80 FR 48304 - Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 155 (August 12, 2015)

The Secretary announces tests, test forms, and delivery formats that the Secretary determines to be suitable for use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS). The Secretary also clarifies that, to provide for the transition from the performance accountability system for the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) program under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) to the performance accountability system for AEFLA as reauthorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), this announcement will remain effective until June 30, 2017.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48304-48306]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19847]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting 
System for Adult Education

AGENCY: Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces tests, test forms, and delivery 
formats that the Secretary determines to be suitable for use in the 
National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS). The Secretary also 
clarifies that, to provide for the transition from the performance 
accountability system for the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act 
(AEFLA) program under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) to the 
performance accountability system for AEFLA as reauthorized by the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), this announcement will 
remain effective until June 30, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay LeMaster, Department of Education, 
400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 11-152, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, 
DC 20202-7240. Telephone: (202) 245-6218 or by email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 14, 2008, we published in the 
Federal Register final regulations for 34 CFR part 462, Measuring 
Educational Gain in the National Reporting System for Adult Education 
(NRS regulations) (73 FR 2306). The NRS regulations established the 
process the Secretary uses to determine the suitability of tests for 
use in the NRS by States and local eligible providers. We annually 
publish in the Federal Register and post on the Internet at 
www.nrsweb.org a list of the names of tests and the educational 
functioning levels the tests are suitable to measure in the NRS as 
required by Sec.  462.12(c)(2).
    On April 16, 2008, we published in the Federal Register a notice 
inviting test publishers to submit tests for review (73 FR 20616).
    On February 2, 2010, we published in the Federal Register a notice 
(February 2010 notice) listing the tests and test forms the Secretary 
determined to be suitable for use in the NRS (75 FR 5303).
    The Secretary determined tests and test forms to be suitable for a 
period of either seven or three years from the date of the February 
2010 notice. A seven-year approval required no additional action on the 
part of the publisher, unless the information the publisher submitted 
as a basis for the Secretary's review was inaccurate or unless the test 
is substantially revised. A three-year approval was issued with a set 
of conditions to be met by the completion of the three-year period. If 
these conditions were met, the Secretary would approve a period of time 
for which the test may continue to be used in the NRS.
    On September 12, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR 
56188) an annual notice of tests determined suitable for use in the NRS 
(September 2011 notice). The September 2011 notice updated the list 
published in the February 2010 notice and included suitable test 
delivery formats. The September 2011 notice clarified that some, but 
not all, tests using computer-adaptive or computer-based delivery 
formats are suitable for use in the NRS.
    On August 6, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 
46749) an annual notice of tests determined suitable for use in the NRS 
(August 2012 notice) that included the same list of forms and computer 
delivery formats for the tests published in the September 2011 notice. 
We also announced a sunset period during which States and local 
providers could continue to use tests with three-year NRS approvals 
otherwise expiring on February 2, 2013, during a transition period 
ending on June 30, 2014.
    On January 25, 2013, we announced in the Federal Register (78 FR 
5430) an extension of the approval period for tests approved for a 
three-year period beginning on February 2, 2010. The approval period 
was extended from February 2, 2013 to September 30, 2013, without 
affecting the sunset period ending on June 30, 2014.
    On December 12, 2013, we published in the Federal Register (78 FR 
75550) an annual notice of tests determined suitable for use in the NRS 
(December 2013 notice) that updated the August 2012 notice and provided 
an extension of the approval period for three tests initially approved 
for a three-year conditional period from February 2, 2010. The approval 
period was extended to June 30, 2015. We also announced an extension of 
the approval period for one additional test--a revised version of a 
test previously approved for a three-year conditional period from 
February 2, 2010. The approval period for that test also was extended 
to June 30, 2015.
    On October 29, 2014, we published in the Federal Register (79 FR 
64369) an annual notice of tests determined suitable for use in the NRS 
(October 2014 notice) that updated the December 2013 notice. We 
announced that the four tests with approvals extended through June 30, 
2015, may be used in the NRS during a sunset period ending on June 30, 
2016.
    In this document, the Secretary announces the list of tests and 
test forms determined to be suitable for use in the NRS. These include: 
(1) The eight tests previously approved for a seven-year period from 
February 2, 2010 through February 2, 2017; (2) three tests previously 
approved for an extended period through June 30, 2015 and now approved 
for an extended period through February 2, 2017; and (3) one test--a 
revised version of a test previously approved for an extended period 
through June 30, 2015--for which the Secretary is providing approval 
through February 2, 2017. With respect to the latter four tests, 
although we have identified several issues that the test publishers 
still need to address related to the requirements in Sec.  462.13, we 
are taking this action in light of the following intervening factors. 
These factors include (1) the Department's plan to implement new 
descriptors for the NRS educational functioning levels and to issue new 
regulations that will govern the assessment review process; (2) the 
Department's desire to minimize disruption for its grantees in the 
transition to AEFLA as authorized by WIOA, including with respect to 
measuring educational gain under the NRS; and (3) the attendant 
transition authority in section 503(c) of WIOA, which authorizes the 
Secretary of Education to ``take such actions as the

