[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 4, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56539-56540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22547]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


List of Approved ``Ability-to-Benefit'' Tests and Passing Scores

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice to remove the American College Testing Assessment test 
from the list of approved ``ability-to-benefit'' tests.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary gives notice that the American College Testing 
(ACT) Assessment: (English and Math) test is being withdrawn, at the 
request of the test publisher, from the list of approved ``ability-to-
benefit'' (ATB) tests. The ACT Assessment test consists of a test of 
English and a test of Math.
    With this notice, the Secretary is amending the list of approved 
ATB tests and passing scores that were published in the Federal 
Register on April 19, 2002, under the authority of section 484(d) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) and the regulations 
the Secretary promulgated to implement that section in 34 CFR part 668, 
subpart J, by removing the ACT Assessment test and its passing scores. 
An institution will no longer be permitted to use this test 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.

Transition

    Institutions are allowed to continue to make ATB eligibility 
determinations using the tests and passing scores that were listed in 
the April 19, 2002 Federal Register, including the American College 
Testing (ACT) Assessment: (English and Math) until January 2, 2003. 
After that date only the tests and passing scores included in this 
notice may be used.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Kennedy, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., (830 Union Center Plaza), 
Washington, DC 202025345. Telephone: (202) 3774050.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 18008778339.
    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 5554255543) 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 5754057541), 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 2424624247), 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.
    In a notice on January 12, 2001 (66 FR 28922893), 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).
    Additionally, in a notice published in the Federal Register on 
April 19, 2002, (67 FR 1943019432), we extended the Secretary's 
approval of seven ATB tests for five years and at the request of the 
test publisher removed the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)--Forms 
5 and 6, Level A as an approved ATB test.
    List of Approved Tests and Passing Scores: For the convenience of 
all interested parties, we have listed the eight 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) 3371030. Fax: (319) 
3371790.
    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) 3371030. Fax: (319) 
3371790.
    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) 3371030. Fax: (319) 
3371790.
    4. 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 931082794.
    Contact: Pablo Buckelew. Telephone: (805) 5690734. Fax: (805) 
5690004.
    5. 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 100236992.

[[Page 56540]]

    Contact: Ms. Suzanne Murphy. Telephone: (405) 8429891. Fax: (405) 
8429894.
    6. Descriptive Tests: Descriptive Tests of Language Skills (DTLS) 
(Reading Comprehension, Sentence Structure and Conventions of Written 
English)--Forms MK3KDT and MK3LDT; and Descriptive Tests of 
Mathematical Skills (DTMS) (Arithmetic)--Forms MK3KDT and MK3LDT.
    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 100236992.
    Contact: Ms. Suzanne Murphy. Telephone: (405) 8429891. Fax: (405) 
8429894.
    7. 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).
    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 939405703.
    Contact: Ms. Veronika Guerrero. Telephone: (831) 3936416. Fax: 
(831) 3937128.
    8. Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST)--Verbal Forms VS1 & VS2, 
Quantitative Forms QS1 & QS2.
    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., 1795 N. Butterfield Road, Libertyville, IL 60048.
    Contact: Mr. Victor S. Artese. Telephone: (800) 3233742.

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

    Dated: August 28, 2002.
Candace M. Kane,
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid.
[FR Doc. 02-22547 Filed 9302; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 400001P