[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75550-75552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29709]


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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: Michelle Meier, Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 11161, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-7240. Telephone: (202) 245-7890 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 by States and local eligible providers. 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 
inviting test publishers 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 
2010 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 to be met by the completion of the three-year period. If 
these conditions were met, the Secretary would approve 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 in 
the February 2010 notice, 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.
    On August 6, 2012, we published in the Federal Register (77 FR 
46749) the same list of forms and computer delivery formats for the 
tests published in the September 2011 notice. We also announced a 
sunset period during which States and local providers may continue to 
use tests with three-year NRS approvals otherwise expiring on February 
2, 2013, during a transition period ending on June 30, 2014.
    On January 25, 2013, we announced in the Federal Register (78 FR 
5430) an extension of the approval period for tests approved for a 
three-year period beginning on February 2, 2010. The approval period 
was extended from February 2, 2013 to September 30, 2013, with the 
sunset period ending on June 30, 2014 still applicable.
    The Secretary publishes here the list of tests and test forms 
determined to be suitable for use in the NRS. These include: (1) Tests 
previously approved for a seven-year period from February 2, 2010; (2) 
three tests--previously approved for a three-year conditional period 
from February 2, 2010--for which the Secretary is extending the 
approval period through June 30, 2015; and (3) one test--a revised 
version of a test previously approved for a three-year conditional 
period from February 2, 2010--for which the Secretary is providing an 
approval period through June 30, 2015. The extended approval period 
through June 30, 2015 for these four tests is issued with a set of 
conditions for each test that a test publisher must meet eby the 
completion of the extended period. If a test publisher meets these 
conditions, the Secretary approves a period of time for which the test 
may continue to be used in the NRS.

Approved Tests, Forms and Approval Periods

    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.

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    (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.

Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the NRS Until June 30, 2015

    (a) The Secretary has determined that the following tests are 
suitable for use at all ABE and ASE levels of the NRS until June 30, 
2015:
    (1) 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.
    (2) 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.
    (b) The Secretary has determined that the following tests are 
suitable for use at all ESL levels of the NRS until June 30, 2015:
    (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) 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.

Tests That May Be Used in the NRS During the Sunset Period Ending on 
June 30, 2014

    (a) The Secretary has determined that the following tests may be 
used at the High Intermediate, Low Adult Secondary, and High Adult 
Secondary levels of the NRS during the sunset period ending on June 30, 
2014:
    (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.
    (b) The Secretary has determined that the following tests may be 
used at all ABE and ASE levels and at all ESL levels of the NRS during 
the sunset period ending on June 30, 2014:
    (1) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) 
Employability Competency System (ECS) Reading Assessments--Workforce 
Learning Systems (WSL). Forms 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 114, 116, 
213, 214, 215, and 216 may be used 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.
    (c) The Secretary has determined that the following test may be 
used at all ABE and ASE levels of the NRS during the sunset period 
ending on June 30, 2014:
    (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.
    (d) The Secretary has determined that the following test may be 
used at all ESL levels of the NRS during the sunset period ending on 
June 30, 2014:
    (1) 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 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 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

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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: December 9, 2013.
Johan Uvin,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategic Initiatives, 
Delegated Authority to Perform the Functions and Duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 2013-29709 Filed 12-11-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P