The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in the District of Columbia has announced the Fiscal Year 2026 Adult and Family Education (AFE) Consolidated Competitive Grant. This funding opportunity supports adult education programs that serve District residents facing educational and workforce barriers, particularly individuals with basic skills deficiencies, limited English proficiency, or other obstacles to employment. Funding will be competitively awarded to providers with a proven track record of effectiveness in delivering adult education activities.
The funding draws from both federal and local sources. Federally, it is authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) via the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Locally, it is backed by the State Education Office Establishment Act and the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Act. Eligible applicants include a wide array of entities such as LEAs, CBOs, faith-based organizations, higher education institutions, libraries, public housing authorities, and nonprofit partnerships or consortia.
The funding period runs from July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, with potential continuation for up to three more years based on performance and funding availability. Each awarded provider will receive funding to serve a minimum of 100 adult learners, with cost-per-customer funding ranging between $5,000 and $6,800. Thus, each award will total between $500,000 and $680,000 annually.
Key focus areas for funded programs include adult literacy, integrated education and training (IET), digital literacy, workforce preparation, supportive services, and career transition services. Applications will be scored based on project information, program design, instructional components, student assessments, and fiscal management. Applications must be submitted via OSSE’s Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by 3 p.m. on May 21, 2025.
Optional pre-application conferences will be held on April 3 and May 5, 2025. While attendance is not mandatory, participation is encouraged. Applicants are also invited to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by May 9, 2025, which, though optional, assists OSSE in planning the review process. Award announcements will be made by June 30, 2025.
For questions, applicants can reach out to the AFE program team at OSSE.AFETA@dc.gov or contact individual staff members listed in the Notice of Funding Availability.
