The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Data on Adult Basic Education in Massachusetts

At the March 19, 2012 special meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Board requested additional information about the outcomes achieved by the Adult Basic Education system. I am pleased to report that during the FY 2007 - FY 2011 performance period, programs demonstrated continuous improvement in each of the five performance standards by which they are measured. The five performance measures include: attendance, average attended hours, pre and post test rate, meaningful educational gain as measured by a U.S. Department of Education approved standardized assessment, and goal achievement.

From FY 2007 - FY 2011, 45,001 students served were served at the following levels:

1. Adult Basic Education ( Basic Literacy through Grade Level 8.9) - 10,998 students
2. Adult Secondary Education (Grade Levels 9 - 12) - 8,347 students
3. English for Speakers of Other Languages - 25,656 students

The five performance outcomes were:

• Attendance: The percentage of attendance (actual hours of attendance vs. available hours of instruction) increased from 71% to 76%.
• Average Attended Hours: The average attended hours increased from 134 hours to 144 hours per year.
• Pre and Post Test Rate: The percent of students pre and post tested increased from 69% to 75%.
• Meaningful Educational Gain
  • The percent of students achieving a meaningful educational gain in Adult Basic Education increased from 28% to 42%.
  • The percent of students achieving a meaningful educational gain in English for Speakers of Other Languages increased from 41% to 44%.
  • 25,192 students achieved a meaningful educational gain from FY07 - FY11.
• Goal Achievement:
  • Entered Employment - The percent of students who set and met the goal of entering employment increased from 31% to 33%. It is important to note that approximately 60% of the students are working when they enter the program.
  • Retained Employment - The percent of students who set and met the goal of retaining employment increased from 59% to 72%.
  • Earned a High School Credential- The percent of students who set and met the goal of earning a high school credential increased from 67% to 72%. From FY07 - FY11, 3503 students earned a GED.
  • Entered post-secondary education or training - The percent of students who set and met the goal of entering post-secondary or training increased from 52% to 57%. From FY07 - FY11, 1003 students entered post-secondary education.