§3291 Reservation of Funds; Grants to Eligible Agencies; Allotments

Summary

The Secretary must set aside money from the yearly appropriation under section 3275. First, 2 percent must be reserved for section 3332, but not more than $15,000,000. Then 12 percent of what is left must be reserved for section 3333. From the remaining money, the Secretary must give a grant to each eligible agency with an approved unified or combined State plan. Each grant equals a fixed initial amount plus an extra amount based on the number of qualifying adults in that State or area, and the agency must agree to spend the money on adult education and literacy. Initial amounts are $100,000 for outlying areas and $250,000 for other agencies. A qualifying adult is at least 16, past the area’s required school age, without a high school diploma or equivalent, and not enrolled in high school. For funds set aside for the Republic of Palau, the Secretary will competitively award grants to Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or Palau following the Pacific Region Educational Laboratory’s recommendations. Palau is eligible except during the period in section 3102(45). Up to 5 percent of those funds may pay that lab’s administrative costs. Starting in fiscal year 2015, no agency’s allotment may fall below 90 percent of its prior year; if funds are short, reductions must be made fairly across agencies. Any part of an agency’s allotment not needed may be reallocated to others in proportion to their original allotments.