Return-Path: <nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i8FD6RR19741; Wed, 15 Sep 2004 09:06:27 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 09:06:27 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <41483D8E.75EDA5A9@udel.edu> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Cynthia E. Shermeyer" <cesherm@UDel.Edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:646] RE: recommended instructional hours before X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.77 [en]C-CCK-MCD (Windows NT 5.0; U) Status: O Content-Length: 3897 Lines: 97 Maria and Cathy, I am a trainer for the BEST Plus from CAL. In trainings when asked that question I tell people that research shows that it takes a minimum of 60 hours to show some progress. Can't think of the exact researcher now - can check in my grad books however I believe H D Brown mentions that in his new book on language assessment. Carol Van Duzer (CAL) would be the best bet to double check - but I also know that many programs and places will alter the number of hours for post testing due to the needs of their programs. For example - In my program, (We used the Oral BEST - now we completely switched to the BEST Plus - we do not always have the students 60 hours before they leave but we do have them over 12 hours which means they are reportable to the FEDS. The dilemma is that we do need the post data for NRS, but realistically - can we show progress and gains? We end up testing students after three month of classes - roughly 40 hours to catch those who will leave us after the Dec. break. Then we test again at the end of the program in May. As you can imagine it is costly and time consuming. So in summary - for the BEST Plus - recommended hours before testing is 60 but it is up to the program and the state as to their testing policy. Cindy Shermeyer Marie Cora wrote: > > Hi Cathy and everyone, > > Good question. I know this is a question on many people's minds. > > Off the top of my head: the state of Mass. grappled greatly with > test/retest requirements with the TABE. The state contracted with the > Center for Educational Assessment at UMass, Amherst who performed > various analyses on retesting and numbers of instructional hours and the > results and recommendations can be found at: > > http://www.sabes.org/assessment/tabe.htm > > The state now follows these requirements. > > Each of the tests that you mention, Cathy, (TABE, BEST, CASAS) should > state a minimum number of hours before retest in their corresponding > Norms Book. Any program that has purchased any of these assessments > should have the Norms Book. > > If you go to the LINCS Assessment Support Website and click on > Measurement Tools, the contact information for each test is there. That > could also be a place to look for this information - by emailing > personnel at the test publisher. > http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/assessment/tools.html > > All that said, I'm sure you are looking for a quick answer here, rather > than slogging thru all those exciting norms books! > > Does anyone happen to have these numbers off the top of their head? In > the meantime, I'll go slogging myself and see what I can find. > > Thanks, > marie cora > Moderator, NIFL Assessment Discussion List, and > Coordinator/Developer LINCS Assessment Special Collection at > http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/assessment/ > > marie.cora@hotspurpartners.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: nifl-assessment@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-assessment@nifl.gov] On > Behalf Of Cathy Shank > Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 1:59 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:642] recommended instructional hours before > retest? > > Does anyone know what each of the test publishers for TABE, CASAS, and > BEST > recommends as the MINIMUM number of instructional hours before someone > is > reassessed? > > With high stakes testing, many centers are under pressure to post-test > sooner (before a student drops out) in order to demonstrate some type of > progress. We are wondering what the test creators have said about > optimum/minimum instructional time between tests. > > Cathy C. Shank > ABE Professional Development Coordinator > Adult Education and Literacy Information Network > RESA III, 501 22nd Street > Dunbar, WV 25064 > phone: 304-766-7655 ext. 112 > toll-free: 1-800-257-3723 ext. 112 > fax: 304-766-7915 > email: cshank@access.k12.wv.us
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