FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
JOHN L. WINN
Commissioner of Education
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
LINDA K. TAYLOR
October 11, 2004
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Adult Education Directors
Community
College
Deans
Adult
Teachers
Adult Testing Personnel
Community Based Organizations
FROM:
Bonnie C. Marmor
Vice Chancellor for Workforce Education
SUBJECT:
Assessment of Adult Education Students, including English Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL) and Vocational English Speakers of Other Languages (VESOL) Students
As a result of the Federal Monitoring and Technical Assistance Visit of Florida’s Adult
Education programs September 8-12, 2003, there are some changes for assessment and reporting
of adult students effective immediately. These changes are as follows:
1.
All English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Vocational Speakers of Other
Languages (VESOL) students must be pre- and post-tested using either the
Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) (Life Skills or
Employability), Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Plus, Basic English Skills Test
(BEST) or the Adult Language Assessment Scales (A-LAS).
BONNIE C. MARMOR, ED. D.
Vice Chancellor for Workforce Education
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1352 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0446 • www.fldoe.org/cc
Assessment of Adult Education Students,
Including ESOL and VESOL Students
Page Two
October 11, 2004
English as a Second Language Oral Assessment (ESLOA), Tests of Adult Basic
Education (TABE) and Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST) cannot be used to
show student progression from one Educational Functioning Level (EFL) to the
next for NRS reporting purposes.
No adult education student in any discipline may be reported as completing an
Educational Functioning Level (EFL) by using a checklist. All students must be
post-tested to show progression. Checklists will no longer be accepted as a way
of showing progress or progression. CASAS requires about 70 to 100 hours of
instruction before post-testing and TABE requires about six (6) weeks between
testing.
2.
All adult general education students (including GED prep) must be pre-tested to
show initial skills upon entry into a program.
3.
If an adult ESOL/VESOL student was pre-tested using TABE prior to issuance of
this memorandum, you may post-test using TABE to show appropriate gains or
retest using CASAS, A-LAS, BEST or BEST Plus.
4.
The TABE may be used to determine the readiness of ESOL/VESOL students to
an Adult Basic Education (ABE) instructional program.
5.
The Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST) is currently under review by the U. S.
Department of Education to determine its suitability for use under the
accountability requirements of the National Reporting System. Until this review
has been completed and a determination made, the WBST cannot be used to
report educational level gain under NRS reporting guidelines.
6.
If an ESOL/VESOL student has not been tested recently and has been promoted
using a checklist, you will need to retest using CASAS, A-LAS, BEST or BEST-
Plus within this school year.
Assessment of Adult Education Students,
Including ESOL and VESOL Students
Page Three
October 11, 2004
State Board Rule 6A-6.014 and the Assessment Technical Assistance Paper are in the process of
being updated to reflect these changes. Please note that the changes noted above take effect
immediately. We understand that these changes may dramatically impact your program
operations. Please contact Robert Wofford at (850) 245-9906, or by e-mail at
bob.wofford@fldoe.org if you have any questions or require technical assistance regarding the
implementation of this new policy.
BCM/bwp
c: Nancy Cordill
Robert Wofford
Jane Silveria
