Mahalia Baldini
Texas Workforce Commission
Adult Education and Literacy
101 E. 15th Street
Austin, TX 78778
Phone: (737) 471-1015
mahalia.baldini@twc.texas.gov
ABE: TABE 11 & 12; CASAS Reading & Math GOALS
ESL: BEST Plus 2.0; BEST Literacy; CASAS Life & Work Listening & Reading; TABE CLAS-E
Texas Educating Adults Management System (TEAMS) – a web-based data management system used to maintain information about adult education programs throughout the state.
https://apps.twc.state.tx.us/TEAMS/security/logon.do
GED/High School Equivalency Diploma: Data Match and Other Methods
Employment: Data Match and Other Methods
Transition to Postsecondary Education or Training: Data Match and Other Methods
Texas uses the Texas Educating Adults Management System (TEAMS) to collect and analyze data to support program improvement. Each grantee in the state is required to have staff with roles and responsibilities of Quality Assurance officer and Performance Accountability officer. Quarterly meetings are conducted by the state and professional development centers with these staff to provide ongoing tools, tips and resources to better analyze and improve performance.
Using TEAMS data, the AEL department provides a detailed Monthly Performance Report (MPR), also known as the report card, to local programs. The MPR includes a snapshot of both fiscal and programmatic performance of the grant. This is only one of nine non-NRS reports generated by the state’s Division of Information, Innovation, and Insight (I|3). The reports provide data sets for all state and federal imposed performance indicators, also referred to as contracted measures in the Texas RFA.
Adverse Actions
If a program misses required performance levels over a period of several months, the program is placed on a Technical Assistance Plan (TAP). TAPs use a timeline of deliverables and benchmarks to improve and support program function. TAP actions may include additional targeted professional development support, one-on-one training in specific areas of weakness or concern, and technical assistance visits by TWC staff to meet and address issues. Members must meet specific benchmarks to have a TAP lifted. Programs that consistently fail to meet contract deliverables once placed on a TAP are elevated to a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). Programs who are on CAPs do not qualify for state incentive awards.
TAPS and CAPS can also occur as a result of monitoring findings.
Subrecipient Monitoring
TWC’s Subrecipient Monitoring (SRM) department works with AEL staff to ensure that all grantees are compliant and serve as good stewards of federal funds by performing an annual risk assessment. TWC monitors for compliance with federal and state requirements related to fiscal and programmatic accountability through the following methods:
- Desk Monitoring—Regular review and analysis of data that is submitted and validated monthly through the state’s data system, TEAMS
- On-site Monitoring—Field based fiscal and programmatic audits that are based on agency risk assessment results
- Data Validation—Virtual reviews of source documents that are used to support performance accountability, per OCTAE Memo 19-1
Texas Workforce Commission, Adult Education and Literacy:
https://www.twc.texas.gov/programs/adult-education-literacy
Due to Texas’ extensive provider network and complex needs, TWC created a three-pronged approach to the delivery of PD and Technical Assistance (TA) tools and resources statewide. The approach creates a triangulation of instructional, distance education/digital literacy, and career pathway content that supports Texas’ collective approach to AEL services. Combined under one website, statewide AEL programs and stakeholders can access tools and resources at https://tcall.tamu.edu/index.htm
The website is a launch pad for three unique but coordinated partners:
Statewide PDC: This center, known as TRAIN PD, offers online curricula and live training sessions and facilitates all AEL statewide professional development events. The Cornerstone online portal is used to manage PD content for more than 4,000 AEL staff, tracking hours/coursework and maintaining transcripts for AEL grantee staff. In PY ‘22 -’23 the Statewide PDC generated 33,320 hours of PD for 3,605 unique participants.
Distance Education PDC (DEPDC): Focuses on distance education and learning, DEPDC provides services through a call center and has provided 1,222 hours of Professional Development to a total of 1,696 participants in PY22-23. The Center develops hybrid learning PD and created digital literacy content standards, which are being rolled out to key instructional staff from across the state at the TWC Annual Conference on November 28, 2023, through a ‘Train the Trainer’ (TOT) style event.
Career Pathways PDC (CPPDC): The CPPDC is designed to support career pathway program models, Integrated Education and Training models, and Intensive Services models (that is, employer engagement through Workplace Literacy, Services to Internationally Trained Professionals, and Re-Entry and Post-Release Services for incarcerated individuals). The CPPDC hosts events, offers consultation, and specializes in providing statewide PD on the various Texas career pathway models.