Texas Even Start Administrative Manual
The Partnership between
the Texas Education Agency and Texas LEARNS
On July 31, 2003, Texas Education Agency (TEA) outsourced the non-discretionary
grant management functions, program assistance, and other statewide support
services for the adult education and family literacy programs in Texas
to the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE), a local education
agency governed by an elected Board of Trustees, who appoints a County
School Superintendent. HCDE implements responsibilities defined in the
TEA/HCDE contract through Texas LEARNS, the Texas Adult Education
and Family Literacy Partnership.
HCDE, a long-time provider and one of the state’s 56 fiscal agents
for adult education co-operatives, serves a large portion of Houston
and the Harris County area. HCDE’s Adult Education Division's non-profit
consortium provides literacy services to educationally disadvantaged
adults in a joint effort to combat illiteracy and implement workforce
development. Included in the group are literacy program providers, business
and industry partners, community agencies, the local workforce development
board, career development centers, 15 public school districts, and three
learning centers that comprise the Harris County Adult Education Consortium.
The Responsibilities of Texas LEARNS:
HCDE is directed under Sec. 11.301 (formerly Sec. 17.31), Texas Education
Code, to perform functions conferred upon them by the Commissioner of
Education. Texas LEARNS is responsible for non-discretionary
grant management functions, program assistance, and other statewide support
services.
The TEA retains the sole authority to:
- award Adult Education and Family Literacy Grants to local providers,
- allocate federal and/or state funds to local providers,
- score grants submitted by local providers, and
- monitor local providers for compliance with state and federal law.
How Texas LEARNS operates:
Texas LEARNS employs 13 full-time employees to carry out the
state administrative functions. Texas LEARNS staff includes
a state director, an assistant state director, seven grant service managers,
a state Even Start
and Family Literacy assistant state director, a policy coordinator,
an administrative assistant, a program assistant, and an office clerk/receptionist.
The Texas
LEARNS State Director reports directly to the HCDE Superintendent.
In order to improve program quality and focus local providers on the
necessity of linking adult education services to student outcomes, Texas
LEARNS created eight Adult Education regions. In the near future,
there will also be a State Professional Development Coordinator assisting
the Project GREAT 8 centers. Additionally, each of the eight grant services
managers will be responsible for providing grant management services,
technical assistance, and support services for the Adult Education fiscal
agents within their assigned region.
The Function and Role of the Grants Service Managers
The main function of the Grant Service Managers is to provide administrative
assistance in implementing and managing adult education programs in accordance
with state and federal education regulations. The Grant Service Managers
are here to help and serve the administrators and practitioners in the
field. By serving the field, the GSMs assist in the development of policy
and procedure manuals for the programs, and the GSMs conduct reviews
and performance reports to determine compliance with certification requirements,
laws, regulations, and policies. Through conducting the reviews of the
programs, the GSMs provide consultative services and technical assistance
to plan and implement effective programs. In addition, the GSMs analyze
the programs in order to make recommendations for improvement. Another
role of the GSMs is to work with and speak to community and professional
groups to coordinate, improve, and stimulate interest in the adult education
programs and to secure support for local programs. Grant Service Managers
evaluate research findings relative to specific projects being developed,
review, and evaluate information on service delivery system methods,
outputs, and activities to identify gaps in resources and recommend improvements.
Role of the State Even Start and Family
Literacy Coordinator
The State Coordinator supports the efforts of the Grant Services Managers
and programs. The coordinator develops policy and procedures manuals,
oversees completion of and monitors required performance reports and
recommends appropriate changes. The coordinator provides administrative
assistance in implementing and managing adult education and family literacy
programs in accordance with state and federal regulations, works with
and speaks to the community and professional groups to coordinate, improve,
and stimulate interest in the program, and consults with public and private
agencies involved in the program to resolve problems. The coordinator
identifies training needs and discusses program effectiveness. The coordinator
determines trends, resolves operational problems, and prepares administrative
reports, studies and specialized research projects.
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