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The ABE AND ESL Assessment Corner

by Anthony Chan

According to the National Reporting System (NRS), an educational gain is measurable by a standardized assessment instrument used for assessing all participants in adult education programs who need literacy instruction, adult basic education, or secondary education leading to an adult high school diploma or its equivalent.

Which approved assessments are available to adult education literacy programs for use in measuring educational gains in TEAMS ?

TABE-- Test of Adult Basic Education

BEST-- Basic English Skills Test

BEST Plus-- Basic English Skills Test Plus

What is the TABE Test?

TABE is the designated assessment instrument for students enrolling in Adult Basic Education (ABE) or Adult Secondary Education (ASE). TABE assesses basic reading, mathematics, and language skills of students enrolled in Adult Basic Education and/or GED classes.

What is the BEST Test?

BEST is the assessment instrument used for Limited English Proficient (LEP) and English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The BEST is performance-based and assesses listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing skills of limited English-speaking adults. BEST consists of two sections: the Oral Interview (which will expire June 30, 2007) and Literacy Skills. There are two forms of the BEST, B and C (BEST Literacy, Form D will soon be added). These forms are used alternately as pre-and-post tests.

What is the BEST Plus test?

BEST Plus is an oral assessment instrument for Limited English Proficient (LEP) and English as Second Language (ESL) students. The BEST Plus comes in two versions -- a computer-adaptive CD version or a semi-adaptive print-based version. Both versions are administered as an oral interview. (There is no literacy version of the BEST Plus.)

According to the administrator’s manual, both the BEST Plus and, later, when the student’s score permits, the BEST Literacy must be administered.

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Domain--the various skill areas or parts of a test. In Texas, we have TABE Reading, TABE Language, TABE Mathematics, BEST Oral, BEST Literacy, and BEST Plus Oral.

Domain of Significance (DOS) is the lowest functioning level or lowest score achieved when a student functions at different levels across domains. It serves as the basis for the student’s placement.

When should the students be tested?

  • When no prior assessments have been given
  • When students were not post-tested in their last enrolled class
  • When re-enrolled students took a post-test more than 365 days prior to their re-enrollment
  • When students have attended at least 50 instructional hours, a post-test should be given, if needed. This minimum of instructional hours may soon increase.

REMINDER

  • All students must have a pre-test (baseline) and a post-test on file.
  • The pre-test is given to all new students.
  • All returning students who have not been registered in classes for more than 365 days must be pre-tested.

Is there a time mandated for administering the domain tests?

Yes, they should be given in your allotted contact period.

How many times can students be tested during the fiscal year?

At minimum “twice,” i.e., a pre-test and a post test using different forms of the same test with at least 50 hours of instruction between tests. Additional tests may be administered after at least 50 additional hours of instruction.

Can the students continue to be tested even after showing a gain of at least one level?

  • Yes, but remember that TEAMS looks only at the last level prescribed to that student. This means that if the student moves up at the beginning of the year (based on the first post-test) and at the end goes down a level (based on another post-test), that student will not show a gain for that fiscal year. The feds look at the latest post test, not the highest post test score.
  • Also, student performance is determined by baseline and progress scores. For 2006-2007, programs must post-test no fewer than 65% of enrolled students having a baseline derived from a test form different from the one used in the pre-test.

What are the federal and state requirements for showing gains?

  • (Federal) A student completes a level if his/her Domain of Significance (DOS) increases one or more functioning level.
  • (State) A gain occurs when any section of the assessment increases one or more functioning level.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!

By Anthony Chan 10/10/2006