Approved Assessments

AEPP ASSESSMENT UPDATES: BEST PLUS 3.0 and TABE 13/14

Wednesday, april 9, 2025

Best Plus 3.0 Training

  • CAL’s Online Best Plus 3.0 Test Administrator Training is free and has been extended until April 30, 2025.
  • This training allows teachers to assess students using Best Plus 3.0.

  • Participants taking the online training are required to purchase the Test Administrator Guide located here: https://www.calstore.cal.org/best-plus-30-inventory/best-plus-30-test-administrator-guide

  • After April 30, 2025, incomplete courses in progress will be erased.

  • After April 30, 2025 the cost is $125 per participant to take the training.

  • It is recommended that NEW test administrators take the online Best Plus 3.0 and then an additional in person training when NYS Master Trainers provide assessment training in collaboration with the RAEN.

  • Master Trainers are currently working through the certification process with the goal to be certified by May 2025.

Register for Best Plus 3.0 Remote Training Here:

https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=791433&

 

Best Plus 3.0 Ordering

  • Programs can purchase Best Plus 3.0 print-based assessments immediately.

Print-based test booklets and picture-cue books: https://www.calstore.cal.org/best-plus-30-inventory

Price list: https://www.cal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BP3-BL2-Pricing-Schedule.pdf

 

Best Literacy 2.0

  • Online training course available through CAL at $50 per participant. (Not required)

NRS Accountability Office April 9, 2025

 

TABE 13/14 and CLAS-E Test Administrator Training

  • Master Teachers were trained April 1, 2025, and will deliver trainings in each region in collaboration with the RAENs.

  • Please check your RAEN website for an updated training schedule.

  • Programs who do not currently have a RAEN: Training coordination will occur between the NRS office and the Regional assigned to that region.

  • Once individuals have taken the 6-hour training from their RAEN, they may begin testing students with TABE 13/14.

Currently, there are no Level L tests. Both TABE Level L and Level E cover content in NRS Level 1 and 2.

TABE Level E allows for scoring into NRS Level 3

Level L and Level E generate a lowest possible scale score even with zero questions answered correctly. Any student that is assigned a Level L, or E will have at least an NRS score of 1.

 

TABE 13/14 Ordering

  • Programs may begin setting up classes and creating test tickets into DRC’s Insight Portal beginning May 1, 2025.

  • Paper-based test ordering is planned to be available in Spring.

 

ASISTS

  • Programs may begin putting Best Plus 3.0, Best Literacy 2.0 and TABE 13/14 test scores into ASISTS after April 26, 2025.

  • Test scores WILL NOT COUNT until July 1, 2025.

  • Time accrued during this fiscal year, should be entered into ASISTS for this fiscal year.


NY PY 2022 OCTAE Approved Assessment Policy

The NYSED-approved Tests for Adult Education Programs in New York State

Instruction Type Testing Instrument

Adult Basic Education Students

Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE)

Data Recognition Corporation (DRC):

  • TABE 13 & 14 Reading all levels Literacy (L), Easy (E), Moderate (M), Difficult (D), Advanced (A)
  • TABE 13 & 14 Math all levels Literacy (L), Easy (E), Moderate (M), Difficult (D), Advanced (A)

English as a Second Language Students

Complete Language Assessments System (TABE CLAS-E)

Data Recognition Corporation (DRC):

  • TABE Levels (1, 2, 3, 4)
  • TABE Reading, Listening, and Writing

English as a Second Language Students

Basic English Skills Test (BEST)

Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL):

  • BEST Plus 3.0
  • BEST Literacy 2.0 (for students who score 565 or higher on the BEST Plus 3.0 as a pre-test)

Please note the following policies regarding assessment:

When using the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE), programs must administer the complete battery version of the test. It is permissible to use the TABE online version.

When using TABE Math, programs should administer both sub tests (Part 1 & Part 2) and combine the scores to produce one scale score or grade equivalent. The Computation and Applied subtests must be on the same level for a total math score to be generated.

Administration of the TABE Language are not necessary for NRS purposes. However, agencies may wish to use them for diagnostic purposes.

The Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) are available from DRC.

The Basic English Skills Test (BEST Plus 3.0) is available from the Center for Applied Linguistics.


