Annual Report 2005-06 | Page 6

1. Grade and age levels served: The school serves adult students age 16 and older without grade categories.* *Each item with an asterisk is also included in Appendix A Data Worksheet. 2. Brief summary of curriculum design and instructional approach, including provisions that are made for students with disabilities and students who are limited or non-English proficient: Curriculum: The curriculum encompasses Adult Basic Education (ABE) performance- based skills in English language and life skills, citizenship, computers and GED (high school equivalency) preparation that emphasize: • • • • • • • the world of work health and illness prevention consumer education parenting and family skills the rights and responsibilities of citizens multi-cultural awareness and appreciation participation in the democratic process (through Student Government Association) The English as a Second Language performance-based curriculum has been conscientiously developed to ensure that life skills and language taught are in direct correlation to students’ needs. A school-wide student needs analysis informed curricular content. The most current national standards were incorporated, such as the National Institute for Literacy’s initiative, Equipped for the Future, a collaborative, nationwide effort to develop adult learning standards that can guide instruction and assessment and improve the quality and results of adult literacy programs. Also incorporated into the curriculum were competencies from the US Department of Labor’s Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS), a commission to determine the skills young people need to succeed in the world of work. The integrated skills curricular content progresses in a spiraling fashion so that the skills aforementioned are taught throughout the levels in increasing complexity along side the language taught. The curriculum was created by the school’s expert faculty, who hold Masters degrees in teaching English as a Second Language, education, and curriculum and instruction, and have significant experience developing curricula as well as a specialized understanding of the schools’ unique student population. The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL), a non-profit group of nationally respected scholars and educators in language, linguistics, education, measurement, and evaluation, served as consultants to ensure the quality of the school’s curriculum. Recently the curriculum has been copyrighted. Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, Annual Report SY 2005-2006 -5-