83 FR 47910 - Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 184 (September 21, 2018)

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).

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47910-47911]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20590]


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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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John LeMaster, Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 11-152, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-7240. Telephone: (202) 245-6218. 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 December 13, 2016, the Secretary published in the Federal 
Register (81 FR 89920) an annual notice of tests determined to be 
suitable for use in the NRS (December 2016 notice). In the December 
2016 notice, the Secretary extended the approved periods for all 12 of 
the tests listed in the notice through February 2, 2019.
    On September 7, 2017, the Secretary published in the Federal 
Register (82 FR 42339) an annual notice of tests determined to be 
suitable for use in the NRS (September 2017 notice). In the September 
2017 notice, the Secretary announced a new test and test forms that 
were determined to be suitable for use in the NRS, in accordance with 
Sec.  462.13.
    On February 5, 2018, the Secretary published in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 5087) an annual notice of tests determined to be 
suitable for use in the NRS (February 2018 notice). In the February 
2018 notice, the Secretary announced a new test and test forms that 
were determined to be suitable for use in the NRS, in accordance with 
Sec.  462.13.
    In this notice, the Secretary announces a list of English as a 
Second Language (ESL) tests and test forms determined to be suitable 
for use in the NRS. In the December 2016 notice, these ESL tests and 
test forms were approved for an extended period through February 2, 
2019. Through this notice these ESL tests and test forms are approved 
for an additional period through February 2, 2021.
    The Secretary is taking this action with respect to the previously 
approved ESL tests and test forms, in light of the following factors: 
(1) The Department's plan to implement new ESL descriptors for the NRS 
educational functioning levels, which will be necessary for the 
assessment review process concerning any ESL tests newly submitted for 
review as to suitability for use in the NRS; and (2) the Department's 
desire to minimize disruption for its grantees in the transition to the 
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) as authorized by the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (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 Secretary 
determines to be appropriate to provide for the orderly transition'' 
from AEFLA as authorized by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to 
AEFLA as authorized by WIOA.
    Under the transition rules in Sec.  462.4, the Secretary also 
announces in this notice a list of tests with NRS approvals expiring on 
February 2, 2019, which States and local providers may continue to use 
during a sunset period ending on June 30, 2019.
    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.

ESL Tests Previously Approved for an Extended Period Through February 
2, 2019, and Now Approved for an Additional Extended Period Through 
February 2, 2021

    The Secretary has determined that the following tests are suitable 
for use at all ESL levels of the NRS until February 2, 2021:
    (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) 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.
    (3) 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.
    (4) 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.
    (5) 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

[[Page 47911]]

Corporation--CTB, 13490 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311. 
Telephone: (800) 538-9547.
    Internet: www.tabetest.com.

Tests With NRS Approvals Expiring on February 2, 2019, That May Be Used 
in the NRS During a Sunset Period Ending on June 30, 2019

    The Secretary has determined that the following tests may be used 
at all Adult Basic Education (ABE) levels of the NRS during a sunset 
period ending on June 30, 2019:
    (1) 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.
    (2) 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.
    (3) 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.
    (4) 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.
    (5) 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.
    (6) 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.
    (7) 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.tabetest.com.
    (8) 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.tabetest.com.

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 Sec.  462.12(e)). If the 
Secretary revokes the determination of suitability, the Secretary 
announces through the 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. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations 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 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: 29 U.S.C. 3292.

    Dated: September 18, 2018.
Scott Stump,
Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 2018-20590 Filed 9-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P