In this section, you will find information and resources especially geared toward standards for instruction in Texas adult education and literacy.

• Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks Resources (2007 version; updated Standards to be released in April 2017)

What are Content Standards?
Content Standards define what is important for learners to know and be able to do within a specific content area. Their purpose is to provide a general but clear outline of content and skill so that programs can develop and align curriculum, instruction, and assessment. In 2007, Texas Adult Education adopted three of the Equipped for the Future (EFF) content standards for adult basic education and adult secondary education; and four of the Equipped for the Future (EFF) content standards for the English as a Second Language Standards. Through a field-based process leading up to the 2007 rollout, benchmarks were developed to define a progression of levels for each standard.

Other State and National Resources for standards-based instruction in Texas adult education and literacy

• Texas College and Career Readiness Standards – Adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2011, these standards in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies specify what students must know and be able to do to succeed in entry-level courses at postsecondary educational institutions in Texas.
• College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education – Developed for the U.S. Department of Education in 2013, this report offers a set of college and career readiness standards in English language arts/literacy and mathematics, which reflect the content most relevant to preparing adult students for success in colleges, technical training programs, work and citizenship.

What’s next for Adult Education Content Standards in Texas?
In 2016, Texas Workforce Commission funded a one-year project at Texas State University-San Marcos to update the Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English Language Acquisition levels of the Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks; field test the new levels; and align those Standards with the Texas College & Career Readiness Standards, the Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency, and the Texas Success Initiative Assessment. Anticipated release date of the updated Content Standards is April 2017.