Texas Innovative Adult Career Education Grant Program (ACE)

Intent

Texas Innovative Adult Career Education Grant Program (ACE) supports efforts to prepare low-income students and veterans for entering careers in high demand and significantly higher-earning occupations.

Eligibility

Interested Nonprofit Workforce Intermediary and Job Training Organizations must (1) provide eligible low-income students or veterans with job training and a continuum of services (outreach, assessment, case management, support services and career placement) designed to move a program participant from application to employment; (2) be governed by a board or other governing structure that includes recognized leaders of broad-based community organizations and executive-level or managerial-level members of the local business community; (3) have executed partnership agreements with one or more public junior colleges, public state colleges, or public technical institutes; (4) provide matching funds of 50% of the grant award (may be obtained from any source legally available to the organization); and (5) demonstrate that the organization’s program has achieved or will achieve the following measures of success among program participants:  

1. Above average (1) completion of developmental education among participating public institutions; (2) persistence rates among participating public junior college, public state college, or public technical institute students; and (3) certificate or degree completion rates by participating students within a three-year period compared to demographically comparable public institutions; 
   • Entry into careers with significantly higher earnings for program participants than previously achieved; and 
   • If applicable, rapid attainment of civilian workforce credentials. 

How to Apply

Application Closed.

Application Information

ACE is a competitive grant program requiring the submittal of an application in response to a Request for Application (RFA).

Important Dates

Rules and Regulations

THECB has adopted rules in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 10, Subchapter RR, §§10.870–10.878.  

Impact

In 2013, House Bill 437 passed by the 83^rd Texas Legislature establishing the Texas Innovative Adult Career Education (ACE). Austin Community College was designated as the grant administrator. House Bill 8 of the 88^th Legislature transferred administration of ACE to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

FAQs

Grant Cycle

Additional Notes

ACE Q&A