Adult Education Acronym Dictionary
Defining Acronyms, Abbreviations Used in Adult Education
What is Adult Education (AE)?
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place through “extension” school or “school of continuing education.” Other learning places include the workplace, community colleges, adult high schools, colleges and universities, libraries, career centers, literacy centers, and lifelong learning centers. The practice is also often referred to as “Training and Development” and is often associated with workforce or professional development. It has also been referred to as andragogy. Adult education is different from vocational education, which is mostly workplace-based for skill improvement, and also from non-formal adult education, including learning skills or learning for personal development.
The results of Adult Education can be earning a High School Equivalency (HSE), a certification, and or workforce training.
AAACE
American Association for Adult & Continuing Education
A national professional association of adult educators. www.aaace.org. (See also “COABE” below.)
ABE
Adult Basic Education
Academic instruction and services below the high school level that increase an individual’s ability to read,
write, and speak in English, and perform mathematics and other skills necessary to earn a high school credential, place into postsecondary education or training, and obtain employment. (Cf. Adult Secondary Education below)
AEFLA
Adult Education & Family Literacy Act
Title II of the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act. Under AEFLA, the US Department of Education administers grants to states and territories to support their adult education programs. https://aefla.ed.gov/
ASC
Adult Secondary Credit
A service provided by an adult education program in partnership with a local high school that enables adult education students to take courses and earn credits toward a high school diploma.
ASE
Adult Secondary Education
Academic instruction and services at the high school level that increases an individual’s ability to read, write, and
speak in English, and perform mathematics and other skills necessary to earn a high school credential, place
into postsecondary education or training, and obtain employment. (Cf. ABE above.)
COABE
Coalition On Adult Basic Education
A national professional association of adult educators. www.coabe.org. (See also “AAACE” above.)
DOL
Department of Labor
The agency of the federal government fosters, promotes, and develops the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees; improves working conditions; advances opportunities for employment; and assures work-related rights and benefits. This department provides some guidance to providers of services under WIOA (See WIOA below.)
www.dol.gov.
DRC
Data Recognition Corporation
A company that provides several education assessment products, including TABE and TABE CLAS-E (see below) for adult education. www.datarecognitionacorporation.com
DWD
Department of Workforce Development (Indiana)
The state government agency in Indiana creates and administers programs that enhance the state’s
workforce, collects unemployment insurance premium payments from employers, and pays unemployment
claims to workers who lose their jobs. www.in.gov/dwd
EFL
Educational Functioning Level
A measure of the literacy skills shown by an adult education student. The normative way to establish a student’s
EFL is through pre- or post-testing on an approved assessment, such as TABE or TABE CLAS-E (see below). For adult secondary credit students, the EFL can be established by the number of Carnegie Units (i.e., credits) earned in
high school. But in the circumstances connected to COVID-19, a “Provisional Placement” into an EFL can be made
through another commercially-based assessment or even teacher judgment.
Additional EFL meaning: English as a Foreign Language is learning English in a non-English-speaking country. For example, students in China who are learning English are considered EFL students because English is not the country’s official language. But if those same students were in the U.S. learning English, they would be considered ESL students.
EGR
Economic Growth Region
One of 12 groupings of Indiana counties according to workforce development planning and activities. (See also “WDB” below.) https://www.in.gov/dwd/aboutdwd/regional-maps/
ELL (or ELA)
English Language Learning (or English Language Acquisition)
Activities that help adults achieve competence in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension of the English language and that lead to a high school diploma or equivalent, placement into postsecondary education or training, or employment. (Cf., IELCE below.)
Additional ELL meaning: English Language Learners is commonly used in K-12 environments. However, it has been brought to our attention that some school districts prefer to use the term ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) to describe their student population. This could be a preference issue. (Source ReadingHorizons)
ESL
ESOL
English to Speakers of Other Languages.
