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Glossary of Terms

1. ADULT EDUCATION (AE) – Local programs of adult education and literacy services to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic, including workplace literacy services; family literacy services; English literacy programs and integrated English literacy-civics education programs. Participation in these programs is limited to adults and out-of-school youths age 16 and older who are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law.

2. ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (ABE) – Courses designed primarily for students 16 years of age and older to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic. These courses are not intended to be part of a program leading to a high school credential, nor are they part of any academic, occupational, or

vocational program at the postsecondary level. (US Department of Education)

3. ADULT BASIC EDUCATION TRANSITION – The transition program begins with an intake and orientation component. The intake process includes an interview that allows staff to assess students' academic skills (using the collaborating college's placement instrument) and other factors that could affect a student's ability to succeed in postsecondary education, such as employment status, child care needs, motivation, goals, career interests, academic experiences, learning styles, and previous academic assessments. This helps program staff determine whether students are ready for the transition course or they need more remediation than the program can provide. (National Center for the study of adult learning and literacy website: http://www.ncsall.net/?id=64)

4. ADULT BASIC EDUCATION INNOVATION GRANTS(ABE-IG) – The purpose of the Adult Basic Education Innovation Grants (ABE-IGs) is to increase participation and success of adult basic education students in workforce training programs at community colleges and public technical institutions. ABE-IGs will focus on preparing educationally disadvantaged, unemployed and underemployed adults for career-path employment and postsecondary education in high-demand jobs in Texas.

5. ADULT SECONDARY EDUCATION (ASE) – Adult Secondary Education programs are designed for students who did not complete high school and are age 16 and older. An alternative to the GED is the National External Diploma Program and the Adult High School Credit Diploma Program.

6. TITLE II OF WIA: ADULT EDUCATION FAMILY LITERACY ACT (AEFLA) – Supports states’ efforts to improve the educational opportunities of individuals who lack basic skills, a high school diploma or equivalent, or proficiency in English (US Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education, 2005). The purpose of the title is to create a partnership among the federal government, states, and localities to provide, on a voluntary basis, adult education and literacy services, in order to assist adults 1) To become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency; 2) Who are parents to obtain the educational skills necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children; and 3) In the completion of a secondary school

education. Specific programs provide basic literacy skills, English language proficiency skills, literacy skills to increase employability, and preparation for the General Education Development certificate (GED).

(Texas Workforce Investment Council, 2009, A Primer on Adult Education, p. 5)

7. AEFLA AFFILIATE – An AEFLA Affiliate provider receives federal funds to provide adult basic education classes. However, they receive the funds as a subcontract from a regional fiscal agent rather than serving as a direct fiscal agent to TEA. The amount of funding available to an AEFLA Affiliate depends on the collaboration agreement with the regional cooperative.

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8. ADVISING – Advising is a process of giving students guidance, support and encouragement (Noel Levitz, 1997, p. 3.). Introduction and Foundation, Academic Advising for Student Success and Retention.

Iowa City, Iowa : USA Group Noel-Levitz

9. ASSOCIATES DEGREE– An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work in a grouping of courses designed to lead the individual directly to employment in a specific career, or to transfer to an upper-level baccalaureate program. This specifically refers to the associate of arts, associate of science, associate of applied arts, associate of applied science, and the associate of occupational studies degrees. The term “applied” in an associate degree name indicates a program in which the content is primarily technical. (CBM009)

10. ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (AAS) DEGREE – A two-year applied associate degree program designed to lead the recipient to immediate employment and/or career advancement. The program is composed of an orderly, identifiable sequence of courses designed to meet specific occupational competencies and outcomes. It includes technical courses, general education courses, related

instruction, and, as appropriate, elective courses to prepare students for employment as technicians or professionals.

11. BACHELOR’S DEGREE– This award normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all bachelor’s degrees conferred in a 5-year COOPERATIVE (WORK-STUDY PLAN) PROGRAM. Also includes degrees in which the normal 4 years of work are completed in 3 years.

12. CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAMS (CPP) – CPP integrates basic skills instruction, GED instruction, English language literacy, and pre-collegiate developmental education with postsecondary career and technical education certificate and associate degree programs, and potentially with the baccalaureate degree. (National Research Center for Career and Technical Education, 2007)

13. CERTIFICATE-LEVEL ONE – A workforce education program of study that consists of at least 15 and no more than 42 semester credit hours (23-63 quarter hours). Level I certificate programs are exempt from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative, although all certificate programs must provide for local assessment and remediation of students.

14. CERTIFICATE-LEVEL TWO– A workforce education program of study that consists of at least 43 and no more than 59 semester credit hours (64-89 quarter hours).Level 2 Certificates are subject to the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative.

15.COLLEGE READY – A determination by a local institution of higher education on what a student must know and be able to do to succeed in college-credit level courses. Being college ready requires a strong foundation of knowledge and intellectual skills, including intellectual nimbleness and adaptability for postsecondary education and training programs and the workforce.