ADDITIONAL AEPP ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION

Thursday, December 5, 2024

This notice aims to provide AEPP-funded programs with additional guidance on the OCTAE-approved assessments: TABE CLAS-E, BEST Plus (2.0/3.0), and BEST Literacy. Please note that NYSED/AEPP does not favor one assessment over another; our role is to provide the approved options. This notice outlines the policies for using the tests for accountability and reporting purposes in New York State. Programs may continue to use the BEST Plus 2.0 tests for ESL assessments in the current fiscal year and plan to use the BEST Plus 3.0 starting July 1, 2025. TABE CLAS-E is merely an additional option for programs requesting an ESL testing alternative. Please see the updated Additional AEPP Assessment Notification 11/21/24.


ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITY NOTICE

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

TABE CLAS-E – Q & A

Greetings Program Managers:

TABE CLAS-E assessment and training will be available to programs interested, as a result for programs that are having issues with other assessment companies. Coordination for TABE-CLAS-E training will be forthcoming and will include NRS requirements and policies in collaboration with Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), RAENs, and AEPP. DRC has agreed to pilot the TABE-CLAS-E assessment for programs already using TABE and has provided AEPP with a list of those programs. For confirmation, if you are on the DRC list or have additional questions, please contact your RAEN or Regional Manager.

For programs that do not currently use TABE, please follow up with your RAEN and provide the items listed below on an Excel spreadsheet. DRC is working with AEPP to make assessments available to funded programs.

  1. Program Name, region, and funding
  2. Estimate the number of students to be assessed
  3. Based on your funding and student population served, indicate the lowest and highest proficiency level

From DRC:

I have attached a list of all NY programs that have active TABE 11/12 Online testing accounts. Ideally any of the programs that are on the list that are willing to pilot TABE CLAS-E Online now to provide NYSED feedback DRC can activate either Forms A/B or C/D in their accounts immediately at no cost to the state or program. Theses existing programs are already familiar with the DRC Online portal and the same processes they use for TABE are used for CLAS-E within the portal. We would be happy to provide some overview webinars to get programs oriented.

If there are programs not on the list of active Online sites that would like to pilot the paper version of CLAS-E A/B I would need to collect some more information about how many potential students might be tested and if a rough estimate if the group of students are lower or higher proficiency so that I can estimate what paper materials would be needed.

*Questions credited to ASISTS and answered by DRC:

 

Does TABE-CLAS-E go up to NRS level 6 for ESL?

  • Yes, TABE CLAS-E does cover NRS Level 6. One of the requirements that OCTAE asked of us when CLAS-E was initially going through NRS approval was to make sure a student could test into Level 6 and also test out if Level 6. Each content area has an exit score from Level 6.

 

Are the tests online only or is there a paper and/or offline version?

  • All DRC assessments are available Online and in Paper versions. This includes TABE CLAS- E A/B and C/D as well as TABE 13/14.

 

BEST Plus is primarily an oral test, but the TABE-CLAS-E seems more comprehensive in that it seems to have a reading, listening, writing and speaking tests, at least for the C and D forms coming out now. Do providers usually buy all four versions and is the Listening test most comparable to the BEST Plus test?

  • Yes, CLAS-E A/B and C/D have separate test for Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. In the paper version the test booklet contains all four tests. For the Online testing programs purchase test tokens that can be used on any content area. CLAS-E Reading and Listening are most similar  to  other  TABE  tests  as  straightforward  multiple-choice  tests. Listening does require the Listening parts to be played from CD, Audio or on the computer with headphones. Writing and Speaking are different in that they have Constructed Response items that require a Rubric to score. Scoring can be done locally by staff with the Rubric or by DRC Score Services for an additional cost. DRC scoring is only available for Online tests.

 

Can either one of the tests (reading, listening, etc.) be used in isolation or do they all have to be used?

  • Yes, all four content areas have NRS approval and can be used independently.

 

Will DRC provide TABE CLAS-E training and adapt it to NRS requirements and policies?

 

About the test itself, it seems like there are multiple forms of the test. If there are multiple forms, can you pre and post on the same form or do you have to alternate forms?

