> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.learningcommons.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Instructional guidance

> Instructional guidance in Knowledge Graph: LearnerModel, Factor, Strategy, GuidanceFramework, and GuidanceFrameworkItem entities and relationships.

[Schema last updated Sep 22, 2026.](#schema-release-history)

## Overview

> [!NOTE]
>
> Instructional guidance [entities](#entities) and
> [relationships](#relationships) are referenced in the [Learner Variability
> Navigator](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/datasets/instructional-guidance/learner-variability-navigator.md)
> and [English Learners Success Forum
> Guidelines](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/datasets/instructional-guidance/english-learners-success-forum-guidelines.md)
> datasets.

Instructional guidance includes:

* Grade- and subject-specific learner models
* Research-backed factors that influence learning or performance
* Instructional strategies that support a variety of factors and learner models
* Guidance describing what instructional materials should do to support learners (vs. what students should know)

## Entities

### `LearnerModel`

Grade band and academic subject pair that describes a specific learner profile (e.g., Math 3–6, Literacy 4–6)

Each [`LearnerModel`](#learnermodel) has relevant [`Factor`](#factor)s and [`Strategy`](#strategy)s that help contextualize what’s important for student success for that grade and subject.

| Property | Description | Type | Cardinality |
| :- | :- | :- | :- |
| `academicSubject` | Academic subject | [`AcademicSubjectENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#academicsubjectenum) | 1 |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY); specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms | `String` | 1 |
| `author` | Author of content | `String` | 1 |
| `content` | Materials that make up a learner model along with additional information (if available) | `String` | 0..1 |
| `description` | Description of the learner model | `String` | 0..1 |
| `gradeLevel` | Specifies the educational grade for which the curriculum component is intended | [`Array of GradeLevelENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#gradelevelenum) | 0..n |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the learner model, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links | `String` | 1 |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name | `String` | 1 |
| `name` | Name of the learner model | `String` | 0..1 |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer | `String` | 1 |

### `Factor`

Characteristic that influences learning or performance (e.g., Working memory, Algebraic reasoning)

| Factor category | Examples |
| :- | :- |
| **Context** | Background, environment, access to resources, attention, working memory |
| **Skills** | Decoding, fluency, algebraic reasoning |

| Property | Description | Type | Cardinality |
| :- | :- | :- | :- |
| `academicSubject` | Academic subject | [`AcademicSubjectENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#academicsubjectenum) | 1 |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY); specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms | `String` | 1 |
| `author` | Author of content | `String` | 1 |
| `category` | Grouping for factors within a LearnerModel | `String` | 0..1 |
| `citations` | References to research that supports the factor | `Array` | 0..n |
| `content` | Materials that make up a factor along with additional information (if available) | `String` | 0..1 |
| `description` | Description of the factor | `String` | 0..1 |
| `gradeLevel` | Specifies the educational grade for which the curriculum component is intended | [`Array of GradeLevelENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#gradelevelenum) | 0..n |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the factor, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links | `String` | 1 |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name | `String` | 1 |
| `name` | Name of the factor | `String` | 0..1 |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer | `String` | 1 |

### `Strategy`

Instructional practice that supports a variety of [`Factor`](#factor)s and [`LearnerModel`](#learnermodel)s (e.g., *Peer teaching* supports factors like *Math communication* and *Long-term memory*)

| Property | Description | Type | Cardinality |
| :- | :- | :- | :- |
| `academicSubject` | Academic subject | [`AcademicSubjectENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#academicsubjectenum) | 1 |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY); specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms | `String` | 1 |
| `author` | Author of content | `String` | 1 |
| `category` | Grouping for strategies within a LearnerModel | `String` | 0..1 |
| `citations` | References to research that supports the strategy | `Array` | 0..n |
| `content` | Materials that make up a strategy along with additional information (if available) | `String` | 0..1 |
| `description` | Description of the strategy | `String` | 0..1 |
| `gradeLevel` | Specifies the educational grade for which the curriculum component is intended | [`Array of GradeLevelENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#gradelevelenum) | 0..n |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the strategy, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links | `String` | 1 |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name | `String` | 1 |
| `name` | Name of the strategy | `String` | 0..1 |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer | `String` | 1 |

