Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

ACLS Policy Memo #02-2020 Curriculum Alignment and PQR Ratings

Reference: Curriculum Alignment and PQR Ratings

ACLS curriculum policy for the current funding cycle is stated in Chapter 4: Indicator 4: Curriculum and Instruction in the Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions. The purpose of this memo is to clarify several aspects of curriculum policy for programs providing instruction in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and/or Adult Basic Education (ABE).

ESOL

Programs offering ESOL instruction are required to implement curriculum aligned to the Massachusetts English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education (MA ELPS). However, ACLS is not holding programs accountable for full implementation of the MA ELPS until July 1, 2022 (i.e., the beginning of the next adult education funding cycle).

Until then, the practice adopted by the Program Quality Team in FY20 and adhered to when conducting program quality reviews (PQR) is to evaluate the program's documented ESOL curriculum to determine the extent to which it is complete for all content areas and levels and aligned to:

• either the Massachusetts English Language Proficiency Standards (MA ELPS)
• or the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCRSAE) and supported by the standards and benchmarks of the Massachusetts ABE Framework for ESOL.

ABE

Programs offering ABE instruction in mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) are still required to implement curriculum aligned to the CCRSAE, reflective of the instructional shifts (i.e., evidence, knowledge, and complexity for ELA; focus, coherence, and rigor for mathematics), and aligned at levels A through D-E until June 30, 2022 (i.e., the end of the current adult education funding cycle).

Until then, the practice adopted by the Program Quality Team in FY20 and adhered to when conducting program quality reviews (PQR) is to evaluate the program's documented ABE curriculum to determine the extent to which it is complete for all content areas and levels and aligned to the CCRSAE.

Until then, programs providing ABE services may:

• embed science and history/social studies content in mathematics and ELA classes or in standalone science and history/social studies classes
• embed science and history/social studies content in mathematics and ELA curricula or in standalone curricula for science and history/social science