Family & Community Adult Education Adult & Community Learning Services
Adult and Community Learning Services

Progress on the Development of the Massachusetts ABE Reading and Math Assessments

After these reports were made in February 2004, a few points in the reports have been revised:

1. A goal of the assessments is to deliver them on computer with an adaptive test delivery design (e.g. where the test targets questions to the test-taker's ability by using the scores from previously answered questions on the test)
2. UMASS will explore integrating Level 1 tests into the currently proposed assessment system.
3. Some portion of the Level 1 tests may be individually administered (not by computer) to a test-taker.
4. Objectively scorable constructed-response items should be included on the math tests. (Constructed response items are ones in which test-takers must provide their own answer instead of selecting one from a listed set, like in multiple choice questions.)
5. Tests will provide reliable scores for students (e.g., individual scores as well as aggregated scores across students within ABE programs).
6. UMASS will explore the use of tests as competency determinations for a high school diploma and "bridge tests."