Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.0.Beta5/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id LAA11296; Tue, 8 Dec 1998 11:37:43 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 11:37:43 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <s66d0fa4.003@cal.org> Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Carol Van Duzer <carol@cal.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:2737] Re: Testing X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise 4.1 The discussion on assessment is very timely. Last week I was able to sit in on a meeting at the US Dept of Education of the Public Work Group on Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Education and Family Literacy Core Indicators of Performance. These indicators will play a major role in funding decisions on the allocation of federal funds for adult ed in each state. This group, representative of labor, business, and service providers (including both admin and teachers), centered much of the discussion around the learning gains indicator--"demonstrated improvements in literacy skill levels in reading, writing, and speaking the English language, numeracy, problem solving, English language acquisition, and other literacy skills." Many of the group's concerns have been brought up on this listserv over the past couple of weeks--particulary that tests may not have any relation to the goals of the learners, that a test is just ONE tool and not the whole picture, and that most tests are not sensitive enough to show learner progress over a short period of instructional time. Although the Department of Ed is interested in seeing a consistent and rigorous assessment process (not necessarily a standardized test), it remains true, as some of you have pointed out in this discussion, that Congress and the general public understand "test scores." Fear remains that reliance on test scores will become the major factor in this indicator. If you work in programs that receive federal funding, you need to let your State Director of Adult Ed, who is currently working on a state plan to comply with the new federal regs, what you think. I urge you to contact yours ASAP. States will be negotiating their plans with the Dept of Ed. Carol H. Van Duzer National Clearinghouse on ESL Literacy Eduation (NCLE) Center for Applied Lingusitics Washington, DC visit our website at www.cal.org/ncle
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