### `GuidanceFramework`

Root of a subject-specific instructional guidance tree with 4 levels: **Framework → Area of Focus → Guideline → Specification**

Each `GuidanceFramework` organizes Areas of Focus, Guidelines, and Specifications for a particular academic subject.

| Property | Description | Type | Cardinality |
| :- | :- | :- | :- |
| `academicSubject` | Academic subject | [`AcademicSubjectENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#academicsubjectenum) | 1 |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY); specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms | `String` | 1 |
| `author` | Author of content | `String` | 1 |
| `description` | Description of the item | `String` | 0..1 |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the item, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links | `String` | 1 |
| `inLanguage` | Language of the content | [`LanguageENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#languageenum) | 1 |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name | `String` | 1 |
| `name` | Name of the item (e.g. "ELSF Guidelines for Improving Mathematics Materials for English Learners") | `String` | 1 |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer | `String` | 1 |

```json example.json theme={null}
{
  "type": "node",
  "identifier": "db5be5f7-e4d0-5920-ba75-d2ad37d59f40",
  "labels": ["GuidanceFramework"],
  "properties": {
    "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "attributionStatement": "Knowledge Graph is provided by Learning Commons under the CC BY-4.0 license. Learning Commons received this content under CC BY-4.0 from the English Learners Success Forum (ELSF).",
    "identifier": "db5be5f7-e4d0-5920-ba75-d2ad37d59f40",
    "provider": "Learning Commons",
    "name": "ELSF Guidelines for Improving Mathematics Materials for English Learners",
    "inLanguage": "en-US",
    "author": "English Learners Success Forum",
    "academicSubject": "Mathematics"
  }
}
```

### `GuidanceFrameworkItem`

Individual statement or structural element within an instructional guidance framework

`GuidanceFrameworkItem`s are Areas of Focus, Guidelines, or Specifications, distinguished by `statementType`.

| Property | Description | Type | Cardinality |
| :- | :- | :- | :- |
| `academicSubject` | Academic subject Mapped from source `subject` values: `ela` → "English Language Arts", `math` → "Mathematics", `science` → "Science" | [`AcademicSubjectENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#academicsubjectenum) | 1 |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY); specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms | `String` | 1 |
| `author` | Author of content | `String` | 1 |
| `description` | Description of the item <ul><li>Areas of Focus include a thematic title (e.g., "Leveraging Students' Assets")</li><li>Guidelines and Specifications carry full statements</li></ul> | `String` | 1 |
| `gradeLevel` | Specifies the educational grade for which the guidance is intended; set to K–12 | [Array of `GradeLevelENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#gradelevelenum) | 1 |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the item, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links | `String` | 1 |
| `inLanguage` | Language of the content | [`LanguageENUM`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/enums-and-formats#languageenum) | 1 |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name | `String` | 1 |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer | `String` | 1 |
| `statementCode` | Short, human-readable code that identifies the item within its subject; codes are unique within a subject<ul><li>**Area of Focus**: Roman numerals I–V</li><li>**Guideline**: Integers 1–15</li><li>**Specification**: Guideline code + lowercase letter a-j (e.g., 1a–15c)</li></ul>Guideline numbering runs continuously through a subject and crosses Area boundaries. | `String` | 1 |
| `statementType` | Classification for the item’s role in the hierarchy: **Area of Focus**, **Guideline**, or **Specification** | `String` | 1 |

```json example.json theme={null}
{
  "type": "node",
  "identifier": "f09c9d99-79e4-5722-8a7c-d77667b325aa",
  "labels": ["GuidanceFrameworkItem"],
  "properties": {
    "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "gradeLevel": "["K", "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", "10", "11", "12"]",
    "attributionStatement": "Knowledge Graph is provided by Learning Commons under the CC BY-4.0 license. Learning Commons received this content under CC BY-4.0 from the English Learners Success Forum (ELSF).",
    "description": "Interdependence of Mathematical Content, Practices, and Language",
    "identifier": "f09c9d99-79e4-5722-8a7c-d77667b325aa",
    "provider": "Learning Commons",
    "inLanguage": "en-US",
    "author": "English Learners Success Forum",
    "academicSubject": "Mathematics",
    "statementCode": "I",
    "statementType": "Area of Focus"
  }
}
```

