ESL Beginning NRS Level Information
Accountability Update #4
Draft NRS Targets for Program Year 2005-2006

DATE: April 5, 2005

The first item is the change in the Beginning ESL NRS Level. Todd and I went to a USDOE meeting a couple of weeks ago that featured several NRS related changes (the changes will be discussed at the spring ABE Grant Application Workshops.) They informed us that the Beginning ESL Level is NOT going to be divided into two levels until the following year, 2006-2007. We had heard all along that this change would be for 2005-2006, but apparently not. We will all just have to table our enthusiasm for another year.

Just to reiterate, Beginning ESL will be divided into two levels as of May 1, 2006.

Next is an accountability article, Level Changes & Goals, from ABE Program Manager, Jane Kono of Adult Options in Education (AIOE consortium comprises Hopkins, Minnetonka, and St. Louis Park school districts, and Hennepin County Adult Correctional Facility). The article has useful tips for tightening up NRS procedures and meeting NRS targets. The article is both attached and in the body of the email.

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Level Changes & Goals

Education programs are now being held to high levels of accountability. In adult basic education we must meet National Reporting System (NRS) that expect annual literacy level increases for all learners as well as the obtainment of specific goals. These goals are: getting a job, retaining employment, earning a high school diploma/GED, and entering a postsecondary education or training program.

All new enrollees are pre-tested and every teacher regularly administers follow-up standardized assessments to program participants to determine current literacy levels. Each level increase must be recorded and becomes part of the annual AOIE program report to the state.

Our goals and level increases are right on target but with the federal requirements increasing two to three percentage points each year, we will need to keep improving our good system to make it even better.

To enhance the ability of AOIE to meet the ever-increasing NRS performance goals, each Adult Options site has identified three to four objectives for this program year. Our plans include:

· Testing “smarter” by increasing awareness of the CASAS system and the potential level changes.

· Working with learners to identify ABE goals and to convey the importance of assessment.

· Working closely with learners to develop and maintain current personal education plans.

· Using the testing process as an on-going tool to help each learner assess his/her progress.

· Focusing on competencies, vocabulary, and topics relevant to the standards.

The great ideas that were generated by Adult Options teachers and staff should be more than enough to help us meet and even exceed the required level changes and increase our percentages in the goal categories. Meeting the NRS for adult basic education is imperative not only for Adult Options but for all ABE programs across the state.

Accountability encourages us to record (and take credit for) all the wonderful learning and goal achievements happening in our classrooms. Adult Options has an outstanding program delivery system and excellent teachers that have a thorough understanding of the system, as well as the best interests of the learners as our foundation.

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Thirdly, MDE-ABE has gone through the first part of the negotiation process with the Department of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) to establish NRS target goals. Below and attached is a DRAFT of the proposed NRS targets for Program Year 2005-2006, along with historical State NRS information. The target percentages for FY 2006 are in the last column of the table. As you have heard us say, we are definitely on a continuous improvement plan! Note: These targets have been “accepted” by our DAEL regional representative but not been “officially approved” by USDOE.

Minnesota Adult Basic Education

NRS CORE PERFORMANCE – TARGETS AND RESULTS

FY 2001- FY 2006

	FY2001		FY2002		FY 2003		FY2004		FY 2005	FY 2006
	% Completing Each Level		% Completing Each Level		% Completing Each Level		% Completing Each Level		Negotiated Target	Negotiated Target
	Target	Actual	Target	Actual	Target	Actual	Target	Actual	Negotiated Target	Negotiated Target
*Beginning ABE Literacy*	25	18	26	17	20	22	25	21	25	25%
*Beginning Basic Education*	27	24	28	17	20	22	25	24	30	29%
*Low Intermediate Basic Education*	30	21	31	21	20	25	25	29	30	33%
*High Intermediate Basic Education*	30	28	31	24	20	24	25	29	27	34%
*Low Adult Secondary*	30	26	31	24	20	28	25	29	30	33%
*Beginning ESL Literacy*	25	22	26	23	20	29	25	30	31	34%
*Beginning ESL*	30	16	26	18	20	24	25	25	30	29%
*Low Intermediate ESL*	30	19	31	25	20	28	25	32	35	36%
*High Intermediate ESL*	32	21	33	23	20	28	25	31	33	35%
*Low Advanced ESL*	30	12	31	13	20	18	25	17	22	20%
*High Advanced ESL*	32	17	33	8	20	14	25	17	20	19%
*Entered Employment*	20	45	21	32	22	28	23	41	32	43%
*Retained Employment*	33	76	34	56	35	54	36	62	54	64%
*Receipt of Secondary Diploma or GED*	33	35	34	29	35	32	36	35	34	39%
*Placement in Postsecondary Education or Training*	20	34	21	28	22	25	23	26	32	30%

~Anne Marie Leland
ABE Policy and Accountability Specialist
MN Department of Education – ABE
651-582-8479

BACK TO STAFF INFORMATION

Lyon County Government Center • 607 W. Main St. • Marshall, MN 56258 • (507) 537-7046

E-Mail:Marshall Adult Education

Level Changes & Goals

Minnesota Adult Basic Education

NRS CORE PERFORMANCE – TARGETS AND RESULTS

FY 2001- FY 2006

FY 2005

FY 2006

Actual