[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64369-64371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25734]


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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 Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary 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). The Secretary also 
clarifies that, to provide for the transition from the performance 
accountability system for Adult Education and Family Literacy Act 
(AEFLA) programs under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to the 
performance accountability system for AEFLA as reauthorized by the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), this announcement will 
remain effective until June 30, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Meier, Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 11162, 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 could continue to 
use tests with three-year

[[Page 64370]]

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, without 
affecting the sunset period ending on June 30, 2014.
    On December 12, 2013, we announced in the Federal Register (78 FR 
75550) an extension of the approval period for three tests initially 
approved for a three-year conditional period from February 2, 2010. The 
approval period was extended to June 30, 2015. We also announced an 
extension of the approval period for one additional test--a revised 
version of a test previously approved for a three-year conditional 
period from February 2, 2010. The approval period for that test also 
was extended to June 30, 2015.
    The Secretary publishes here the list of tests and test forms 
determined to be suitable for use in the NRS. These include: (1) The 
eight tests previously approved for a seven-year period from February 
2, 2010; and (2) four tests previously approved for an extended period 
through June 30, 2015. These four tests were approved for this extended 
period through June 30, 2015 with a set of conditions for each test 
that the test publisher must meet by the completion of the approval 
period.

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, College of 
Education, 156 Hills South, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 
Amherst, MA 01003. Telephone: (413) 545-0564. Internet: http://sabes.org/curriculum-assessment/assessment/mapt/.
    (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, College of 
Education, 156 Hills South, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 
Amherst, MA 01003. Telephone: (413) 545-0564. Internet: http://sabes.org/curriculum-assessment/assessment/mapt/.
    (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.

[[Page 64371]]

Tests That May Be Used in the NRS During a Sunset Period Ending on June 
30, 2016

    For the four tests listed above with approvals extended through 
June 30, 2015, the Secretary will determine whether the test publishers 
have met the conditions necessary for full approval without conditions. 
If the Secretary determines that the conditions have not been met for 
any of these four tests and the Secretary therefore does not provide 
full approval beyond June 30, 2015, those tests may still be used in 
the NRS during a sunset period ending on June 30, 2016.

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 an accessible format (such as 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: October 24, 2014.
Johan E. Uvin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 2014-25734 Filed 10-28-14; 8:45 am]
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