Supplemental AELA Credential

Senate Bill 22-192 (SB 22-192) is designed to promote the creation of stackable credential pathways. As part of the Bill, $800,000 has been appropriated from the General Fund to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) for the Adult Education and Literacy Grant (AELA) to implement programming leading to adult learner post-secondary entrance and post-secondary credential attainment outcomes. The Adult Education Initiatives (AEI) team at CDE is releasing this funding for distribution through the Supplemental AELA Credential award to existing AELA grantees.

Supplemental AELA Credential award funds from SB 22-192 have been granted a 12 month extension and will expire on June 30, 2024.  

• are at least seventeen years of age;
• are not enrolled in a public or private secondary school;
• and lack a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
• are in need of English language instruction; or
• lack sufficient mastery of the basic literacy and numeracy skills necessary to enable people to function effectively in the workplace. (C.R.S. § 22-10-103(3)).

 All learners receiving services with these funds must be reported in CDE’s LACES data system. New learners receiving these funds will be entered into LACES and will be tracked as “current” learners.

Documentation of post-secondary entrance must be uploaded in the corresponding learner record in CDE’s LACES data system prior to any request for funds. Examples of approvable documentation include official and dated acceptance letters or emails and official transcripts showing enrollment in credit-bearing or degree/industry-recognized credential-terminating courses. Documentation of any post-secondary credential earned must be reported in LACES. Examples of approvable documentation may include credential/degrees or official documentation from the post-secondary institution, training provider, or credentialing body that a credential was awarded to the learner. AELA Program Coordinators can provide guidance on documentation.

Note: Credential attainment is not required to utilize the funds.