[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46749-46750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19143]


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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 Vocational and Adult Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary annually 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 11159, 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. We annually publish in the Federal Register and post on 
the Internet at http://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) of the NRS regulations.
    On April 16, 2008, we published in the Federal Register a notice 
providing test publishers an opportunity to submit tests for review 
under the NRS regulations (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 
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 that must be met by the completion of the three-year period. 
If these conditions are met, the Secretary approves 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) a notice (September 2011 notice) to update the list published on 
February 2, 2010 (75 FR 5303), and include suitable test delivery 
formats. The update clarified that some, but not all, tests using 
computer-adaptive or computer-based delivery formats are suitable for 
use in the NRS.
    The Secretary publishes here the same list of forms and computer 
delivery formats for the tests published in the September 2011 notice. 
Adult education programs must use only the approved forms and computer 
delivery formats for the tests published in this notice. 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

    (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, School of Education, 
156 Hills South, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. 
Telephone: (413) 545-0564. Internet: www.sabes.org/assessment/mapt.htm.
    (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, School of Education, 
156 Hills South, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. 
Telephone: (413) 545-0564. Internet: www.sabes.org/assessment/mapt.htm.
    (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: CTB/McGraw Hill, 20 Ryan Ranch Road, Monterey, CA 
93940. 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: CTB/McGraw Hill, 20 Ryan Ranch Road, 
Monterey, CA 93940. 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: CTB/McGraw Hill, 20 Ryan Ranch Road, Monterey, CA 
93940. Telephone: (800) 538-9547. Internet: www.ctb.com.

[[Page 46750]]

Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the NRS for Three Years

    (a) The Secretary has determined that the following tests are 
suitable for use at all ABE and ASE levels and at all ESL levels of the 
NRS for a period of three years beginning on February 2, 2010:
    (1) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) 
Employability Competency System (ECS) Reading Assessments--Workforce 
Learning Systems (WLS). Forms 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 114, 116, 
213, 214, 215, and 216 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) 
Functional Writing Assessments. Forms 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, and 
466 are approved for use on paper. 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 
three years beginning on February 2, 2010:
    (1) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) 
Employability Competency System (ECS) Math Assessments--Workforce 
Learning Systems (WLS). Forms 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 213, 214, 
215, and 216 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) 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.
    (3) 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.
    (c) The Secretary has determined that the following tests are 
suitable for use at the High Intermediate, Low Adult Secondary, and 
High Adult Secondary levels of the NRS for a period of three years 
beginning on February 2, 2010:
    (1) WorkKeys: Applied Mathematics. Forms 210 and 220 are approved 
for use on paper. Publisher: ACT, 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa 
City, Iowa 52243-0168. Telephone: (800) 967-5539. Internet: 
www.act.org.
    (2) WorkKeys: Reading for Information. Forms 110 and 120 are 
approved for use on paper. Publisher: ACT, 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, 
Iowa City, Iowa 52243-0168. Telephone: (800) 967-5539. Internet: 
www.act.org.
    (d) The Secretary has determined that the following tests are 
suitable for use at all ESL levels of the NRS for a period of three 
years beginning on February 2, 2010:
    (1) 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.
    (2) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) 
Employability Competency System (ECS) Listening Assessments--Life 
Skills (LS). Forms 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 63, 64, 65, and 66 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.

Expiring Tests

    The Secretary will allow States a period to sunset an expiring test 
and transition to other tests suitable for use in the NRS. States may 
use the transition period to select new tests, purchase appropriate 
inventories of assessment materials, and provide training to staff. 
Specifically, tests with three-year NRS approvals expiring on February 
2, 2013, may continue to be used during a transition period ending on 
June 30, 2014.

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 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 (e.g., 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.gpo.gov/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.

    Dated: August 1, 2012.
Johan Uvin,
Delegated Authority to Perform the Functions and Duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 2012-19143 Filed 8-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P