Benchmark Education’s Common Core English and Spanish Language Arts Literacy Systems Recommended for Adoption in California K-6 Schools

SACRAMENTO, CA, Aug. 12, 2015— Literacy publisher Benchmark Education’s California Advance with designated ELD (English Language Development) K-6 literacy system and a Spanish version, Benchmark Adelante California with designated ELD, were recently recommended for adoption in California. A state panel of reviewers for the Instructional Quality Commission recommended to the California State Board of Education the adoption of Benchmark’s new research-based elementary CA Common Core State Standards language arts systems. This recommendation is for a non-basal approach to literacy that is built on the California ELA/ELD Framework, CA Common Core State Standards, and new CA ELD Standards. The programs are available in print and digital formats. Pending formal adoption, educators are encouraged to review or pilot the programs, designed to help English or Spanish speaking students learn to read and improve their language arts skills and develop critical habits of mind for career and college readiness.

California Advance is an English language arts system that includes integrated and designated English language development, interventions, Smarter-Balanced type assessments and performance tasks for implementing Common Core State Standards objectives and claims. Because of the system’s Understanding by Design lesson architecture, teachers will be able to provide essential support to students in meeting the needs of all students regardless of reading and language level, modes of communication, or depth of knowledge.

“We listened to California educators who insisted students, teachers, and parents needed a fresh, effective, and efficient tool to implement Common Core for their diverse students that didn’t involve a basal approach,” said Tom Reycraft, CEO and Owner of Benchmark Education. California Advance and Adelante were built on the California ELA/ELD Framework, ELD Standards, TCA Common Core Standards, and are the first systems in their class to focus on boys and girls with multiple levels of text to engage and challenge them in reading, writing, and learning with their desired interests and creativity in mind.

Available in both print and digital platforms, the system provides interactive and consumable student close readers where students annotate their thinking as they make meaningful connections that tie to an essential question. Students are taught to write to sources followed by multiple opportunities to write, collaborate, inform and/or state their opinion with text-evidencebased reasons.

A simple differentiated instruction method is the basis of California Advance and Adelante supporting whole group and small group organization. Assessment tools are provided, informing targeted instruction for intervening or accelerating based on individual proficiencies.

“California Advance and Adelante’s assessment system provides teachers and students with Smarter Balanced and ELD-style assessments, which include informal, diagnostic, and formative tools to support students and teachers as much or as little as needed,” said Carrie Smith, Publisher of the program. “As the assessment provides teachers with rubrics and information needed for instruction, many of the assessments provide students application of the higher-level thinking that is required on the Smarter Balanced Assessment.”

English language development tools were created by program consultants and authors — Silva Dorta-Duque de Reyes formerly of the San Diego County Office of Education; Jeff Zwiers of Stanford; and Queta Fernandez. They amplify language instruction by providing instructional scaffolds to help students access grade level complex text while accelerating their language learning.

For information about California Advance and Adelante California or to review these products, call Benchmark Education at 877-236-2465. Visit Benchmark at www.benchmarkeducation.com.

ABOUT BENCHMARK EDUCATION COMPANY

Headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, Benchmark Education Company is a leading publisher of PreK–12 core, supplemental, and intervention literacy resources in English and Spanish. These resources are supported by instructional technology solutions as well as on-site and online customized professional development training for teachers and administrators. Benchmark print and online resources are differentiated to support all learners in all settings and are researchbased and proven. In addition to extensive educational use in the USA, they are also used in schools and training centers in the Middle East, Canada, South America, and Asia.