This Framework is built upon the foundation of the 2010 "Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for English Language Arts and Literacy," as well as earlier versions of the "Massachusetts English Language Arts Frameworks" published since 1997. The current Framework incorporates improvements suggested by Massachusetts educators after six years of experience in implementing the 2010 standards in their classrooms. These revised pre-kindergarten to grade 12 standards are based on research and effective practice, and will enable teachers and administrators to strengthen curriculum, instruction, and assessment. This revision of the Framework retains the strengths of the previous frameworks and includes these improved features: (1) Increased coherence among the Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language Standards; (2) Incorporation of instructional examples from the 2001 Massachusetts standards (the 2001 standards are a revision of the first set of English Language Arts standards adopted in 1997); (3) Stronger demonstrations of how literacy instruction--particularly in the early elementary years--is intertwined with learning in mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, and other subjects of a well-balanced curriculum; (4) Higher ambitions for student achievement, including standards that were written to provide more rigorous preparation for college, careers, and civic participation; and (5) Numerous classroom instructional examples and samples of authentic student writing from Massachusetts classrooms to clarify the meaning of the standards.