  • Like TABE Forms 11&12 that have the levels E, M, D, A. TABE CLAS-E has Forms A&B with Level 1,2,3,4. Also, all processes that are used for TABE are followed for CLAS-E. A pre test of 11M is usually post tested with 12M unless the student did very well on the pre test and needs to be move to a Level D to allow for a scale score increase that moved to a higher NRS level. This is the same with CLAS-E, a pre-test on 1A would usually be post-tested on 1B.
  • For TABE Pretesting on 11 or 12 and post testing on the new forms 13 or 14 is not allowed and the same goes for pretesting on CLAS-E A or B can not then post test on C or D.

 

It looks like the forms A/B are expiring and C/D will not be ready to use until July. (Please confirm that the A/B versions would be available for programs until July 2025)

  • Correct Both 11/12 and A/B expire on June 30th 2025.
  • CLAS-E C/D Online launched in September and the paper version will be available in March.
  • TABE 13/14 Online will launch the January 20th and the paper version will be available in March.

AEPP Programs Assessment Planning & Updates - 02/12/2024

Monday, February 12, 2024

Greetings Program Managers: 

Please find the updated information on Assessments.

BEST Plus 3.0 and BEST Literacy 2.0 

The latest information we have from the Center for Applied Linguistics indicates that neither of these two new tests are ready for publication.  Their anticipated release time is within the next two months. CAL indicates they will no longer publish or sell any BEST Plus 2.0 or BEST Literacy 1.0 tests (paper or computer adaptive) and all programs must begin using the new assessments as of July 1, 2024.  

  • AEPP is in the process of negotiating a New York State discount on both of these assessments; more information will be sent to programs when available. AEPP funded programs will order and purchase these assessments directly from CAL once a discount is agreed upon.
  • There have been many questions about the new structure of the test, we have learned that the BEST Plus 3.0 will be available in print for NRS Levels 1 through 4, Levels 5 and 6 include audio portions that will require computer adaptive use only.  Programs will need to plan for implementation of this considerable change. 
  • We have also been informed by CAL there will be no “trade-in” accommodation for programs that have already purchased either paper or computer adaptive BEST Plus 2.0 tests that are being used in FY24. 

 

In terms of necessary training, all Adult Education staff funded by AEPP must attend the necessary transition remote training that CAL is providing.  The remote training is not yet available.  When it becomes available, AEPP funded programs will access the training by registering through their local RAEN office.  The training is remote and is planned to be at each user’s own pace.  We have been informed the training may take between 4 and 5 hours of time for each staff member to complete.  Upon completion, the RAEN will be notified as each trainee will receive a training certification enabling them to administer the new assessments. 

  • AEPP funded programs must not participate in this remote training until they are provided registration through the local RAEN office.  Again, this training is not yet available, when we are informed that CAL is prepared to release the training, the RAENs will be ready to promote the training and registration process in each region.
  • AEPP will continue to require BEST Plus Refresher Training through the RAEN offices that will begin July 1, 2025. 
  • Again, to be clear, none of these steps are available at this point in time, this is an effort to provide as much information as we are able to our programs so that planning may begin at the local level.  As more information is made available, AEPP will notify the field through the RAEN offices, keep aware of new information. 

 

Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) 13/14 forms

AEPP has been informed by the Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) that the start date for the new forms of the TABE 13/14 will not begin until July 1, 2025.  The test is not yet available for purchase; AEPP encourages our funded programs to check the DRC website periodically to be informed of the test availability.  TABE 11/12 will be used throughout the duration of FY2023/2024 and throughout FY2024/2025 for all National Reporting System requirements and for New York’s Reporting requirements. The most up to date information can be found at:

https://www.datarecognitioncorp.com/assessmentsolutions/tabe/(link is external)

The Accountability Office will be working closely with DRC to integrate any new expectations into the AEPP TABE Training as soon as they are made available from DRC; RAEN centers across the state will be prepared during FY25 to deliver the revised TABE 13/14 Training in anticipation of the shift to the assessments on July 1, 2025.  All AEPP funded program staff that intend to continue providing TABE assessments in FY25/26, will be required to attend the new TABE training during FY24/25.  Per NYS Assessment Policy, the training must be repeated every three years. 

For questions regarding Assessment Policy and planning, please email the AEPP office at: AdultEd@nysed.gov(link sends e-mail).

AEPP Team