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| **American Institutes for Research**                                  |
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| 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W.                                    |
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| > Washington, DC 20007                                                |
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| **U.S. Department of Education**                                      |
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| Office of Vocational and Adult Education                              |
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| > Division of Adult Education and Literacy                            |
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| *This guide was prepared for the project:\                            |
| Adult Education Content Standards Warehouse\                          |
| Contract No. ED-01-CO-0026/0023*                                      |
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*A Process Guide for Establishing State Adult Education Content
Standards*

Peggy Seufert

Renee Sherman

Nicole Amador

Larry Condelli

Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

Sarah Tetteyfio

Beth Faller

Lisa M. Knight

Karen C. Ward

August 2005

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  *A Process Guide for Establishing State Adult Education Content
  Standards* was developed by the American Institutes for Research as
  part of the Adult Education Content Standards Warehouse Project under
  contract to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and
  Adult Education, Contract No. ED-01-CO-0026/0023.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Contents

PAGE

Preface vii

Acknowledgments ix

Chapter 1. Moving Toward Standards-Based Education 1

Goals of Standards-Based Education for Adults 3

Standards Defined 4

Overview of the Guide 7

How to Use the Guide 8

Overview of Chapters 8

Additional Features of the Guide 10

Practice and Application 11

References 11

Chapter 2. Setting the Stage for the Standards-Based Initiative 13

Use a Systemic Model for Standards-Based Education 14

Lay the Foundation for Standards-Based Education 16

Create a Vision and a Strategic Plan 18

Develop Policies and Procedures to Support Standards-Based Education 19

Secure Funding and Allocate Resources to Support Standards-Based
Education 21

Allocate Human Resources to Support Standards-Based Education 25

Develop RFPs and Grant Applications 28

Establish Committees and Processes for Developing, Reviewing, and
Implementing\
Standards 29

Form a Committee to Coordinate the Standards Initiative 32

Develop a Mission Statement 36

Survey Key Stakeholders 36

Review Research and Standards to Make Decisions 43

Make Recommendations to the State 46

Develop an Action Plan 46

Recruit Team Members 49

Practice and Application 51

References 51

Chapter 3. Developing Standards to Enhance Learner Achievement 53

Organize and Orient the Writing Team 54

Orient the Writing Team 55

Develop an Action Plan for the Writing Team 57

PAGE

Review Existing Standards 58

Crosswalk Standards 62

Adapt or Develop Content Standards 64

Outline a Framework for the Standards 66

Draft Standards 70

Align Assessments and Curriculum with Standards 75

Assessment 75

Curriculum and Instruction 77

Prepare the Full Standards Document 78

Practice and Application 81

References 81

Chapter 4. Conducting Reviews to Improve Draft Standards 85

Plan and Manage the Review Process 87

Select Reviews for Specific Purposes 88

Validity Reviews 89

Alignment Reviews 92

Implementation Reviews 95

Identify Strategies for Conducting Reviews 96

Statewide Surveys 98

Focus Groups 99

Expert Reviews 101

Field Tests 103

Use Feedback from Reviews to Finalize Content Standards 111

State Review and Final Revisions 112

Periodic Review and Revision of Content Standards 113

Practice and Application 113

References 114

Chapter 5. Implementing Standards-Based Education 115

Establish a Timeframe for Implementing Standards 117

Communicate State Policies and Procedures to Support Standards-Based
Education 120

Use Multiple Communication Strategies 121

Customize Communication to Each Audience 122

Disseminate Standards 123

Provide Professional Development and Technical Assistance 124

Provide Standards-Based Professional Development 125

Provide Technical Assistance 137

Monitor Local Implementation of Standards-Based Education 139

Evaluate the State's Implementation of Standards-Based Education 140

Assess Implementation of Standards-Based Education at the State Level
142

Conclusion 143

Practice and Application 144

References 145

PAGE

Appendix A. White Paper: Moving Toward Standards-Based Education A--1

Appendix B. Glossary B--1

Appendix C. Tools and Templates C--1

Appendix D. References and Resources D--1

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1.1. *Model for Standards-Based Education* 2

Exhibit 1.2. *Key Terms Used in Standards-Based Education* 5

Exhibit 2.1. *Standards-Based Education Model* 15

Exhibit 2.2. *Planning for the Use of Human Resources* 27

Exhibit 2.3. *Teams Involved in the Standards Initiative* 30

Exhibit 2.4. *Orienting Committees and Teams* 35

Exhibit 2.5. *Key Stakeholders for an Environmental Scan* 38

Exhibit 2.6. *Strategies for Conducting an Environmental Scan* 41

Exhibit 2.7. *Sample Action Planning Tool* 49

Exhibit 3.1. *Model for Standards-Based Education* 53

Exhibit 3.2. *Steps for Developing Content Standards* 58

Exhibit 3.3. *Criteria for Quality Standards* 60

Exhibit 3.4. *CASAS Crosswalk for Reading Comprehension Skills (January
2005 Version)* 63

Exhibit 3.5. *Massachusetts Crosswalk to Determine Skills Measured on
Standardized ESL Tests* 63

Exhibit 3.6. *Massachusetts ABE Mathematics and Numeracy Curriculum
Framework* 66

Exhibit 3.7. *Comparing ELA Reading Standards from Two States* 69

Exhibit 3.8. *Revising Standards and Indicators within the Team* 74

Exhibit 3.9. *Worksheet for Assessing the Alignment of Existing
Curriculum with Draft\
Content Standards* 78

