NRS Level Descriptors
What do NRS Levels mean?
The Educational Functional Level (EFL) Descriptors for Literacy/English Language Arts are intended to guide both teaching and assessment for adult learners. They are divided into six EFLs: Beginning Literacy; Beginning Basic; Low Intermediate; High Intermediate; Low Adult Secondary; and High Adult Secondary. The descriptors do not provide a complete or comprehensive delineation of all of the skills at any given level but provide examples of the most critical concepts and skills for the level.
While these narrative descriptors address the most critical concepts for assessment and instruction for adult learners, lesson plans and test items should be based on additional critical concepts from state instructional frameworks and standards, as appropriate for the learner and state requirements.
The EFLs for Literacy/English Language arts are organized into reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language domains. Emphasis was placed on reading and writing because most instruction and assessment attention will be paid to these domains for ABE students. In addition, the descriptors were further informed by OCTAE’s Framework for Employability Skills to ensure the levels paid adequate attention to workforce preparation.