Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

FY17 CLAS-E Writing and BEST Plus 2.0 Recertification Reminder

To:ACLS Program Directors, ACLS Teacher / All Staff; ACL-SABES; ACLS Local Workforce Investment Board; ACLS Career Center Directors
From:Jolanta Conway
Date:February 24, 2017
BEST Plus 2.0 FY17 Recertification deadline is March 7, 2017. Practitioners must submit their scores online by this date. Please see instructions in the BEST Plus 2.0 FY17 recertification memo. Practitioners do not need to buy a new Scoring Refresher Toolkit or a new Scoring Refresher Workbook, Test Administrator's Edition in order to prepare for the recertification. Please note that the scoring activity no. 3 video is not available online. Practitioners must watch the DVD video on a separate device while submitting their scores online. For any technical problems with the BEST Plus 2.0 online score submission or any assessment questions, practitioners must email or call: Please do not email or call the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) for technical difficulties with the online submission or BEST Plus 2.0 assessment-related questions.

FY17 CLAS E-Writing Recertification

Step 1: Take the FY16 CLAS E-Writing Scoring Refresher (recommended) In order to prepare for the FY17 CLASE-Writing Recertification, ACLS recommends that program directors/assessment coordinators read this important information about the FY16 TABE CLAS E-Writing Scoring Refresher and forward this email and attachments to CLAS-E test administrators on staff. ACLS strongly encourage that CLAS E-Writing test administrators take the practice test before they recertify. Below are directions for using the refresher packet. The CLAS E FY16 Refresher Packet contains 20 questions from last year's (2016) recertification. CLAS E-Writing administrators may use these to conduct a scoring refresher session. They may take the "practice test" individually or as a group to test themselves using the 20 sample questions, and check their answers using the attached scoring rationale. To prepare for scoring this refresher test, practitioners must first review the following materials:
  1. The CLAS-E Expository Writing Rubrics with the embedded Notes to the Scorer
  2. The Supplementary Scoring Guide for the CLAS-E Expository Writing Assessment
  3. The TABE's CLAS-E Writing Scoring Guide, which includes the Sample Responses in Parts 4 and 5.
Important Note: When determining a score response, the Writing Rubrics are the most important item to use of the three above. The Supplementary Scoring Guide is meant to support one's understanding of the Rubrics and not to supersede them. The Sample Responses should also be used to inform one's scoring, but if their information is in conflict with or contradicts the Rubric or the Supplementary Scoring Guide, follow what the Rubric indicates first. Practitioners must ensure that the correct rubric is used for each item being scored. Step 2: Submit the FY17 CLAS E-Writing Recertification (mandated) Consistent with FY16 recertification procedures, Program Directors/Assessment Coordinators must complete the attached TABE CLAS E-Writing Scoring Recertification Program Form. The form must be completed electronically (no handwritten forms will be accepted) and emailed to Annemarie Espindola, SABES Assessment Center Director, by Friday March 10, 2017. Program directors/assessment coordinators listed on the form will be notified by email of their test takers' scores and recertification status by Friday April 7, 2017. Recertification is required annually. Practitioners receiving their Initial Certification in FY17 do not recertify until FY18. Test administrators who wish continue to administer and score the TABE CLAS-E Writing assessment need to complete the accompanying recertification, which uses actual Massachusetts ABE student responses. Please note that each test administrator needs to go online to enter scores and rationales. Paper documents will not be accepted. Please submit your individual scores and rationales. Please note that the link works best if the Google Chrome browser is used. The deadline for submitting the scores and rationales online is Friday March 24, 2017. The score sheet included in the FY17 recertification packet gives you space to note your score and rationale before going online to enter your information in the electronic score sheet. It is imperative that practitioners use the correct CLAS-E Expository Writing Rubrics with the Embedded Notes to the Scorer and The Supplementary Scoring Guide for the CLAS-E Expository Writing Assessment when scoring the items in the Recertification Packet. Your scoring rationale should reflect the wording in the Rubrics. Scoring Process: Test administrators pass if:
  • They score 70% or better, with six or less items incorrect (e.g. exact scores according to the Score Rationale. One of the six items may be two points off).
It is optional but highly recommended for test administrators to review the score rationale individually or with other program staff. Their passing status is sent to the program director and test administrator and then logged into the database. (Note: test administrators will not receive a certificate. Program directors should print out the email indicating practitioners' certification status to give to practitioners. Everyone should retain a copy for their records.)
Test administrators need to go through a remediation by phone if:
  • They score 60–65%, with seven to eight items incorrect (e.g. exact scores according to the Score Rationale. One of the seven or eight items may be two points off).
They will set up a time for a remediation session by phone. Once the phone remediation is complete and has been determined to have been successful by the SABES Assessment Center, test administrators may score tests. Their status is sent to the program director and test administrator and then is logged into the database. (Note: test administrators will not receive a certificate. Program directors should print out the email indicating practitioners' certification status to give to practitioners. Everyone should retain a copy for their records.)
Test administrators may not score in FY17 or FY18 until they take another face-to-face training if:
  • They score 55% or less, with nine or more items incorrect (e.g. exact scores according to the Score Rationale).
They may not score any tests until they attend a CLAS-E Writing training. Trainings for this purpose will be scheduled. Directors should hire another certified administrator to complete their post-tests. Directors may contact other directors or the SABES Assessment Center for names of potential scorers.

Once they complete the training, their status is sent to the program director and test administrator and then logged into the database. Program directors should print out the email indicating practitioners' certification status to give practitioners. Everyone should retain a copy for their records.)
Recommended Preparation for Taking the FY17 Recertification: To prepare for scoring the recertification test, make certain that you first review the following materials:
  • The CLAS-E Expository Writing Rubrics with the Embedded Notes to the Scorer (attached)
  • The Supplementary Scoring Guide for the CLAS-E Expository Writing Assessment (attached)
  • The TABE's CLAS-E Writing Scoring Guide, which includes the Sample Responses in Parts 4 and 5 (each program should have a copy).
Reminder: When determining a score response, the Writing Rubrics are the most important item of the three listed above. The Supplementary Scoring Guide is meant to support one's understanding of the Rubrics and not to supersede them. The Sample Responses should also be used to inform one's scoring, but if their information is in conflict with or contradicts the Rubric or the Supplementary Scoring Guide, follow what the Rubric indicates first. Make certain you are using the correct rubric for each item you are scoring. Please do your own work and do not share the scoring packet in this mailing with anyone. For any assessment-related questions, please contact Dana Varzan-Parker, ACLS Assessment Specialist, or Annemarie Espindola, SABES Assessment Center Director.



Last Updated: March 1, 2017



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