The functions of the office may include, but may not necessarily be limited to, the following:

(1)  The development of recommendations to the commissioner and the implementation of any approved recommendations, including:

(i)  The utilization of federal and state funds for any purpose prescribed or allowed by the laws and/or regulations authorizing and/or appropriating those funds;

(ii)  The sub-granting of those federal and state funds to selected deliverers of programs and services, including those contemplated in subdivisions (2) and (3);

(iii)  The operation and networking of statewide adult level guidance services;

(iv)  The operation of a high school equivalency or general educational development, testing, and certification program;

(v)  Administration of the provisions for the approval and regulation of private career, trade, and technical schools, pursuant to chapter 40 of this title, and of any other nonpublic entities, whether non-business or proprietary, which provide or purport to provide adult education programs and services to residents of the state;

(vi)  Professional development of administrators, teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, and other personnel employed or engaged in delivering adult education programs and services within the state; and

(vii)  Continuous research and planning in adult education, including assistance to the commission in conducting the comprehensive study of adult education prescribed in § 16-58-6 [repealed], needs assessments in conjunction with local planning and assessment processes, and the development and utilization of relevant data.

(2)  Coordination with programs and services administered and/or operated by other agencies and institutions, including:

(i)  All programs in categories 1, 2, 3, and 5 as defined by this chapter;

(ii)  Outreach, recruitment, and intake for program components throughout the delivery system defined in this chapter;

(iii)  Dissemination of information on financial aid for adult learners, including loans, grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid, in cooperation with the Rhode Island division of higher education assistance, pursuant to chapters 56 and 57 of this title;

(iv)  Psychological testing in relation to education and training, basic skills diagnostic and evaluation services, and multi-phasic vocational testing;

(v)  Competency based adult high school diploma assessment and certification, as conducted by local education agencies in accordance with this chapter; and

(vi)  The college level examination program and other mechanisms for establishing and recording postsecondary achievement and competencies in terms of academic credit.

(3)  General advocacy and communicative relationships with other agencies, institutions, and organizations engaged in or interested in adult education or related activities in the state, including:

(i)  Programs and services for adult learners in public and private colleges, schools, and other settings, at elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels;

(ii)  Adult education programs and services, in any of the categories defined in this chapter, conducted in libraries and other community based settings;

(iii)  Pre-service, in-service, and upgrading education and training programs, generally in category 2 as defined by this chapter, conducted in employment settings;

(iv)  Activities, generally in category 2 as defined by this chapter, conducted in the state pursuant to the Job Training Partnership Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1501 et seq., and any amendments to it, extensions of it, or successor legislation;

(v)  All activities in categories 4 and 6, as defined by this chapter;

(vi)  Programs and services, generally in categories 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, as defined by this chapter, conducted in custodial, correctional, and curative institutions in the state;

(vii)  Programs and services for adults with special needs, such as people with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, women and displaced homemakers, senior citizens, persons of multilingual or multicultural backgrounds, and persons being discharged from the care of institutions referenced in subdivision (3)(vi);

(viii)  Programs of family and homelife education and parent effectiveness training;

(ix)  Educational and public service programming on radio and television, including that transmitted electronically and through cable systems; and

(x)  Automobile and motorcycle driver safety education; and

(4)  Staff support services for the commission.