Defining Common Abbreviations at ALN

Published: January 31, 2025

As much as we try to avoid using jargon, even all of us at All Learners Network (ALN) fall into the convenient habit of using abbreviations. To be as inclusive as possible, we thought it might be helpful to create a guide for the abbreviations and short-hands used at All Learners Network. So here is a list of shortened terminology we use, the longer terms, and what the terms mean. 

ALN = All Learners Network 

All Learners Network (ALN) is a professional development organization committed to improving math pedagogy so that all students can access quality math instruction. We do this through our online platform, free resources, events, and embedded professional development.

HLCs = High Leverage Concepts

The High Leverage Concepts, the heart of our work, details the minimum concept needed to advance to the next grade level - with algebra as the overall trajectory for grades PK-8. We are currently working on some Algebra HLCs and expect those to be available by late 2025.

HLCAs = High Leverage Concepts Assessments

The High Leverage Concepts Assessments (HLCAs) assess a student's current understanding of a specific grade level HLC. When they were first created, they were called the High Leverage Assessments. In an effort to clearly connect them to the HLCs we adjusted the name to be High Leverage Concepts Assessments. We also call these the HLC Assessments.

HLCPs = High Leverage Concepts Progressions

The High Leverage Concepts Progressions identify the developing stages along a continuum of concepts, models, and skills that lead to student understanding and applying a specific HLC. You may also see them referred to as the HLC Progressions.

HLCIs= High Leverage Concepts Interviews

The High Leverage Concepts Interviews (HLCIs) are short interviews that are aligned with the previous grade's HLC Progression and intended to illuminate a learner's HLC-related number sense strengths and potential starting points for addressing any unfinished learning. This is a resource that is currently in development and will be available to All Learners Online (ALO) Unlimited members in the summer of 2025.

HLCRs = High Leverage Concepts Resources

The High Leverage Concepts Resources are our suite of core resources that guide everything we do. All of the tools within the High Leverage Concepts Resources (HLCRs) empower educators to provide equitable math instruction for all students. The HLCRs are made up the High Leverage Concepts (HLCs), the HLC Progressions, and the HLC Assessments. If you have been following us or working with us for a while you might also know the HLCRs as H-Suite! We don’t use H-Suite as much anymore, wanting something a little more inclusive, but we still hear our awesome educators say it from time to time. We do, however, shorten it to the HLC Resources.

So there you have it - a few abbreviations you might hear or see when discussing All Learners Network (ALN) and the work we do to help bring inclusive, engaging, high-quality math instruction to every single student.

Click here for the printable version.

What Now?

1. Check out our High Leverage Concepts (HLCs) and watch our HLC Explainer Videos.

2. Review the All Learners Lesson Structure and read more about its application.

3. Register for one of our upcoming events (many of them are free!).

All Learners Network is committed to a new type of math instruction. We focus on supporting pedagogy so that all students can access quality math instruction. We do this through our online platform, free resources, events, and embedded professional development. Learn more about how we work with schools and districts here.