It applies to both ESL and EFL contexts. This term was created because some individuals argue that when students are learning English in a native English-speaking country (ESL), these students are not necessarily learning a second language. It could be a student’s third or even fourth language. Then, English as a Second Language is limiting and not fully comprehensive in its description. ESL meaning: English as a Second Language is learning English in a country where English is dominantly spoken or the official language. For example, students from non-native English-speaking countries who come to the U.S. and Canada for an extended time learn English as a Second Language. They acquire English to communicate in the dominant language spoken in the community where they reside.
ETG (or ETR)
Employer Training Grant (or Employer Training Reimbursement)
Part of Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Jobs initiative, a source of funding to employers to provide incumbent
worker training to upskill and retain employees. Adult education programs may provide services to employers with
the funding they receive from the Employer Training Grant. (See also “NLJ” below.)
https://www.in.gov/dwd/businessservices/etg/
ETPL
Eligible Training Provider List
A list of training providers whose training programs meet demand and performance criteria set by Indiana
Department of Workforce Development and the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. These trainings are eligible for funding by local WorkOne offices. Many adult education programs are on the Eligible Training Provider List because they offer training courses that qualify for funding. (See also “INTraining” below.)
https://www.in.gov/dwd/careertraining-adult-ed/intraining/
ESP
English for Special Purposes
ESP includes students learning English in the context of a particular field, profession, or topic.
GED
General Education Development
The oldest of two high school equivalency assessments on the market currently. This assessment is administered by GED Testing Service®. May also refer to the diploma issued to an individual upon passing the assessment (e.g., “I’m going to get my GED.”) www.ged.com.
GWC
Governor’s Workforce Cabinet
A group appointed by the Governor to provide strategic alignment of workforce development, training, and
education initiatives. https://www.in.gov/gwc/
HiSET
High School Equivalency Tests
One of two high school equivalency assessments that is currently on the market. PSI® administers this one.
www.hiset.org.
HSE
High School Equivalency
A set of tests that assesses high school-level knowledge and skills in reading, writing, math, science, and social
studies. May also refer to the diploma issued to an individual upon passing those tests.
IAACE
Indiana Association for Adult & Continuing Education
Your professional association of adult educators in Indiana.
IELCE
Integrated English Literacy & Civics Education
Education services provided to English language learners who are adults, including professionals with degrees and credentials in their native countries that enable such adults to achieve competency in the English language and acquire the basic and more advanced skills needed to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States. Such services shall include literacy and English language acquisition instruction and citizenship and civic participation rights and responsibilities and may include workforce training.
IET
Integrated Education & Training
A service that provides adult education and literacy activities concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation activities and workforce training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster for the purpose of educational and career advancement. See page 2 at https://www.in.gov/dwd/files/IETWEI Definition-and-Process.docx.
INCE (or ICE)
Indiana Career Explorer
An online tool, free for Indiana residents, to guide job seekers, K-12 students, and adult education students in career exploration. www.indianacareerexplorer.com
InTERS
Indiana Technical Education Reporting System
An online tool used to report student data, outcomes, and performance for adult education and high school career and technical education programs. https://cte.inters-dwd.com/InTERS_Login/
INTraining
INTraining
A directory of all training providers whose training programs meet the basic application standards set by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Training programs may or may not be eligible for funding. Many adult education providers are also training providers and are listed on INTraining. (See also “ETPL” above.) https://intraining.dwd.in.gov/
IOO (or IOODE)
Indiana Online Only (Distance Education)
A statewide service that allows individuals to participate in adult education and literacy activities through Internet technologies in partnership with local adult education programs. Two providers are funded to offer this service: Vincennes University for high school equivalency instruction and Monroe County Community School Corporation for English Language Learning.
More information:
Indiana Online Only (IOO) is the only approved online adult education program in Indiana. IOO is fully funded through the state, making the course completely FREE to Indiana residents. Students are able to complete an HSE preparation or English language acquisition course on their own schedule in the comfort of their own homes. IOO meets students where they are, both physically and academically. The program uses top-notch educational strategies and programs to make sure the students receive an individualized learning plan that ensures student success.
