Arizona has had Content and Performance Standards for Adult Education
since 1999.  The process started in 1998.  We have standards in Reading,
Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Citizenship, ESOL (renamed ELAA-
English Language Acquisition for Adults in 2005), and we added
Technology in 2005.  We've also revised the standards (except
Citizenship- waiting for the new test from USCIS, and Technology -
they're new enough.)  The fact that we've already revised our standards
should be a hint to others.  They need to be living documents that
respond to teacher and learner feedback, and you have to have the
leadership that will support the fact that they are dynamic and those
dynamics need to be continuously looked at and, when necessary, time,
talent and the field need to be involved in updating and revising.  

Renee Sherman talked about the Standards Warehouse and the guide that
was developed.  The guide should be "must reading" for states
undertaking standards development.  I wish we had one when we started.
And the warehouse itself is so valuable.  The taxonomies related to the
content areas allow you to see how various states have addressed ideas,
concepts and skills in those content areas.  No small accomplishment!!
And it's almost as if this conversation about content standards has to
be aligned to the conversation that is happening on the assessment list,
because assessment should be aligned to standards.

-Miriam Kroeger
Arizona  

-----Original Message-----
From: contentstandards-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:contentstandards-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Aaron Kohring
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 6:55 AM
To: AE Content Standards
Subject: [ContentStandards 80] What are States doing with Standards?

Greetings all,

After reflecting on postings from the past week on National Standards, I
reviewed questions that subscribers have sent to me about Standards, in
general.  The most common question appears to be: What are States
currently doing with Standards?

What is the process that States have gone through when developing or
creating Standards, adopting or adapting existing Standards (such as
Equipped for the Future or other Standards), or combining/linking 2 or
more sets of standards?  What have been the major challenges in this
process?  What have been the benefits?  What changes have you seen in
your adult literacy programs as a result of the process?

Are any States willing to share with us?

Thanks,
Aaron


Aaron Kohring
Coordinator, LINCS Literacy & Learning Disabilities Special Collection
(http://ldlink.coe.utk.edu/)
Moderator, National Institute for Literacy's Content Standards
Discussion List (http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Contentstandards)
Coordinator, Equipped for the Future Websites (http://eff.cls.utk.edu/)

Center for Literacy Studies, University of Tennessee EFF Center for
Training and Technical Assistance
Phone:(865) 974-4109 main
           (865) 974-4258 direct
Fax:   (865) 974-3857
e-mail: akohring at utk.edu

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