Adult Basic Education Language   (#9900003)

Version Description

Purpose

The Adult Basic Education (ABE) Program includes content standards that describe what students should know and be able to do in Mathematics, Language Arts (language, speaking and listening, and writing), and Reading. The content standards serve several purposes:

• Provide a common language for ABE levels among programs
• Assist programs with ABE curriculum development
• Provide guidance for new ABE instructors
• Ensure quality instruction through professional development
• Provide basic skills instruction (0.0 – 8.9) and critical thinking skills to prepare students for GED preparation (9.0 – 12.0), postsecondary education, and employment. 

The content standards should be used as a basis for curriculum design and also to assist programs and teachers with selecting or designing appropriate instructional materials, instructional techniques, and ongoing assessment strategies. Standards do not tell teachers how to teach, but they do help teachers figure out the knowledge and skills their students should have so that teachers can build the best lessons and environments for their classrooms.

The ABE content standards have been revised to include the College and Career Readiness (CCR) standards. The integration of CCR standards into ABE programs is intended to provide the foundation of knowledge and skills that students will need to transition to adult secondary programs with the goal of continuing on to postsecondary education.

Program Structure

ABE is a non-credit course designed to develop literacy skills necessary to be successful workers, citizens and family members. A student enrolled in the ABE program may be receiving instruction in one or more of the following courses: Mathematics, Language Arts, or Reading.

This program is divided into levels that are reported as student educational gains: Educational Functioning Levels (EFLs) for federal reporting and Literacy Completion Points (LCPs) for state reporting. Progress through levels must be measured by approved validation methods in accordance with Rule 6A-6.014(5), FAC. It is the teacher's responsibility to decide and inform the student of the criteria for demonstrating proficiency in a benchmark. It is not necessary for a student to master 100% of the benchmark skills to demonstrate proficiency in an anchor standard.

Program Lengths

The following table illustrates the maximum number of instructional hours recommended for each level. It is understood, however, that each student learns at his or her individual pace, and there will be students who successfully complete the program or attain their educational goals in fewer or more hours than what is recommended for each ABE instructional level.

Please visit the Assessment Technical Assessment Paper, Division of Career and Adult Education, at https://www.fldoe.org/Workforce/AdultEd/pdf/1314Assessment.pdf for both recommended and required assessment procedures and instruments.

Course Number	Course Title	Maximum Hours	NRS Levels
9900003	Language Arts – Beginning ABE Literacy	450 Hours	1 (0.0– 1.9)
	Language Arts – Beginning Basic Education	450 Hours	2 (2.0-3.9)
	Language Arts – Low Intermediate Basic Education	300 Hours	3 (4.0 – 5.9)
	Language Arts – High Intermediate Basic Education	300 Hours	4 (6.0 – 8.9)

Special Notes

The standards are separated into four strands: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language. Each strand is headed by a strand-specific set of CCR Anchor Standards identical across all levels of learning. Each level-specific standard corresponds to the same-numbered CCR anchor standard. In other words, each anchor standard identifying broad college and career readiness skills has a corresponding level-specific standard illustrating specific level-appropriate expectations. The table below illustrates the numbering used to indicate strands, anchor standards, and skill standards.

Source	Strand	Program Area	Anchor Standard	NRS Level	Benchmark Skill
CCR.	WR.	ABE.	1.	2.	b)
CCR.WR.ABE.1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. 1.2. Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. b) Provide reasons that support the opinion.

It is not intended that students will progress through the performance standards sequentially. The instructor may present topic-centered and/or project-based lessons that integrate standards from several strands.

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Adult students with disabilities must self-identify and request such services. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in areas such as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.

Career and Education Planning

The following career development standards are designed to be integrated into the ABE frameworks to assist students with career exploration and planning. Students can access Florida CHOICES (www.flchoices.org) or a comparable system for career exploration and development of a career plan.

Standards:

CP.ABE.01 Develop skills to locate, evaluate, and interpret career information.
CP.ABE.02 Identify interests, skills, and personal preferences that influence career and education choices.
CP.ABE.03 Identify career cluster and related pathways that match career and education goals.
CP.ABE.04 Develop and manage a career and education plan.

Technology

Computer skills have become essential in today’s world. Student’s use a variety of technology tools from cell phones to computers to communicate with friends and family, apply for work, classroom instruction, testing, and in the workplace. Technology standards are integrated in the instruction to demonstrate proficiency of the reading and language arts standards. (Examples: Reading 7, Writing 6, and Speaking and Listening 5)

Standards:

TN.ABE.01 Develop basic keyboarding skills.
TN.ABE.02 Produce a variety of documents such as research papers, resumes, charts, and tables using word processing programs.
TN.ABE.03 Use Internet search engines such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo to collect data and information.
TN.ABE.04 Practice safe, legal, and responsible sharing of information, data, and opinions online.