Tennessee’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) is offering grants to educate Hamilton County immigrants in English literacy and civics. However, TDLWD confirmed with The Tennessee Star that it won’t be requiring proof of legal status for participation. TDLWD hasn’t required proof for nearly two years. The department explained that its Adult Education Division made the change to align with federal regulations concerning the program. The only requirements for immigrants who participate in the program are that they are over 16 years old, not enrolled in secondary school, and classified as an English language learner.
Hamilton County drew significant attention over the last few months after it was discovered that the Biden Administration was driving and flying unaccompanied migrant children into Chattanooga. Several weeks ago, followup reports emerged that these children were potentially enduring abuse at their holding facilities. Around the same time, one teenage boy went missing from the Chattanooga facility.
TDLWD published the request for proposal (RFP) for Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) services on Friday, according to emails obtained by The Star. Grants will total $320,000 over the course of two years – October of this year through June 2023 – with a match requirement of 10 percent of the total IELCE award through non-federal sources of funds or in-kind contributions.
$300,000 of those grant funds would fall under Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA). The remaining $20,000 would come from the State Adult Education (AE) General, meaning that they could be used for a range of adult education activities like high school equivalency exams, graduation ceremonies, workforce readiness credentials, or supplemental activities.
Only those programs that have “demonstrated effectiveness,” as defined by TDLWD, in providing adult education and literacy activities may be considered eligible. Organizations who may qualify as eligible providers are: local educational agencies; community-based, faith-based, or volunteer literacy organizations; institutions of higher education; public or private nonprofits; libraries; public housing authorities; a consortium or coalition of agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or other authorities listed previously; or a partnership between an employer and any entity listed previously.
The RFP notice of intent deadline is July 9, with an application deadline of August 6. TDLWD will announce its list of grant awardees on August 31.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Adult Education” by Christopher Connell CC2.0.
Why do you want to harm these children whose only crime with their parents is to flee a dangerous country that the U.S. had made that way? Would you treat your own children this way?
More of my tax dollars down the tubes to support illegals. When does this insanity stop. It is bad enough that our public schools are dragged down by the absurd ESL stuff. Enough is enough.
Then according to “the equal protection of the laws” (14th Amendment), NO documentation can be required for anyone.
Our state legislature should be looking into this.
Of course they are putting these immigrants over Tennesseans and mr lee approves it! Take away federal unemployment payments from those who lost their jobs due to his shutdown of businesses (bankrupted a lot of them) but give illegals the red carpet treatment!
House Republican Caucus leadership, House Majority Leader William Lamberth, Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, Assistant Majority Leader Ron Gant, and Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton all should be ashamed for the treatment of unemployed Tennesseans who lost jobs they can’t return to. This is just one reason I left the Republican Party this year.