[[Page 48305]]

Secretary determines to be appropriate to provide for the orderly 
transition'' from AEFLA as authorized by WIA to AEFLA as authorized by 
WIOA.

Approved Tests, Forms, and Approval Periods

    Adult education programs must use only the approved forms and 
computer-based delivery formats for the tests published in this 
document. If a particular test form or computer delivery format is not 
explicitly specified for a test in this notice, it is not approved for 
use in the NRS.

Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the NRS for Seven Years 
(February 2, 2010-February 2, 2017)

    (a) The Secretary has determined that the following test is 
suitable for use at all Adult Basic Education (ABE) and Adult Secondary 
Education (ASE) levels and at all English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) 
levels of the NRS for a period of seven years beginning on February 2, 
2010:
    Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Reading 
Assessments (Life and Work, Life Skills, Reading for Citizenship, 
Reading for Language Arts--Secondary Level). Forms 27, 28, 81, 82, 81X, 
82X, 83, 84, 85, 86, 185, 186, 187, 188, 310, 311, 513, 514, 951, 952, 
951X, and 952X of this test are approved for use on paper and through 
the computer-based delivery format. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy 
Canyon Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123-4339. Telephone: (800) 255-
1036. Internet: www.casas.org/.
    (b) The Secretary has determined that the following tests are 
suitable for use at all ABE and ASE levels of the NRS for a period of 
seven years beginning on February 2, 2010:
    (1) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Life 
Skills Math Assessments--Application of Mathematics (Secondary Level). 
Forms 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 505, and 506 of this test are 
approved for use on paper and through the computer-based delivery 
format. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220, San 
Diego, CA 92123-4339. Telephone: (800) 255-1036. Internet: 
www.casas.org/.
    (2) Massachusetts Adult Proficiency Test (MAPT) for Math. This test 
is approved for use through a computer-adaptive delivery format. 
Publisher: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary 
Education and University of Massachusetts Amherst, College of 
Education, 156 Hills South, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 
Amherst, MA 01003. Telephone: (413) 545-0564. Internet: www.sabes.org/.
    (3) Massachusetts Adult Proficiency Test (MAPT) for Reading. This 
test is approved for use through the computer-adaptive delivery format. 
Publisher: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary 
Education and University of Massachusetts Amherst, College of 
Education, 156 Hills South, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 
Amherst, MA 01003. Telephone: (413) 545-0564. Internet: www.sabes.org/.
    (4) Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE 9/10). Forms 9 and 10 are 
approved for use on paper and through the computer-based delivery 
format. Publisher: Data Recognition Corporation--CTB, 13490 Bass Lake 
Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311. Telephone: 800-538-9547. Internet: 
www.ctb.com/.
    (5) Tests of Adult Basic Education Survey (TABE Survey). Forms 9 
and 10 are approved for use on paper and through the computer-based 
delivery format. Publisher: Data Recognition Corporation--CTB, 13490 
Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311. Telephone: (800) 538-9547. 
Internet: www.ctb.com/.
    (c) The Secretary has determined that the following tests are 
suitable for use at all ESL levels of the NRS for a period of seven 
years beginning on February 2, 2010:
    (1) Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Literacy. Forms B, C, and D 
are approved for use on paper. Publisher: Center for Applied 
Linguistics, 4646 40th Street NW., Washington, DC 20016-1859. 
Telephone: (202) 362-0700. Internet: www.cal.org/.
    (2) Tests of Adult Basic Education Complete Language Assessment 
System-English (TABE/CLAS-E). Forms A and B are approved for use on 
paper. Publisher: Data Recognition Corporation--CTB, 13490 Bass Lake 
Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311. Telephone: (800) 538-9547. Internet: 
www.ctb.com/.

