Hi everyone,
I thought some of you might be interested in the lastest issue of OVAE Connection, which I will have posted shortly under Documents. (If you are still subscribed to the LINCS Assessment Discussion List, I just fowarded it there; also, you can check the OVAE Connection archives at http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/ovaeconnection/index.html although it has not been posted there yet as of right now.) This issue of the newsletter contains information on the newly released Adult College Completion Tool Kit; here is a brief overview:
This Adult College Completion Tool Kit (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/resource/adult-college-completion-tool-kit.pdf) is designed to connect state administrators and local practitioners to the strategies, resources, and technical assistance tools resulting from the Department’s work. States can use this information to identify and implement state adult education leadership priorities, supported by federal Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) funds, which encourage and support adult learners transitioning to college.
The tool kit focuses on three areas:
• Access: Academic preparation, financial resources, and other support students need to enroll in postsecondary education programs.
• Quality: Evidence-based practices used by programs to ensure their services prepare students adequately for postsecondary education.
• Completion: Administrative policies and programmatic approaches to encourage student persistence in postsecondary education programs.
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This Tool Kit was informed by work being conducted by OVAE focused on standards-based reform. Two initiatives of particular interest to those of us concerned with assessment and accountability include:
The Standards in Action initiative, which includes several programs that provide guides for establishing standards, examples from states, and support resources:
http://www.adultedcontentstandards.ed.gov/default.asp
The Promoting College and Career-Ready Standards project - assists ABE programs in preparing students for success in higher education and training programs. It also assists efforts to raise awareness and understanding for the critical skills and knowledge that colleges, universities, and employers expect from incoming students and employees.
http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/sectech/factsheet/promoting-college-career.html
I hope you find these resources useful!