Family & Community Adult Education Adult & Community Learning Services
Adult and Community Learning Services

ACLS Program Staff Compensation Policy Clarification

March 26, 2007

Dear Program Directors,

The purpose of this letter is to clarify the ESE/ACLS policy regarding compensating staff at ESE-approved rates. ACLS is committed to ensuring that all staff at ESE-funded Community Adult Learning Centers and ABE for Incarcerated Adults programs are provided with a salary and benefits that attracts and retains qualified staff. To that end, the ABE rates system, which supports baseline salaries and benefits for staff, was developed. In order to assist programs in determining if staff are being compensated within the required range, a salary analysis calculation in SMARTT was created. Beginning in FY08, the calculation for the salary analysis will change to assist program staff and ACLS staff to better ensure that the rates of pay meet these requirements. The policy has not changed.

According to the Guidelines for Effective ABE, programs must pay staff within an allowable range of the ESE rates. This applies to staff hours paid with ESE Direct and ESE Indirect funds as well as hours that are supported using Matching funds (Non-ESE). In order to assist programs in determining if staff are paid at the ESE approved rate, the salary analysis calculation in SMARTT is as follows:

The Staff Salary Analysis figures indicate the difference between the amount the program is spending and the amount the ESE rates support. These figures are found on each Staff Salary Analysis screen (Direct, Indirect and Non-ESE) in SMARTT. Beginning in FY08 programs must ensure that the Staff Salary Analysis is within an allowable range of +/-3% of the ESE approved rate per staff category (Administrative, Professional, Support).

• If the amount is more than 3% below the allowable range per category (A, P, S) the program is not spending what the ABE rates support for salaries. The grant award will be lowered if programs choose not to use all funds allocated to them according to ESE rates. The ESE will reduce the amount of grant funds accordingly.
• If the amount is more than 3% above the allowable range per category the program is spending more than what the ABE rates support for salaries. Matching funds (above the minimum required 20%) and/or Unrestricted funds must account for the difference. These matching funds may provide salaries and other rates supported costs and must be documented clearly on the Match Narrative

The ABE Program Design materials include the above information as well as information about FY09. All materials will be reviewed at the Program Design Trainings which will be held the week of 4/9 in each SABES region (see March SMARTT mailing or the SABES calendar for dates) and will also be posted in the April mailing.

I strongly encourage you to attend one of the Program Design Trainings in order to review this information with the trainers.

If you have any questions, please contact your Program Specialist.

Sincerely,
With Literacy in Mind,

Anne Serino
State Director