KRS 151B.409: Adult education and literacy initiative fund.

(1) There is created in the Education and Labor Cabinet a special fund to be known as

the adult education and literacy initiative fund, which shall consist of moneys

appropriated by the General Assembly, gifts, grants, other sources of funding,

public and private, and interest accrued by the fund. This fund shall not lapse at the

end of a fiscal year but shall be carried forward to be used only for the purposes

specified in this section. Moneys accumulated in this fund on June 27, 2019, shall

remain in the fund and be transferred to the Education and Labor Cabinet to be used

for purposes stated in this section.

(2) The purpose of the adult education and literacy initiative fund shall be to support

strategies for adult education, to provide statewide initiatives for excellence, and to

provide funds for research and development activities.

(3) The cabinet shall establish the guidelines for the use, distribution, and

administration of the fund, financial incentives, technical assistance, and other

support for strategic planning; and guidelines for fiscal agents to assess county and

area needs and to develop strategies to meet those needs.

(4) The fund shall include the following strategies:

(a) Statewide initiatives. Funds shall be used to encourage collaboration wit h

other organizations, stimulate development of models of adult education

programs that may be replicated elsewhere in the state, provide incentives for

adults, employers, and providers to encourage adults to establish and

accomplish learning contracts, pr ovide incentives to encourage participation

in adult education, assist providers of county and area programs in areas of

highest need, and for other initiatives of regional or statewide significance as

determined by the cabinet. The statewide reading resea rch center established

under KRS 164.0207 shall evaluate the reading and literacy components of

model programs funded under this paragraph.

(b) Research and demonstration. The funds shall be used to develop:

1. Standards for the preparation, professional development, and support for

adult educators with the advice of the Office of Adult Education and as

compatible with funds provided under Title II of the Federal Workforce

Investment Act;

2. A statewide competency-based certification for transferable skills in the

workplace; and

3. A statewide public information and marketing campaign.