TABE and TASC: New Development for a New Standard

1. TABE and TASC:New Development for a New Standard

2. TABE Current Status • TABE 9/10 is approved at least through 2017 • TABE Online is helping to field test new items • Testlets are the bridge between the 2014 HSE changes and the new NRS of 2016-2017 • More customers still use paper than computerbased • TABE CLAS-E approved in 20 states • New CCRS pending for Adult ESL

3. NRS Changes • Public Comment period for WIOA draft regulations is closed • Final NRS Descriptors released in March • Final NRS Regulations released early August • Rules for all parts of NRS testing/reporting and AEFLA funding • Oct. 1,2016 was the first application date for publishers • 8-10 month review expected • Best guess is that we are hopefully to hear back from the US Dept of Ed by June/July 2017

4. Beginning ABE Literacy – NRS Level 1 Math Current: Individual has little or no recognition of numbers or simple counting skills or may have only minimal skills, such as the ability to add or subtract single digit numbers.

5. Beginning ABE Literacy – NRS Level 1 Math New: Students prepared to exit this level are able to decipher a simple problem presented in a context and reason about and apply correct units to the results. They can visualize a situation using manipulatives or drawings and explain their processes and results using mathematical terms and symbols appropriate for the level. They recognize errors in the work and reasoning of others. They are able to strategically select and use appropriate tools to aid in their work, such as pencil/paper, measuring devices, and/or manipulatives. They can see patterns and structure in sets of numbers and geometric shapes and use those insights to work more efficiently. Number Sense and Operations: Students prepared to exit this level have an understanding of whole number place value for tens and ones and are able to use their understanding of place value to compare two-digit numbers. They are able to add whole numbers within 100 and explain their reasoning, e.g., using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value and/or properties of operations. They are able to apply their knowledge of whole number addition and subtraction to represent and solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than 20 by using such problem-solving tools as objects, drawings, and/or simple equations. Algebraic Thinking: Students prepared to exit this level understand and apply the properties of operations to addition and subtraction problems. They understand the relationship between the two operations and can determine the unknown number in addition or subtraction equations. Geometry and Measurement: Students prepared to exit this level can analyze and compare 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes based on their attributes, such as their shape, size, orientation, the number of sides and/or vertices (angles), or the lengths of their sides. They can reason with two-dimensional shapes (e.g., quadrilaterals and half- and quarter-circles) and with three-dimensional shapes (e.g., right prisms, cones, and cylinders) to create composite shapes. They are able to measure the length of an object as a whole number of units, which are not necessarily standard units, for example measuring the length of a pencil using a paper clip as the length unit. Data Analysis: Students prepared to exit this level are able to organize, represent, and interpret simple data sets (e.g., lists of numbers, shapes, or items) using up to three categories. They can answer basic questions related to the total number of data points in a set and the number of data points in each category, and can compare the number of data points in the different categories.

6. Beginning ABE Literacy – NRS Level 1 Reading Current - Individual has no or minimal reading and writing skills. May have little or no comprehension of how print corresponds to spoken language and may have difficulty using a writing instrument. At the upper range of this level, individual can recognize, read, and write letters and numbers but has a limited understanding of connected prose and may need frequent re-reading. Can write a limited number of basic sight words and familiar words and phrases; may also be able to write simple sentences or phrases, including very simple messages. Can write basic personal information. Narrative writing is disorganized and unclear, inconsistently uses simple punctuation (e.g., periods, commas, question marks), and contains frequent errors in spelling. 

7. Beginning ABE Literacy – NRS Level 1 Reading New - Reading: Individuals ready to exit the Beginning Literacy Level comprehend how print corresponds to spoken language and are able to demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sound-letter relationships (phonetic patterns), including consonant digraphs and blends. In particular, students at this level are able to recognize and produce rhyming words, blend and segment onsets and rhymes, isolate and pronounce initial, medial, and final sounds, add or substitute individual sounds, and blend and segment single syllable words. They are able to decode two-syllable words following basic patterns as well as recognize common high frequency words by sight. Individuals are able to read simple decodable texts with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression. They are able to determine the meaning of words and phrases in texts with clear and explicit context. Individuals ready to exit this level are able to determine main ideas, retell key details, and ask and answer questions about key details in simple texts. Individuals are also able to use the illustrations in the text(s), whether print or digital, to describe its key ideas (e.g., maps, charts, photographs, cartoons). They also are able to use text features, both print and digital, to locate key facts or information. When listening to text above their current independent reading level, they are able to identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text, describe the connections between ideas within a text, and examine the basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic.

8. TABE Plans for 2016 and Beyond • FREE Formative tests released in October 2015 • Aligned to College and Career Readiness Standards • Included new Technology Enabled items • Available to TABE Online customers • Provides exposure to new CCR Standards based items • Does not affect TABE scores for NRS reporting • Content areas include Reading, Math and Language • Testlets are optional and can be used at anytime after initial TABE Online test

9. TABE 11&12 Overview • Field Testing in April and May • New Standards • National College and Career Readiness Standards • New length of the test • Only one test length, no Survey and Complete Battery • Changes to Math sections • Only one math test, Standards focus on Applied Math • Improved Locator design • Longer Locator test to have a stronger prediction to TABE • Reading, Math and Language tests only • Alignment to all 3 HSE exams • Still reviewing options – predication vs readiness score • Release planned for Spring 2017

10. TABE 11/12 Mathematics Level A Detailed Blueprint

13. TABE Software TABE PC • New Platform planned for TABE 11/12 • Links to a central database preferred TestMate TABE • New Scanning option for TABE 11/12 • Links to a central database preferred TABE CLAS-E • New NRS Functional Levels and CCR Standards • Computerized Testing option

