Adult Education and Family Literacy Acronyms
ABEA – Adult Basic Education Authorization: A CDE professional authorization for instructors of adults in Colorado
(formally LIA). The Adult Basic Education Authorization* is the only state issued credential for educators who work with adult
learners on improving literacy skills, English language proficiency and/or preparing them to pass the GED test. The authorization
is issued by Colorado Educator Licensing as authorized by the State Board of Education under Colorado Code of Regulations
301-37, Rules for the Administration of the Educator Licensing Act of 1991, as amended by Regulation 2260.5-R-4.16. It is valid
for five years.
ABE – Adult Basic Education: A component of adult education. ABE is instruction in the basic skills below the 9th grade
level (0-8.9)
AEFL – Office of Adult Education and Family Literacy: The Office within the Colorado Department of Education that
administers the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act.
AEFLA – Adult Education and Family Literacy Act: AEFLA is Title II of the Workforce Investment Act.
AEIOU*for New Directors – Adult Education Information, Orientation, and Understanding: A two year
training program that provides individual and team support. It is designed to help new directors understand and manage the
requirements of the AEFLA grant.
AMV – Assessment Monitoring Visit: The focus of FY14 and FY15 AEFLA Monitoring activities. Visits included
observations of assessments administered, feedback, reports, and corrective action plans as needed.
APR – Annual Performance Report: Performance reports that AEFLA-funded programs are required to submit to the
state annually. APRs include (but are not limited to) programs' data on student learning gains, enrollment numbers, and
achievement of learners' goals.
ASE – Adult Secondary Education: A component of adult education. ASE is instruction in basic skills at or above the 9th
grade level (9-12). Adult High School (AHS) and GED preparation are Adult Secondary Education.
BEST Plus – Basic English Skills Test: BEST Plus is an adaptation of the Basic English Skills Test (BEST) oral interview. BEST
Plus comes in two versions - a computer-adaptive assessment on CD or a semi-adaptive print-based version. Both versions are
administered as a face-to-face oral interview.
CASAS – Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System: Standardized assessment instruments for assessing
adult basic skills within a functional context. CASAS materials can be purchased and administered by agencies and programs
that have received training from a CASAS certified trainer and are designated as certified test centers. AEFL provides CASAS
training annually through the Northern Colorado Professional Development Resource Center to AEFLA funded programs so that
they may purchase and administer CASAS tests.
CAESAR – Colorado Adult Education System for Accountability and Reporting: All AEFLA-funded programs are
required to use CAESAR for data collection and reporting.
CDE – Colorado Department of Education: The state agency in Colorado that provides leadership, resources, support
and accountability to the state’s 178 school districts, 1,818 schools, close to 50,000 teachers and over 2800 administrators to
help them build capacity to meet the needs of the state’s approximately 860,000 public school students.
CPI – Continuous Program Improvement: A goal-setting and achieving process beginning with a focus on one or two
Standards of Quality, then implementing, analyzing, reflecting, and adjusting.
EFL – Educational Functioning Level: The levels at which students are initially placed based on their ability to perform
literacy-related tasks in specific content areas. After a set period of time or number of instructional hours, students are again
assessed to determine their skill level (ending EFL).
EL/Civics – English Literacy and Civics Education grant program: Federal grant funds, made available under
AEFLA, to enable local programs to provide integrated English literacy and civics education services to immigrants and other
limited English proficient populations. EL/Civics programs provide integrated services that incorporate both English literacy and
civics education so that students improve English language skills in the context of learning to understand and participate in
education, work, and civic opportunities; and to navigate governmental, educational, and workplace systems and key
institutions such as banking and health care.
ESL – English as a Second Language: A component of adult education. See English literacy program.
GED – General Educational Development: Colorado’s authorized test for issuing High School Equivalency Diplomas.
HSE – High School Equivalency: The term used to acknowledge an assessment tool (like the GED) or process that certifies
an individual has the equivalent of a traditional high school education.
LIA – Literacy Instruction Authorization: The Authorization in Literacy Instruction (LIA) is now known as the Adult Basic
Education Authorization. The Colorado State Board of Education unanimously approved the name change at the August 8, 2012
meeting. See Adult Basic Education Authorization
LINCS – Literacy Information and Communication System: A professional learning community for adult educators
that provides access to resources, professional development, and a connected network of practitioners.
OCTAE – Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education: OCTAE is the office within the federal U.S. Department
of Education that administers and coordinates programs that are related to adult education and literacy, career and technical
education, and community colleges.
NRS – National Reporting System (for Adult Education): An outcome-based reporting system for the Stateadministered, federally funded adult education program.
SOQ – Standards of Quality: Thirteen standards that outline the features and practices of an exemplary adult education
program, with a focus on those programs that serve adult learners under the federally-funded, state-administered AEFLA grant.
SPL – Student Performance Level: Standard descriptions associated with competency-based learning that
summarize an adult learner's ability at a range of levels.
TABE – Tests of Adult Basic Education: TABE is a standardized assessment of adult basic skills in reading, math,
language, and spelling.
WIA – Workforce Investment Act: Signed into Law on August 7, 1998, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105220) reforms federal employment, adult education, and vocational rehabilitation programs to create an integrated, "one-stop"
system of workforce investment and education activities for adults and youth. Local programs that are funded under AEFLA
(Title II of WIA) are mandatory partners in this one-stop delivery system.
WIOA – Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Signed into Law on July 22, 2014. WIOA supersedes the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973.