Family & Community Adult Education
Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

Performance Standards

The fiscal year 2007 performance standards for Community Adult Learning Centers (Fund Codes 340, 345, and 359) are now established. (The standards presented here do not apply to ABE for Incarcerated Adults Programs, ABE for the Homeless Programs, Distance Learning Programs, Even Start, Transition to Community College Programs, Primary Instruction Provided by Volunteers Programs, Workplace Education Programs, and Family Success Programs.)

The six performance standards have been informed by statistical analysis of multiple years of data, a goals pilot, and input from the field of ABE practitioners in multiple task groups and workshops at statewide conferences. Each of the standards is set at or near the Massachusetts state average for performance in the following areas: attendance, average attended hours, pre and post testing percentage, learner gains, setting and meeting student goals, and Educational Functioning Level completion. The performance standards, as one part of a larger system of accountability, encourage continuous improvement, effective program administration, and positive student outcomes.

FY07 Performance Standards Document for fund codes 340, 345, 359.

	Student Goal Activity 2007
	Performance Standards Outcomes 2007

FY06 Performance Standards Document for fund codes 340, 345, 359.

Countable Outcomes Chart

Countable Outcomes Definitions and Required Documentation

    Fiscal Year 2008 Student Goal Sheet

FAQ for Performance Standards

ACLS has set up a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for performance standards questions.

The FAQ is an opportunity for staff in ACLS-funded programs to request clarification and other information pertaining to the performance standards. Questions will be sorted in the following seven categories, and responses will be updated on a regular basis.

• General
• Attendance
• Average Attended Hours
• Pre- and Post-Test Percentage
• Learner Gains
• Student Goals

Please send your questions to PerformanceStandardsFAQ@doe.mass.edu

PAWG II (2004-2005)

The Performance Accountability Working Group II (PAWG II) is made up of ABE program staff and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education staff. PAWG II met between September 2004 through October 2005 to recommend performance standards for fund codes 340, 345, and 359.

Activity of PAWG I (2001-2002)

The Performance Accountability Working Group (PAWG) is made up of teachers and directors of ABE programs and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education staff who are working together to develop recommendations for performance accountability in adult basic education programs.

PAWG I Regional Forums

Regional Forums PowerPoint Presentation
Help for Viewing PowerPoint Presentation

Related information that was handed out at the PAWG Regional Forums

Member List

Statement of Purpose

Forum Glossary

PAWG Definition

NRS

PAS chart # 2

PAWG CO Chart

Forum Questions

Items of Consensus

PBA Scenario

Monthly News from the PAWG I

March 7, 2001 Volume 1, Issue 2

February 9, 2001 Volume 1, Issue 1

Final Report from PAWG I

Working Group Final Report 9/30/2002

Statement of Concern Regarding Data Matching

    Report of the Goal Setting Workgroup (2003)
The Goal Setting Workgroup was convened on January 20, 2003 and worked through May 2003.
The goals of the workgroup were to:

• Identify goal-setting challenges
• Offer guidelines for goal setting
• Articulate the advantages of genuine goal setting
• Offer goal-setting lessons and activities
• Develop recommendations to ESE/ACLS

Adult Basic Education Performance Standards Task Force (November 1998 - April 1999)
The ABE Performance Standards Task Force was convened in November 1998 to inform the development of ACLS policy on performance standards. ACLS facilitated meetings among ABE program staff from across the state who represented a diverse group of programs in terms of location, size, service type, organization type, and delivery method. The final report contains recommendations on how ACLS can best develop and implement effective performance standards that lead to quality services for students.