Tests Newly Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the NRS Until February 
2, 2017

    (a) The Secretary has determined that the following tests are 
suitable for use at all ABE and ASE levels of the NRS until February 2, 
2017:
    (1) General Assessment of Instructional Needs (GAIN)--Test of 
English Skills. Forms A and B are approved for use on paper and through 
the computer-based delivery format. Publisher: Wonderlic Inc., 400 
Lakeview Parkway, Suite 200, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. Telephone: (877) 
605-9496. Internet: www.wonderlic.com/.
    (2) General Assessment of Instructional Needs (GAIN)--Test of Math 
Skills. Forms A and B are approved for use on paper and through the 
computer-based delivery format. Publisher: Wonderlic Inc., 400 Lakeview 
Parkway, Suite 200, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. Telephone: (877) 605-9496. 
Internet: www.wonderlic.com/.
    (b) The Secretary has determined that the following tests are 
suitable for use at all ESL levels of the NRS until February 2, 2017:
    (1) Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Plus 2.0. Forms D, E, and F 
are approved for use on paper and through the computer-adaptive 
delivery format. Publisher: Center for Applied Linguistics, 4646 40th 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20016-1859. Telephone: (202) 362-0700. 
Internet: www.cal.org/.
    (2) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Life and 
Work Listening Assessments (LW Listening). Forms 981L, 982L, 983L, 
984L, 985L, and 986L are approved for use on paper and through the 
computer-based delivery format. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy Canyon 
Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123-4339. Telephone: (800) 255-1036. 
Internet: www.casas.org/.

Tests That May Be Used in the NRS During a Sunset Period Ending on June 
30, 2016

    The Secretary has determined that the following test may be used at 
all ESL levels of the NRS during the sunset period ending on June 30, 
2016:
    Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Plus. Forms A, B, and C are 
approved for use on paper and through the computer-adaptive delivery 
format. Publisher: Center for Applied Linguistics, 4646 40th Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20016-1859. Telephone: (202) 362-0700. Internet: 
www.cal.org/.

Expiring Tests

    The sunset period for an expiring test allows a State and local 
provider to transition to other tests suitable for use in the NRS. The 
State and local provider may use the transition period to select new 
tests, purchase appropriate inventories of assessment materials, and 
provide training to staff.

Revocation of Tests

    Under certain circumstances, the Secretary may revoke the 
determination that a test is suitable (see 34 CFR 462.12(e)). If the 
Secretary revokes the determination of suitability, the Secretary 
announces through the

[[Page 48306]]

Federal Register and posts on the Internet at www.nrsweb.org a notice 
of that revocation, along with the date by which States and local 
eligible providers must stop using the revoked test.
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (such as braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9212.

    Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has 
delegated authority to Mark Mitsui, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Community Colleges for Career, Technical, and Adult Education to 
perform the functions and duties of the Acting Assistant Secretary 
for Career, Technical, and Adult Education.

    Dated: August 6, 2015.
Mark Mitsui,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges for Career, 
Technical, and Adult Education delegated the authority to perform the 
functions and duties of the Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, 
Technical, and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 2015-19847 Filed 8-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P