Background

Since 2003, OVAE has supported standards-based educational reform in adult basic education (ABE), by developing key resources for State administrators and policymakers, local program directors, and instructors. These include the Adult Education Content Standards Warehouse Website, A Process Guide for Establishing Adult Education Content Standards, and the Standards-in-Action Innovations for Standards-Based Education. OVAE expects this new project to continue strengthening State capacity to implement ABE standards, but with an important additional focus—to support and encourage States in adopting standards that are aligned to college- and career-readiness.

Overview

The Promoting College and Career-Ready Standards project will assist ABE programs in preparing students for success in higher education and training programs. It will also assist efforts to raise awareness and understanding for the critical skills and knowledge that colleges, universities, and employers expect from incoming students and employees. To reach these goals, this project will:

• Validate a set of college- and career-readiness (CCR) standards in English Language Arts/Literacy and mathematics—useful to states and adult education programs as a model for developing or updating their state standards.
• Align the selected CCR standards with the National Reporting System’s Educational Functioning Levels (NRS EFLs) and outcome measures, to determine the extent to which the CCSS work with the ABE accountability system.
• Assess and update the Adult Education Content Standards Warehouse (AECSW) Website.

Four expert panels will be convened to conduct the validation and alignment reviews, including representatives from ABE, community colleges, career/technical training organizations, business/industry, and the military. The project, which runs from August 2011 to July 2014, is being managed by MPR Associates, Inc.

Project Milestones

• Implement validation review of CCR standards, September 2011 through March 2013.
• Implement alignment review of selected CCR standards and NRS measures, September 2012 through August 2013.
• Convene workshops at the National Meetings for State Directors of Adult Education, 2012-2014.
• Assess the AECSW Website resources and develop a state guide to scaling up and sustaining educational reforms, June 2013 through July 2014.

Outcomes and Products

• Report describing key content decisions made by expert panels to select CCR standards for ABE, and an outline of implications for ABE in the future.
• Report describing the results of the panelists and the implications of the findings for the NRS EFLs and outcome measures.
• Step-by-step guide to the sustainability of educational reforms.

Contact:

Ronna Spacone: Ronna.Spacone@ed.gov