LL
Lirpa Loof (LL) is a type of credential. We call it Lirpa because you can absorb knowledge like a sponge, and Loof because you have it in the palm of your hand. It is an adult educator professional credential. The outline and test will be released at the annual meeting on May 3. When you spell Lirpa Loof backward, it is April Fool because this is an APRIL FOOLS JOKE. #gotcha
LINCS
Literacy Information & Communication System
A collection of professional learning resources for adult educators maintained by the US Department of Education. https://lincs.ed.gov/
MSG
Measurable Skill Gain
An indicator used to measure a participant’s interim progress through pathways that offer different services based on program purposes and participant needs. An MSG can be obtained in several ways.
See https://nrsweb.org/resources/nrs-tips-increasing-posttesting-improve-measurable-skill-gains
NASDAE
National Association of State Directors of Adult Education
The professional association for state adult education administrators and their staff members. www.nasdae.org
NLJ
Next Level Jobs
The workforce education and training portion of the Governor’s administrative agenda. It consists of a Workforce Ready Grant for both credit and non-credit-bearing training and an Employer Training Grant. www.nextleveljobs.org
NRS
National Reporting System
The accountability system for the federally funded, state-administered adult education programs.
OCTAE
Office of Career, Technical, & Adult Education
The US Department of Education office administers adult education and literacy programs and grants.
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html
Professional Development Facilitator
An adult education teacher appointed by the program director to lead professional learning for the program staff. Adult education programs are required to have at least one.
PSI®
PSI®
The company that provides the HiSET and other professional licensure and certification exams.
TABE
Test of Adult Basic Education
One of the standardized assessments approved by OCTAE to establish a student’s educational functioning level as a pre-test and post-test. A complete test suite includes reading, mathematics, and language. Writing is also available. TABE and TABE CLAS-E are the only standardized assessments approved in Indiana currently. (See “DRC “above.) www.tabetest.com.
TABE CLAS-E
Test of Adult Basic Education Comprehensive Language Assessment System–English
One of the standardized assessments approved by OCTAE to establish an English language learning student’s educational functioning level as a pre-test and post-test. Tests available are reading, listening, speaking, and writing. But speaking is not a test approved to establish a student’s EFL. Currently, TABE and TABE CLAS-E are the only standardized assessments approved in Indiana. (See “DRC” above.) www.tabetest.com
USDOE
United States Department of Education
The federal government agency establishes policies on federal financial aid for education, collects data on America’s schools, disseminates education research, focuses national attention on education issues, and ensures equal access to education. This agency administers adult education through its Office of Career, Technical, & Adult Education. (See OCTAE above.) www.ed.gov.
WDB
Workforce Development Board
A group in each Economic Growth Region consists of business, education, labor, community, faith-based, and economic development leaders responsible for strategically planning workforce development. (See also “EGR” above.)
WEI
Workforce Education Initiative
A partnership between an adult education program and an employer that delivers adult education services to employees to help them retain jobs, improve performance, and advance in their professions.
https://www.in.gov/dwd/files/IETWEI Definition-and-Process.docx
WIOA
Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act
A federal law strengthened the US workforce development system by aligning employment, training, and education programs.
WRG
Workforce Ready Grant
Part of Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Jobs initiative, a funding source that covers a qualified individual’s tuition and fees for training to earn an industry-recognized certification in an in-demand occupation. Several adult education programs provide training that qualifies for this funding. (See also “NLJ” above.)
NEDP
National External Diploma Program® (NEDP)
Adults can demonstrate high school-level skills by completing a portfolio of life skills and academic tasks anywhere they have access to the Internet. More information: https://www.casas.org/nedp
UDL
Universal Design for Learning
Universal design for learning (UDL) is a teaching approach that accommodates the needs and abilities of all learners and eliminates unnecessary hurdles in the learning process. (Education Term)