About Us

In 2014, the Oklahoma State Legislature voted to move the Adult Education & Family Literacy Act grant from the State Department of Education to  Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. The Lifelong Learning Section of the Oklahoma State Department of Education had been providing basic skill instruction for educationally disadvantaged adults since the late 1960s. On July 1, 2014, CareerTech picked up the baton to provide these services across the state.

To ensure that Oklahomans have the opportunity to be fully participating workers, parents and citizens in our state. Adult education and literacy is an investment in our people.

The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE), Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFL) Division acts as the pass-through agency for the Adult Education Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) grants.  The AEFLA, a federal law, can be found in Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Part of the AEFLA’s stated purpose is to assist adults with becoming literate, obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency, and obtaining the skills necessary to lead to sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities of their family.  In addition, to the federal grants provided under the AEFLA, ODCTE's AEFL team also administers adult education allocations supported with state funds. 

In Oklahoma, 19 percent of the adults over the age of 25 have not finished high school. This statistic means a workforce unprepared for the sophisticated demands of the workplace. It also may mean that future generations will not place a high value on finishing their education. Currently, there are over 30 AEFL providers with over 100 sites across the state.

Subject to availability, eligible recipients may apply for and be awarded any or all of the following grants:

• Adult Education & Family Literacy
• Integrated English Literacy & Civics Education
• Correctional / Institutional Education

These competitive grants are on a four-year grant cycle.

The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act provides supplemental funds for

• High School Equivalency preparation classes
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Citizenship
• Correctional/Institutional Education
• English Literacy and Civics Education (EL/Civics)

which enable adults to become employable, productive, and responsible citizens, workers, and family members.

Adult education programs of Oklahoma do not discriminate based on gender, race, color, national origin, sex, age or disabilities.