14. Discussion Topics • TABE Aligning to High School Equivalency • TABE Spanish • TABE Instructional Alignments • TABE Career and Workforce alignment • TABE Reporting Format • Graphs, Charts • TABE Technology • Tablets • Chromebooks

15. TASC Updates

16. The National Landscape • Pending Status: • Utah • Michigan • Ohio Current Status: California – TASC, HiSET, GED Colorado – TASC, HiSET, GED Illinois – TASC, HiSET, GED Indiana – TASC Mississippi – TASC, HiSET, GED New York – TASC Nevada – TASC, HiSET, GED New Jersey – TASC, HiSET, GED North Carolina – TASC, HiSET, GED Oklahoma – TASC, HiSET, GED Texas – TASC, HiSET, GED South Carolina – TASC, GED West Virginia – TASC Wyoming – TASC, HiSET, GED

17. New for TASC 2016-2017? Improvements! Improved, but familiar, testing experience • Answer booklets • Still barcoded for ease of use • UUID field redesigned to cut down on errors • Sign off on match between form assigned and given, as well as responsibility for confidentiality/test security • Test booklets • Clearer test form designation, including version/variation

18. New for TASC 2016-2017? Improvements! Improved, but familiar, testing experience • Registration System • Same system, but now examinee info feeds into testing platform; no more double entry for computer-based testing! • OAS replaced with INSIGHT • Readiness Assessment • 2 new forms (Forms 4 & 5) with 50% refresh • Form 4 & 5 available first in paper & pencil • Accommodations • Same DRC process, but no expiration

19. New for TASC 2016-2017 Forms GHI! Transition from DEF to GHI Cutoff date for move from DEF to GHI November; all materials should have be returned If you still have RA2 or RA3, they need to be shipped back or you will be invoiced for the unreturned books DEF tests should no longer be administered It is critical to schedule tests before tests are taken and to check-in in a timely manner to avoid score delays

20. TASC Student Testing Platform INSIGHT platform has delivered over 10 million secure, online assessments nationwide in 2014–2015, with 25 million planned for 2015–2016, including TASC • INSIGHT is a secure browser based testing platform • No requirement for local servers or caching of files • No reliance on 3rd party applications • Lock down browser prevents access to other programs • Both TABE and TASC will share the same platform

21. TASC - Item Types Item Types Included: • Multiple Choice • Selected Response (e.g., Multiple Select, Evidence-Based Selected Response) • Technology Enhanced (e.g., Drag and Drop, Matching) • Constructed Response • Gridded Response (Mathematics only) • Extended Constructed Response (Writing only)

22. TASC Testing Times

23. Scoring and Reports Paper/Pencil: • Send to TASC Scoring Facility • Highly qualified staff read and holistically score student essays • Allow 5-10 days for all scoring – current average is 2-3 days • Examinees and Test Center Staff can log-on to TASC portal to retrieve results Computer-Based Testing (CBT): • Preliminary results on multiple-choice portions available immediately • Highly qualified staff read and holistically score student essays • Allow 5-10 days for hand-scoring essay section – current average is 1-2 days • Examinees and Test Center Staff log-on to TASC portal to retrieve results

24. Preparing the Answer Document (top) The Test Coordinator scans or types in the barcode number in the Online Registration System

25. Preparing the Answer Document (bottom) OR the TC/Examiner enters the examinee name, form assignment, and test booklet color on the lines provided The Examiner may place an optional label with examinee name and form assignment in the space provided…

26. Answer Document (Page 2) The Examiner enters any accommodations The Examiner enters any special Test Format The Examiner certifies and signs

27. NEW: CBT Print Test Ticket Summary

28. TASC Reports • Available on administrator portal • Reports are associated to test events

29. Student Roster Report

30. Percentage of Student Scores in Reading

31. Summary Data Dashboard

32. Official (Practice) TASC Readiness Test Developed and Field Tested with TASC Half the length of TASC Provides Predictive and Diagnostic information for TASC Available both Computer-Based and Paper Based Paper Test Locally scored locally/online scored immediately $12 per student Free Practice Test posted on TASCtest.com TASC Readiness Assessment

34. INSIGHT Examinee Access

35. INSIGHT Log-in Screen

36. INSIGHT Examinee Confirmation

37. INSIGHT Testing Window

38. INSIGHT Student Tools

39. INSIGHT Student Tools • Standard Accessibility Tools • Line Guide • Highlighter • Cross Off • Digital Magnifier/Variable Zoom • Digital Eraser • Blocking Ruler • Configurable Font Size • Online Large Print • Text-To-Speech (English) • Masking Ruler • Color Choices/Overlays • Configurable settings for background color, font color and font size • Reverse Contrast • Mathematics Formula Sheet • Mark for Review • Ruler (inches and centimeter)/Protractor 39

40. Highlighter, Sticky Note, Cross-Out Tools

41. INSIGHT Magnifier

42. Contrasting Colors – Font and Background

43. Reverse Contrast

44. Scientific Calculator

45. Context Sensitive Help Screens

46. TASC Resources • Help Desk • Call 888.282.0589 or TASCTestHelpdesk@datarecognitioncorp.com • Case #? • Turnaround time • TASCtest.com • What can I find there? Where do I start?

47. Questions? Mike Johnson National Director, Adult Education mjohnson@datarecognitioncorp.com Tel: 630-995-6712 Maxine McCormickNYC Assessment Solutions Consultantmmccormick@datarecognitioncorp.com 47