Assessment

This is the official announcement of tests, including test forms and delivery formats, determined to be suitable for use in the NRS.

July 13, 2023 Federal Register Notice https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-14825

In this notice, the Secretary announces new tests that have been determined to be suitable for use in the NRS, in accordance with § 462.13. Three tests measure the NRS educational functioning levels for ABE at the ABE levels specified in this notice, and four tests measure the new NRS educational functioning levels for ESL at the ESL levels specified in this notice. With the Secretary's approval of the new ESL tests in this notice, the new educational functioning levels for ESL described in Appendix A of Measures and Methods for the National Reporting System for Adult Education (OMB Control Number: 1830-0027) are now implemented.

The new tests announced in this notice have been determined to be suitable for use in the NRS for a period of either seven or three years. A seven-year approval requires no additional action on the part of the publisher, unless the Department later determines that the information the publisher submitted as a basis for the Secretary's review was inaccurate or that the test has been substantially revised. A three-year approval is issued with a set of conditions that must be met by the completion of the three-year time period. If these conditions are met, the test is approved for continued use in the NRS. If these conditions are not met, the test will not be approved for continued use in the NRS.

Under the transition rules in § 462.4, the Secretary also announces in this notice a list of tests with NRS approvals expiring on February 2, 2024, and March 7, 2024, which States and local eligible providers may continue to use during a sunset period ending on June 30, 2024. The ESL educational functioning level descriptors to which the ESL tests with expiring NRS approvals are aligned will be retired on June 30, 2024. Until that time, for the program year which begins on July 1, 2023, and ends on June 30, 2024, both the current ESL educational functioning level descriptors and the new ESL educational functioning level descriptors will be in effect. States must use an ESL assessment that is aligned to the appropriate ESL educational functioning level descriptors.

August 24, 2023 Federal Register Notice https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-18200

On July 13, 2023, the Department of Education (Department) published a notice announcing tests, test forms, and delivery formats that the Secretary determined to be suitable for use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS). This notice corrects the name of one test. All other information in the notice remains the same.

March 18, 2024 Federal Register Notice https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-05679

In this notice, under the transition rules in § 462.4, the Secretary announces that the sunset period for ESL tests scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2024, is extended through June 30, 2025. This extension of the sunset period will allow States sufficient time for the operational activities required for the transition to the new ESL assessments identified in the July 2023 notice. The ESL educational functioning level descriptors to which the ESL tests with expiring NRS approvals are aligned and that were scheduled to be retired on June 30, 2024, are extended through June 30, 2025. Until that time, both the current ESL educational functioning level descriptors and the new ESL educational functioning level descriptors will be in effect. States must use an ESL assessment that is aligned to the appropriate ESL educational functioning level descriptors.

June 20, 2024 Federal Register Notice https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-13426

In this notice, the Secretary announces two new tests and test forms that have been determined to be suitable for use in the NRS, in accordance with § 462.13. The tests measure the NRS educational functioning levels at all ABE and ESL levels, as described in Appendix A of Measures and Methods for the National Reporting System for Adult Education (OMB Control Number 1830-0027). These tests and their test forms are approved for a period of three years from the publication date of this notice. A three-year approval is issued with a set of conditions that must be met by the completion of the three-year time period. If these conditions are met, the test would be approved for continued use in the NRS. This notice also updates the delivery formats available for two tests with a three-year approval announced in the July 2023 annual notice and approved for use until July 13, 2026. Under the transition rules in § 462.4, the Secretary also announces in this notice a test with NRS approval expiring on September 7, 2024, which States and local eligible providers may continue to use during a sunset period ending on June 30, 2025.

A quick reference to current test benchmarks for educational functioning levels.

Provides the approval periods of tests determined to be suitable for use in the National Reporting System for adult education.

The educational functioning level (EFL) descriptors for English as a second language (ESL) are intended to guide assessment for English learners. This NRS Tips will help you better understand the EFL descriptors for ESL that align with the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards for Adult Education (AE). The tip sheet includes information on the key features of the EFL descriptors for ESL and provides background information on why and how the descriptors were developed.

A shift to new assessments is more than simply a procedural change, and thoughtful planning and reflection are needed for a smooth and successful transition when states consider implementing assessments approved for use with the National Reporting System (NRS) that they have not used before. This resource is designed as a guide to support states in updating their assessment policy, developing their plan for disseminating related information and implementing the policy, and preparing their data system and local program staff for the change.

WIOA requirements for states to adopt content standards and other changes challenge adult education to develop appropriate new assessments that will take advantage of the latest technology and approaches to assessment. OCTAE held a meeting in October 2015 of assessment experts to discuss changes in assessment and this paper summarizes some of that discussion.

All states must submit annually an assessment policy to DAEL that meets NRS requirements. This guide for state staff describes the key topics and information that must go into this policy. Last revised November 30, 2020.