Exhibit 3.10. *Components of a Standards Document* 80

Exhibit 4.1. *Strategies for Conducting Reviews* 86

Exhibit 4.2. *Validity Review Feedback Form Focusing on Bias* 102

Exhibit 4.3. *Alignment Review Feedback Form* 103

PAGE

Exhibit 4.4. *Sample Feedback Form on the Applicability of Standards to
Instruction* 108

Exhibit 4.5. *Sample Instructor Feedback Form on Applicable Classroom
Activities* 109

Exhibit 5.1. *Model for Standards-Based Education* 116

Exhibit 5.2. *Sample Professional Development Model* 126

Exhibit 5.3. *Sample Needs Survey Items* 129

Exhibit 5.4. *Questions for a Professional Development Orientation
Module on\
Standards-Based Education* 131

Exhibit 5.5. *Professional Development Modules* 135

Exhibit 5.6. *Sample Strategies for On-Site Program Monitoring* 141

Preface

The Adult Education Content Standards Warehouse Project is an integral
part of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education's commitment to
improve the quality of adult education programs through the development
and implementation of content standards. The project was funded in 2003
to assist states in building capacity to develop, align, and implement
adult education content standards for English language acquisition,
mathematics, and reading. The national project has three technical
assistance activities:

-   The **Adult Education Content Standards Warehouse** provides easy
    access to a wide range of standards to assist adult educators in
    developing content standards for English language acquisition,
    mathematics, and reading.

-   The **Adult Education Content Standards Consortia** enables states
    to work collaboratively to develop content standards. Consortia
    partners receive technical assistance from field experts to address
    specific needs and support one another through national meetings,
    teleconferences, and an online forum.

-   ***A Process Guide for Establishing State Adult Education Content
    Standards*** outlines processes for moving toward standards-based
    education.

    *A Process Guide for Establishing State Adult Education Content
    Standards* presents information gathered through a review of
    literature and research on content standards; discussions with staff
    from state offices of adult education; and reviews of state,
    national, and international standards documents. The information and
    examples may guide state adult education administrators, content
    experts, professional development staff, instructors, and
    curriculum/assessment specialists throughout the process of
    planning, developing, aligning, reviewing, and implementing
    standards. Readers will find a range of suggestions and references
    for implementing standards-based education.

The five chapters introduce the components of standards-based reform and
the implications for adult education. Content standards are voluntary at
a national level, so the guide does not prescribe a process, nor does it
recommend content. However, the guide can help users make decisions
related to adapting, developing, or implementing standards. The guide
includes lessons learned from adult educators and researchers, and each
chapter offers practice activities to assist state teams in using the
information presented in the text. The appendices provide additional
information, a glossary, tools and templates, and references.

Acknowledgments

*A Process Guide for Establishing State Adult Education Content
Standards* was developed with the help and contributions of many
individuals---consultants, advisory committee members, and staff from
the U.S. Department of Education and from state adult education offices.
Many people willingly shared their time and expertise in standards
development, and they provided valuable research materials, suggestions,
and recommendations.

We would like to thank the project consultants, Susan Pimentel and Regie
Stites, whose research and experience working with state staff helped
inform the direction of the guide. The consultants, advisory committee
members, and state adult education staff members lent their assistance
by allowing us to use examples from their work, reviewing drafts of the
guide, and providing feedback and resources. Many suggestions in the
guide are based on "lessons learned" by adult educators and researchers.

The following individuals contributed to the development and revision of
the guide:

Jodi Crandall\
Director of ESOL/Bilingual M.A. Program\
University of Maryland, Baltimore County\
Baltimore, MD

Mike Dean\
Education Program Specialist\
Division of Adult Education and Literacy\
Office of Vocational and Adult Education\
U.S. Department of Education\
Washington, DC

Valeria Ford\
Education Program Specialist

Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education\
U.S. Department of Education\
Washington, DC

Cheryl Keenan\
Director\
Division of Adult Education and Literacy\
Office of Vocational and Adult Education\
U.S. Department of Education\
Washington, DC

Miriam Kroeger\
Education Program Specialist\
Arizona Department of Education\
Phoenix, AZ

Kathleen Leos\
Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary\
Office of English Language Acquisition\
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education\
U.S. Department of Education\
Washington, DC

Karen Liersch\
State Director of Adult and Family Literacy\
Arizona Department of Education\
Phoenix, AZ

Carlos Martinez\
Education Program Specialist

Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education\
U.S. Department of Education\
Washington, DC

Rebecca Moak\
Education Research Analyst\
Division of Adult Education and Literacy\
Office of Vocational and Adult Education\
U.S. Department of Education\
Washington, DC

Emily Miller Payne\
Director\
Center for Initiatives in Education\
Texas State University\
San Marcos, TX

Susan Pimentel\
Education Policy Consultant\
StandardsWork\
Hanover, NH

Denise Pottmeyer\
Associate Director\
Division of Vocational and Adult Education\
Ohio Department of Education\
Columbus, OH

Jane Schwerdtfeger

Curriculum and Assessment Development Specialist

Massachusetts Department of Education\
Malden, MA

Regie Stites\
Educational Researcher/Manager\
SRI International\
Menlo Park, CA

Ronna Spacone\
Education Program Specialist\
Division of Adult Education and Literacy\
Office of Vocational and Adult Education\
U.S. Department of Education\
Washington, DC

Cynthia Zengler\
ABLE Regional Consultant\
Ohio Department of Education\
Columbus, OH