## Relationships

### `hasFactor`

Connects a [`LearnerModel`](#learnermodel) to a relevant [`Factor`](#factor) (e.g., *Math 3–6* → *Working memory*)

| Source node | Target node |
| :- | :- |
| [`LearnerModel`](#learnermodel) | [`Factor`](#factor) |

| Property | Description |
| :- | :- |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content's license (e.g., Creative Commons BY) |
| `author` | Author of this content |
| `dateCreated` | Date the item was created |
| `dateModified` | Date the item was most recently modified |
| `description` | Description of the item |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the `hasFactor` relationship, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer |
| `relationshipType` | Normalized value that defines the semantic meaning of the connection between the source and target entities |
| `sourceEntity` | Entity type from which the relationship originates (starting node in the connection) |
| `sourceEntityKey` | Source entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |
| `targetEntity` | Entity type to which the relationship points (ending node in the connection) |
| `targetEntityKey` | Target entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |

### `hasStrategy`

Connects a [`LearnerModel`](#learnermodel) to a relevant [`Strategy`](#strategy)

| Source node | Target node |
| :- | :- |
| [`LearnerModel`](#learnermodel) | [`Strategy`](#strategy) |

| Property | Description |
| :- | :- |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content's license (e.g., Creative Commons BY) |
| `author` | Author of this content |
| `dateCreated` | Date the item was created |
| `dateModified` | Date the item was most recently modified |
| `description` | Description of the item |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the `hasStrategy` relationship, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer |
| `relationshipType` | Normalized value that defines the semantic meaning of the connection between the source and target entities |
| `sourceEntity` | Entity type from which the relationship originates (starting node in the connection) |
| `sourceEntityKey` | Source entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |
| `targetEntity` | Entity type to which the relationship points (ending node in the connection) |
| `targetEntityKey` | Target entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |

### `interactsWithFactor`

Connects [`Factor`](#factor)s that influence each other (e.g., Working memory ↔ Attention)

| Source node | Target node |
| :- | :- |
| [`Factor`](#factor) | [`Factor`](#factor) |

| Property | Description |
| :- | :- |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content's license (e.g., Creative Commons BY) |
| `author` | Author of this content |
| `dateCreated` | Date the item was created |
| `dateModified` | Date the item was most recently modified |
| `description` | Description of the item |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the `interactsWithFactor` relationship, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer |
| `relationshipType` | Normalized value that defines the semantic meaning of the connection between the source and target entities |
| `sourceEntity` | Entity type from which the relationship originates (starting node in the connection) |
| `sourceEntityKey` | Source entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |
| `targetEntity` | Entity type to which the relationship points (ending node in the connection) |
| `targetEntityKey` | Target entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |

### `targetsFactor`

Connects a [`Strategy`](#strategy) to a [`Factor`](#factor) that it supports or improves (e.g., Peer teaching → Math communication)

| Source node | Target node |
| :- | :- |
| [`Strategy`](#strategy) | [`Factor`](#factor) |

| Property | Description |
| :- | :- |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content's license (e.g., Creative Commons BY) |
| `author` | Author of this content |
| `connectionType` | Specifies whether the strategy supports or improves the target factor |
| `dateCreated` | Date the item was created |
| `dateModified` | Date the item was most recently modified |
| `description` | Description of the item |
| `factorCategory` | Category of the target factor |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the `targetsFactor` relationship, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer |
| `relationshipType` | Normalized value that defines the semantic meaning of the connection between the source and target entities |
| `sourceEntity` | Entity type from which the relationship originates (starting node in the connection) |
| `sourceEntityKey` | Source entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |
| `targetEntity` | Entity type to which the relationship points (ending node in the connection) |
| `targetEntityKey` | Target entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |

### `relevantToStandard`

Connects a [`Factor`](#factor) to a related academic standard

| Source node | Target node |
| :- | :- |
| [`Factor`](#factor) | [`StandardsFrameworkItem`](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/standards#standardsframeworkitem) |

| Property | Description |
| :- | :- |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content's license (e.g., Creative Commons BY) |
| `author` | Author of this content |
| `dateCreated` | Date the item was created |
| `dateModified` | Date the item was most recently modified |
| `description` | Description of the item |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the `relevantToStandard` relationship, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer |
| `relationshipType` | Normalized value that defines the semantic meaning of the connection between the source and target entities |
| `sourceEntity` | Entity type from which the relationship originates (starting node in the connection) |
| `sourceEntityKey` | Source entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |
| `targetEntity` | Entity type to which the relationship points (ending node in the connection) |
| `targetEntityKey` | Target entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |

### `hasChild`

Indicates that one entity serves as the parent of another

Every node and relationship is scoped to a single subject — no edge connects nodes across frameworks.

| Source node | Target node |
| :- | :- |
| [`GuidanceFramework`](#guidanceframework) | [`GuidanceFrameworkItem`](#guidanceframeworkitem) |
| [`GuidanceFrameworkItem`](#guidanceframeworkitem) | [`GuidanceFrameworkItem`](#guidanceframeworkitem) |

| Relationship property | Description |
| :- | :- |
| `attributionStatement` | Textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content's license (e.g., Creative Commons BY) |
| `author` | Author of this content |
| `dateModified` | Date the item was most recently modified |
| `description` | Description of the item |
| `identifier` | Identifier of the item, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links |
| `license` | License that applies to this content, as a URL or a license name |
| `provider` | Service provider, service operator, or service performer |
| `relationshipType` | Normalized value that defines the semantic meaning of the connection between the source and target entities (`hasChild`) |
| `sourceEntity` | Entity type from which the relationship originates (starting node in the connection) |
| `sourceEntityKey` | Source entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |
| `targetEntity` | Entity type to which the relationship points (ending node in the connection) |
| `targetEntityKey` | Target entity's property that contains its unique identifier; used to locate and reference the entity in the dataset |

```json example.json theme={null}
{
  "type": "relationship",
  "identifier": "90e8c355-6cf0-5635-8ecc-e9d2d55b946d",
  "label": "hasChild",
  "properties": {
    "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "targetEntity": "GuidanceFrameworkItem",
    "attributionStatement": "Knowledge Graph is provided by Learning Commons under the CC BY-4.0 license. Learning Commons received this content under CC BY-4.0 from the English Learners Success Forum (ELSF).",
    "description": "A hasChild relationship indicates that one entity serves as the parent of another, representing a hierarchical connection in which the target entity is a direct child of the source entity",
    "identifier": "90e8c355-6cf0-5635-8ecc-e9d2d55b946d",
    "provider": "Learning Commons",
    "sourceEntity": "GuidanceFramework",
    "sourceEntityKey": "identifier",
    "author": "English Learners Success Forum",
    "targetEntityKey": "identifier",
    "relationshipType": "hasChild"
  },
  "source_identifier": "db5be5f7-e4d0-5920-ba75-d2ad37d59f40",
  "source_labels": ["GuidanceFramework"],
  "target_identifier": "f09c9d99-79e4-5722-8a7c-d77667b325aa",
  "target_labels": ["GuidanceFrameworkItem"]
}
```

## Schema release history

| Date | Changed |
| - | - |
| Sep 22, 2026 | Added [`GuidanceFramework`](#guidanceframework), [`GuidanceFrameworkItem`](#guidanceframeworkitem), and [`hasChild`](#haschild) |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Added [`relevantToStandard`](#relevanttostandard) relationship |
| Dec 8, 2025 | First release |

## Related topics

> [card] [Learner Variability Navigator dataset](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/datasets/instructional-guidance/learner-variability-navigator.md)
>
> Explore coverage, use cases, and download details for the Learner
> Variability Navigator dataset.

> [card] [English Learners Success Forum Guidelines dataset](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/datasets/instructional-guidance/english-learners-success-forum-guidelines.md)
>
> Explore coverage, use cases, and download details for the English Learners
> Success Forum Guidelines dataset.

> [card] [Standards schemas](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/standards.md)
>
> Connect learner factors to the standards they are relevant to.

> [card] [Curriculum schemas](https://docs.learningcommons.org/knowledge-graph/schemas/curriculum.md)
>
> Pair instructional strategies with curriculum lessons and activities.