PA Foundation Skills

• English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education (ELPS)
• College and Career Readiness Standards: Mathematics
• College and Career Readiness Standards: English Language Arts (ELA)

The resources below have been developed to help adult education instructors, classroom aides, student support coordinators, and tutors plan instruction that is meaningful and contextualized to meet the needs of the adult learner. These checklists can also be used with occupational training providers and employers to build Integrated Education and Training (IET) and workplace literacy programming.

• Full Transferable Skills Checklist (PDF)
  Practitioners are encouraged to use the checklists to create lesson plans, instructional routines, and to frame specific feedback when reviewing progress towards meeting academic and work goals with adult learners. The checklist could be shared with higher-level adult learners, but it is recommended that practitioners use the resources located under the “Assessment” tab to help learners become more familiar with the transferable skills, competencies, and indicators.
• Critical Thinking Checklist (PDF)
  Thinks clearly and rationally with an open mind to arrive at decisions or conclusions by examining evidence, analyzing relationships, and drawing conclusions from a variety of data.
• Self-Management Checklist (PDF)
  Takes responsibility for one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and recognizes their impact on one’s own and others’ behavior in different situations.
• Utilizing Resources Checklist (PDF)
  Identifies and measures effective resources and makes the most of available resources to achieve desired objectives.
• Using Information Checklist (PDF)
  Uses observations, experiential information, and data to communicate and support the decision-making process.
• Working with Others Checklist (PDF)
  Interacts, cooperates, collaborates, and manages conflicts with other people within a team or organization to complete tasks and achieve shared goals.
• Understanding Systems Checklist (PDF)
  Navigates within the organizational structures that are part of 21st-century communities, workplaces, and schools and knows how these components interact and interconnect to influence one another as a whole.
• Transition Skills Checklist (PDF)
  Navigates change in personal and professional environments while remaining flexible and adaptable.

The Digital Literacy Skills Checklist provides educators with a clear framework for teaching and tracking essential digital skills that support students’ educational, workforce, and personal goals. By outlining core skill areas, defining what it means to be digitally literate, and offering benchmarks for student growth, the checklist helps teachers intentionally integrate digital literacy into instruction and equip learners with the confidence and adaptability needed in today’s technology-driven world.

• Full Digital Literacy Skills Checklist (PDF)

Here you will also find checklists for each skill area, including Basic Computer and Mobile, Internet, Communication, and Information Literacy. These focused checklists make it easy for educators to target specific skills, track progress, and support learners step-by-step.

• Basic Computer and Mobile Checklist (PDF)
  Operates and performs fundamental tasks on devices to support learning at home, school, and in the workplace.Optimizes operating system functionality and effectively uses and troubleshoots the hardware and software of computers and mobile devices. Possesses the digital resilience necessary to learn and utilize emerging technologies, and has effective strategies for transferring skills and knowledge among various devices and applications.
• Internet Checklist (PDF)
  Explains the concept of the internet and how to connect to and use its components, accesses the internet using a web browser, navigates the internet through an understanding of webpage layout, and exchanges information online.
• Communication Checklist (PDF)
  Uses technology to safely communicate with others, recognizing the impact on digital footprints. Selects from numerous digital communication tools and platforms to meet personal and professional goals, adapting to evolving technology as needed.
• Information Literacy Checklist (PDF)
  Finds information online that assists in accomplishing personal and professional goals and evaluates information and shares it digitally in an ethical, responsible manner.