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Student Assessment
The following ABE tests are approved for use in FY26:
MAPT-CCR
TABE Forms 13/14
TABE Literacy (TABE L) Forms 11/12
The following ESOL tests are approved for use in FY26:
BEST Plus 3.0
TABE CLAS E Reading Forms C/D
TABE CLAS E Writing Forms C/D
LACES will not assign an NRS entry level for TABE Forms 11/12, CLAS E Forms A/B, and BEST Plus 2.0 and the scores will not be available to be moved forward from FY25 to FY26.
MAPT-CCR and TABE L tests administered on or after April 1, 2025, can be moved forward into FY2026 and used as a pre-test until December 31, 2025.
Programs that use the TABE can purchase materials directly from the test publisher's website . ACLS and UMass CEA will no longer provide modified instructions or answer sheets for CLAS E forms C/D. Programs must follow the test publisher guidelines and use the official answer sheet options when administering the CLAS E Reading and Writing tests.
As per this assessment memo, starting July 1, 2025, ACLS requires only one scorer for each examinee's Expository Writing portion of the test. Once all five items have been scored, scorers must total the scores from individual items (writing folio and multiple choice) and use the scoring tables to find the scale score. Email aclstesthelp@umass.edu to request the scoring tables.
Starting July 1, 2025, BEST Plus 2.0 is transitioning to BEST Plus 3.0. Thank you to the 385 currently certified BEST Plus 2.0 test administrators who completed the BEST Plus 3.0 transition training! BEST Plus certified test administrators who did not complete the training have the option to complete the CAL training for a fee of $125 (see more details at BEST Plus 3.0: Test Administration and Scoring Training Course (New) - Choose Registration ) or complete the free UMass CEA training (check SABES Calendar for training dates).
Practitioners seeking initial certification in BEST Plus 3.0 test administration (i.e., practitioners who have never certified in any version of the BEST Plus test) must take the new BEST Plus 3.0 training offered by UMass CEA. UMass CEA anticipates BEST Plus 3.0 trainings will start in August 2025. Please check the SABES Calendar for updates.
This flowchart shows the BEST Plus 3.0 initial certification steps a practitioner is expected to complete.
ACLS is in the process of updating the Assessment Policy Manual to include references to new test forms, new/revised policies, and policy clarifications. ACLS anticipates posting the FY2026 Assessment Manual on the ACLS assessment page by the beginning of FY26.
Last Updated: June 13, 2025