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17. CONTINUING EDUCATON CERTIFICATE– A Coordinating Board approved workforce education certificate containing a coherent sequence of continuing education courses totaling 360 or more contact hours and listed on the college’s approved inventory of programs.

18. CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE– A Coordinating Board-approved higher education technical course offered for continuing education units and conducted in a competency-based format. Such a course provides a quick and flexible response to business, industry, and student needs for intensive preparatory, supplemental or upgrade training and education and has specific occupational and/or apprenticeship training objectives.

19. COOPERATIVES– A community or area partnership of educational, workforce development, human service entities, and other agencies that agree to collaborate to provide adult education and literacy services (TWIC, 2009, A Primer on Adult Education in Texas, p.14)

20. DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION– Developmental education is defined as courses, tutorials, laboratories, or other efforts to bring students’ skill levels in reading, writing, and mathematics to entering college level. This does not include courses in English as a Second Language, study skills or thinking skills. (CBM004)

21. ESL– English Literacy programs are designed to help individuals of limited English proficiency achieve competence in the English language. Individuals of limited English proficiency are those who have a limited ability in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language; whose native language is a language other than English; or who live in a family or community where a language other than English is the dominant language. (US Department of Education)

22. GED– Stands for General Education Development, and is a battery of five tests that when passed stand as equivalent to a high school diploma. It is often referred to as the General Education Diploma, or the General Education Degree. (American Council on Education)

23. LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD– A state government agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of a particular state. Here in the state of Texas it is-The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). For employers, TWC offers recruiting, retention, training and retraining, and outplacement services as well as valuable information on labor law and labor market statistics. For job seekers, TWC offers career development information, job search

resources, training programs, and, as appropriate, unemployment benefits. While targeted populations receive intensive assistance to overcome barriers to employment all Texans can benefit from the services offered by TWC and our network of workforce partners. (Texas Workforce Commission) 24. PERFORMANCE MEASURES – Performance measures are used to quantitatively assess the

implementation and outcomes of educational systems. When properly defined, they can provide useful information on how well schools and programs are performing and whether educators are meeting their instructional goals. Performance measures also can be used to determine if and where program

improvements are needed. (http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/cte/perfmeas.html)

25. POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTION– Higher education refers to a level of education that is provided at

universities, vocational universities, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, institutes of technology

and certain other collegiate-level institutions, such as vocational schools, trade schools, and career colleges, that award academic degrees or professional certifications.(US Department of Education-Office of Postsecondary Education - Policy Initiatives)

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26. TEXAS COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS (CCRS) – The standards adopted by THECB in January 2008 which articulate the knowledge and skills that students must know and be able to do to succeed in entry-level college/university courses and in the skilled workforce. The CCRS can be found at

http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/collegereadiness/CRS.pdf.

27. VESL – Vocational ESL (additional amplification): also referred to as VESOL or VESL, these programs are designed to prepare learners for job training classes or employment in specific occupational areas. VESL classes use job-related language and tasks as the vehicle for teaching English (TESOL). (Texas Learns-http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/texaslearns/st/st2.html)

28. TEXAS CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT OF LITERACY AND LEARNING (TCALL)– TCALL is a Center of the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University, housed in the Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development. TCALL was created in 1989 by the Board of Regents at Texas A&M University with the purpose of helping to reduce the incidence of adult

illiteracy in Texas. As the state literacy resource center, TCALL's purpose has evolved into providing leadership and service to those providing literacy services to Texas’ adult literacy and family literacy learners. http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/tcall.htm

29. TEXAS EDUCATING ADULTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TEAMS)– Texas Educating Adults Management System (TEAMS) is an online database accessible through the Internet. This system maintains information about AEFLA-funded adult education programs throughout the state.

(http://cistexas.org/adult/aces.html)

30.Texas LEARNS – Texas LEARNS operates under an agreement with Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas LEARNS, housed in the Harris County Department of Education, provides nondiscretionary grant management functions, program assistance and other statewide support services to Texas Adult Education and Family Literacy Providers. The TEA Division of Discretionary Grants continues to be responsible for all discretionary, policy, and monitoring functions. (See Organizational Chart of Texas

Adult Education & Family Literacy.) The joint mission of TEA and Texas LEARNS is to ensure that all

adults who live in Texas have the skills necessary to function effectively in their personal and family lives, in the workplace, and in the community.

31. TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE (TSI)– A legislatively mandated program established to be effective September 1, 2003 to replace the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) and give more flexibility to public higher education institutions in their efforts to ensure that students have the academic skills they need to succeed in higher education. The TSI requires testing of students' academic skills upon entry into public higher education and appropriate counseling, advice, and opportunities, such as

developmental education courses or non-course-based education (computer-based instruction or tutoring, for example), for improving those skills. Each college or university then determines when students have the appropriate skills to succeed in college.

32. TSI-EXEMPTION/WAIVER STATUS (MATH, WRITING, READING)– A student receives a waiver for Texas Success Initiative Math, Writing, and Reading requirements when A student who is enrolled in a