Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

FY15 BEST Plus Recertification

January 26, 2015

Dear Program Directors: Please share this important assessment information with the BEST Plus Test Administrators on staff.

BEST Plus Recertification Information:

First, thank you to all who have participated in assessing students this year. We know it takes time and careful attention on your part. It is so important that we continue to administer and score the standardized assessments correctly. If we are to maintain accurate scores statewide, then it is vital to make sure all administrators and scorers are following the same test protocols. A significant part of this process is ensuring that all BEST Plus test administrators are scoring strictly according to the BEST Plus rubric, and for test administrators to re-familiarize themselves with the scoring process (known as recalibration) each year before they test. To ensure scoring accuracy, BEST Plus test administrators must recertify annually by taking part in a Scoring Refresher and successfully completing a 30-minute scoring activity. Practitioners who took an Initial Certification training for BEST Plus during FY 15 (July 1, 2014- June 30, 2015) do not need to recertify at this time. Recertification entails successfully completing Scoring Activity #1. To ensure successful completion, the BEST Plus Scoring Refresher Toolkit must be reviewed first. In order to recertify, you must use the following materials:

A 3-ring binder entitled, "BEST Plus Scoring Refresher Toolkit," with two accompanying DVDs or VHS videos (The Refresher DVD/video and the Scoring Activities DVD/video)
A white booklet entitled, "BEST Plus Scoring Refresher Workbook, Test Administrator's Edition" which includes the answer sheets—Please copy one for each test administrator.

If you do not have these materials at your program, please purchase a new Refresher Toolkit and Refresher Workbook-Test Administrator Edition from the Center for Applied Linguistics. The procedure for submitting BEST Plus recertification has changed this fiscal year. Program Directors or Assessment Coordinators must send the BEST Plus Recertification Scoring Activities (Activity #1) together with the BEST Plus Recertification form - see attached form- to Joan Ford. The BEST Plus Recertification form must be filled out electronically. The practitioner's name must be on every scoring activity sheet as well. Each program must submit only one packet complete with this form and all the Activities from staff who wish to be recertified by Friday, February 27, 2015. Packets can be emailed, faxed, or mailed to Joan Ford, SABES Director of Assessment. Joan Ford will score and notify Program Directors or Assessment Coordinators of their staff's status by April 1, 2015. Packets will be corrected in the order they are received. Joan Ford's contact information: joan.ford@bristolcc.edu - fax: 508.730.3280 - mailing address: 777 Elsbree Street - Building Q, Fall River, MA 02027 Practitioners who scored in the recommended area for the past three years do not need to submit the recertification activity this year. Joan Ford will send program directors a list of those practitioners. Those passing the scoring activity will have their name and certification status entered into the SMARTT Professional Development database. (Please note: test administrators will not receive a certificate. Program directors or Assessment Coordinators will receive an email from Joan indicating the status of everyone on the list submitted with the Activities. Please print and retain the email indicating certification status and share with appropriate individuals.) The new certification will be valid for at least one year. For further details about the recertification criteria, please refer to the BEST Plus Assessment Policy Manual, page 6, found at ASLS Assessment webpage, under the section "Policy." Test Administrators who do not return their Scoring Activity by February 27, 2015 will not be able to administer the BEST Plus until they re-take the initial BEST Plus training and complete all the requirements. If you have any questions or concerns about BEST Plus, please feel free to contact Dana Varzan-Parker at dvarzan-parker@doe.mass.edu. Thank you for your continued hard work.

Attachment

BEST Plus Recertification form

Jola Conway
ABE State Director
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Last Updated: February 2, 2015