The Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework (OALCF) supports the development of adult literacy programming delivered through the Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) Program. LBS helps learners transition to their goals of work, further education and training, or independence.

The OALCF is a multi-part framework that supports the LBS programs’ delivery of task-based programming to learners. The OALCF provides tools that help LBS practitioners strengthen the programming that is already in place. It also provides an opportunity for the field to be more precise and transparent with goal-directed, learner-centred programming. Goal-directed programming is enhanced by placing a greater emphasis on the specific tasks related to the learner goals – those tasks become the focal point for learning.

The OALCF offers an enhanced vision of learner-centredness in that it provides for cultural considerations and provides greater support for programs to understand and provide appropriate and relevant programming for culturally diverse populations.

The OALCF is based on the recognition that learners’ participation, persistence and success improve when literacy programming links to learners’ goals and takes into account their cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This foundation of contextualized programming combined with goal-directed learning and coordinated learner supports and services, are critical features of the OALCF.

The purpose of the OALCF is to improve the transitions of adults through Employment Ontario (EO) and the broader education and training system within an Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework that:

• Provides criteria against which learning achievements can be articulated in the Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) delivery system
• Makes LBS services and client outcomes more transparent for referring EO partners by shifting from a skills building approach to emphasizing the performance of tasks needed for meeting the learner’s goal.

LBS is delivered across Ontario by community-based agencies, schoolboards and colleges. The agencies deliver five core services:

1. Information and Referral
2. Assessment
3. Learner Plan Development
4. Training
5. Follow-up

Five different learner goal paths are addressed by LBS:

• Apprenticeship
• Employment
• Independence
• Postsecondary
• Secondary School Credit