The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) is pleased to announce the 2027 Adult Education and Literacy (AEFLA) Grant.
Donor Name: Illinois Community College Board (ICCB)
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/01/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Through federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title II funds and State Adult Education and Literacy funds, the ICCB will provide grant funding to eligible providers to deliver adult education services across Illinois.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity is offered to solicit applications for federal and state adult education funds. The purpose of adult education services is to assist:
- Adults in becoming literate and obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency
- Adults who are parents or family members in obtaining education and skills that are necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children, and lead to sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities for their family
- Adults in attaining a secondary school diploma and in transitioning to post-secondary education and training, including through career pathways; and
- Immigrants and other individuals who are English language learners in a. improving their:
- Reading, writing, speaking and comprehension skills in English. mathematics skills; and
- Acquiring an understanding of the American system of Government, individual freedom, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
Objectives
The grant objectives are as follows:
- Provide Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), and English as a Second Language (ESL) services aligned to Illinois Adult Education Content Standards.
- Improve measurable skill gains, credential attainment, employment, and postsecondary transition outcomes that meet or exceed Illinois’ requirements.
- Develop and implement Integrated Career & Academic Preparation System (ICAPS) programs, including Bridge and ICAPS programs aligned to regional workforce needs.
- Integrate workforce preparation and digital literacy skills into instructional programming.
- Align services with the applicable Area Planning Council (APC) Plan and regional workforce priorities.
Funding Information
Estimated Total Program Funding: $55,000,000
Grant Period
July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants for funding under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) are organizations that meet the definition of an “eligible provider” under Section 203(5) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Eligible providers include, but are not limited to:
- Local educational agencies
- Community-based organizations
- Volunteer literacy organizations
- Institutions of higher education
- Public or private nonprofit agencies
- Libraries
- Public housing authorities
- Nonprofitinstitutionsthat are not described above and have the ability to provide adult education and literacy activities
- Consortia of eligible providers.
For more information, visit Illinois Community College Board.
