[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 76 (Friday, April 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19430-19432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9666]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Student Financial Assistance

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of ``Ability-to-Benefit'' Tests and Passing Scores.

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SUMMARY: This notice extends the Secretary's approval of seven 
``ability-to-benefit'' (ATB) tests for five years. Additionally, the 
Secretary, at the request of the test publisher is removing the Test of 
Adult Basic Education (TABE)--Forms 5 and 6, Level A, as an

[[Page 19431]]

approved ATB test. An institution may use the seven tests which have 
been extended, plus the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment and 
the Combined English Language Skills Assessment (CELSA) tests that were 
approved after October 25, 1996, to determine if a student who does not 
have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent is eligible to 
receive funds under any title IV, HEA program. The title IV, HEA 
programs include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Family Education Loan, 
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal 
Work-Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and the 
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) programs.

DATES:   

Duration of Approval

    The Secretary approves each of these seven tests for five years 
from April 19, 2002, unless the Secretary withdraws this approval or 
the test publisher requests that approval of a test be withdrawn. In 
either case, the Secretary will publish a notice in the Federal 
Register indicating the change.

Transition

    Institutions are allowed to continue to make ATB eligibility 
determinations using the tests and passing scores that were listed in 
the January 12, 2001 Federal Register, including the TABE--Forms 5 & 6, 
Level A until June 18, 2002. After that date only the passing scores 
included in this notice must be used. (The passing scores for the ACT 
Assessment and the CELSA remain unchanged.) In addition, after that 
date, an institution may not use the TABE--Forms 5 & 6, Level A as an 
approved ATB test.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Kennedy, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., (830 Union Center Plaza), 
Washington, DC 20202-5345. Telephone: (202) 377-4050.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 25, 1996, we published a notice 
in the Federal Register (61 FR 55542-55543) that provided a list of 
eight ``ability-to-benefit'' tests. These tests were approved under 
section 484(d) of the HEA and the regulations that were promulgated to 
implement that section in 34 CFR part 668, subpart J. The notice also 
included approved passing scores for each of the approved tests.
    In a notice published in the Federal Register on October 27, 1998, 
(63 FR 57540-57541), we added the American College Testing (ACT) 
Assessment to the list of approved ability-to-benefit tests.
    In a notice published in the Federal Register on May 5, 1999, (64 
FR 24246-24247), we indicated that the nine approved ATB tests could be 
used for testing students with disabilities if the tests are given in a 
manner that is consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with 
Disabilities Act.
    Additionally, on January 12, 2001 (66 FR 2892-2893), we approved 
the Combined English Language Skills Assessment (CELSA) test as an 
English as a Second Language (ESL) test under 34 CFR 668.153(a)(9) and 
(a)(4).
    List of Approved Tests and Passing Scores: The first seven ATB 
tests listed below have been extended for 5 years. For the convenience 
of all interested parties, we have listed the seven extended ATB tests 
and passing scores followed by the two previously approved ATB tests 
and passing scores.
    1. ASSET Program: Basic Skills Tests (Reading, Writing, and 
Numerical)--Forms B2, C2, D2 and E2.
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows:
    Reading (35), Writing (35), and Numerical (33).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are:

American College Testing (ACT), Placement Assessment Programs, 2201 
North Dodge Street, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52243, Contact: Dr. 
John D. Roth, Telephone: (319) 337-1030, Fax: (319) 337-1790.

2. Career Programs Assessment (CPAT) Basic Skills Subtests

(Language Usage, Reading and Numerical)--Forms B and C
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows:
    Language Usage (42), Reading (43), and Numerical (41).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are:

American College Testing (ACT), Placement Assessment Programs, 2201 
North Dodge Street, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52243, Contact: Dr. 
John D. Roth, Telephone: (319) 337-1030, Fax: (319) 337-1790.

3. COMPASS Subtests: Prealgebra/Numerical Skills Placement, Reading 
Placement, and Writing Placement

    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: Prealgebra/Numerical (25), Reading (62), and Writing (32).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are:

American College Testing (ACT), Placement Assessment Programs 2201 
North Dodge Street, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52243, Contact: Dr. 
John D. Roth, Telephone: (319) 337-1030, Fax: (319) 337-1790.

4. Computerized Placement Tests (CPTs)/Accuplacer (Reading 
Comprehension, Sentence Skills, and Arithmetic)

    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows:
    Reading Comprehension (55), Sentence Skills (60), and Arithmetic 
(34).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are:

The College Board, 45 Columbus Avenue, New York, New York 10023-6992, 
Contact: Ms. Suzanne Murphy, Telephone: (405) 842-9891, Fax: (405) 842-
9894.

5. Descriptive Tests: Descriptive Tests of Language Skills (DTLS) 
(Reading Comprehension, Sentence Structure and Conventions of Written 
English)--Forms M-K-3KDT and M-K-3LDT; and Descriptive Tests of 
Mathematical Skills (DTMS) (Arithmetic)--Forms M-K-3KDT and M-K-3LDT

    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows:
    Reading Comprehension (108), Sentence Structure (9), Conventions of 
Written English (309), and Arithmetic (506).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are:

The College Board, 45 Columbus Avenue, New York, New York 10023-6992, 
Contact: Ms. Suzanne Murphy, Telephone: (405) 842-9891, Fax: (405) 842-
9894.

6. Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE): (Reading, Total Mathematics, 
Language)--Forms 7 and 8, Level A, Complete Battery and Survey Versions

    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows:
    Reading (559), Total Mathematics (562), Language (545).

[[Page 19432]]

    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are:

CTB/McGraw-Hill, 20 Ryan Ranch Road, Monterey, California 93940-5703, 
Contact: Ms. Veronika Henderson, Telephone: (831) 393-7363, Fax: (831) 
393-7142.

7. Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST)--Verbal Forms VS-1 & VS-2, 
Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2

    Passing scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows:
    Verbal (200) and Quantitative (210).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are:

Wonderlic Personnel Test, Inc., 1509 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, 
IL 60048-1380, Contact: Mr. Victor S. Artese, Telephone: (800) 323-
3742, Fax: (847) 680-9492.

8. American College Testing (ACT) Assessment: (English and Math)

    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows:

English (14) and Math (15).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are:

American College Testing (ACT), Placement Assessment Programs, 2201 
North Dodge Street, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52243, Contact: Dr. 
James Maxey, Telephone: (319) 337-1100, Fax: (319) 337-1790.

9. Combined English Language Skills Assessment (CELSA), Forms 1 and 2

    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows:
    CELSA Form 1 (90) and CELSA Form 2 (90).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are:

Association of Classroom Teacher Testers (ACTT), 1187 Coast Village 
Road, PMB 378, Montecito, California 93108-2794, Contact: Pablo 
Buckelew, Telephone: (805) 569-0734, Fax: (805) 569-0004.

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    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
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Regulations is available on GPO Access at:

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    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091(d).

    Dated: April 16, 2002.
John Reeves,
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 02-9666 Filed 4-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P