeting and serving adult education programs, policies and priorities in light of future needs and goals. The AB performs all duties associated with internal and external accountability requirements of the Division, including OCTAE Priorities, the ED Strategic Plan, GPRA, and on-going reporting to Congress. In performing its responsibilities, the AB provides assistance to States with the goal of promoting excellence in a wide range of State-level responsibilities under the Adult Education program statute, including supporting effective reporting, planning, and development; reviews annual performance and fiscal reports submitted by States to OCTAE; evaluates the effectiveness of State-administered grant programs; and provides national data and prepares reports on needs, accomplishments, and trends in adult education programs and services.

Monitoring and Administration Branch (MAB)

The Monitoring and Administration Branch (MAB) is a cross-cutting Branch responsible for providing leadership and support for efficient and effective planning and administration of formula grant programs, including the planning and implementation of on-site monitoring, review of state plans, negotiations of performance levels as required by applicable Federal law; and administrative technical assistance to states. It includes four area coordinators that serve as liaisons to states for the various resources available and works with the AB in its oversight of grantees. In performing its responsibilities, the MAB provides assistance and advisory services to States in Adult Basic and Adult Secondary Education programs and in programs for adults who are English language learners; provides assistance to States in planning State adult education programs with special emphasis on serving educationally disadvantaged adults and individuals with barriers to employment; and provides assistance to States on dissemination and information-sharing activities.

Innovation and Improvement Branch (IIB)

The Innovation and Improvement Branch (IIB) is responsible for providing national leadership in fostering innovation and quality improvement in adult education programs. In performing its responsibilities, the Branch provides assistance and advisory services to States in the identification of innovative strategies to improve services in Adult Basic and Adult Secondary Education programs and in programs for adults who are English language learners. The IIB supports projects and initiatives, such as the improvement of instructional programs and services, staff and teacher training, distance learning, Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education programs, workplace initiatives, demonstration projects, and other innovative strategies that are being implemented and assessed for wider dissemination to improve services to adults who can benefit from basic skills instruction. The Branch provides national information services for adult education and literacy through the Literacy Information and Communications (LINCS) website. It holds the primary responsibility for disseminating evidence-based research and best practices into educational programs for adults with basic skills needs.

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