Integrated System Approach CASAS Competencies Basic Skills Content Standards Reading, Listening & Math NRS-approved Assessments - Reading - Math - Listening Computer-delivered CASAS eTests and Paper NEW – Test on Chromebooks iPad testing available soon QuickSearch Online - Instructional Materials TOPSpro Enterprise software Automatically scores tests Produces student, class and agency level reports
About CASAS Assessments Group or individual administration -- practical for large and small programs eTests (computer-delivered): Improves quality of assessment Reduces staff time Very affordable
About CASAS Assessments Re-usable test booklets -- cost-effective Free training on CASAS website – contact philip.anderson@fldoe.org for ESL training Sample Test Items for test preparation available at no cost on CASAS website and in CASAS eTests
CASAS NRS-approved Assessments Tests for ABE/ASE NRS-approved through 2025 CASAS Reading GOALS for ABE/ASE (900 series) NRS-approved through June 2019 Life Skills Math (30 series) Life and Work Reading (80 series), Beg. Literacy, Forms 27 and 28,
CASAS NRS-approved Assessments Tests for ESL NRS-approved through June 2019 Life and Work Reading (80 series), Beginning Literacy, Forms 27 and 28 Life and Work Listening (980 series)
Reading Goals Information On the Reading GOALS page* on the CASAS website: Reading GOALS for ABE and ASE FAQs Reading GOALS Test Blueprint Sample Items at Levels A, B, C and D * www.casas.org > product overviews > assessments > reading-goals
Assessment and Research 2014 National Consortium, Certified Trainers, and Trainers-in-Progress Meeting June 16, 2014 Assessment and Research New GOALS series Reading GOALS approved for ABE/ASE through 2025 Reading GOALS for ELLs to be submitted on October 1, 2018 Math GOALS was submitted to OCTAE on April 1, 2018 Listening GOALS in development PRESENTER/TRAINER NOTES: Linda 2014 CASAS National Summer Institute
2014 National Consortium, Certified Trainers, and Trainers-in-Progress Meeting June 16, 2014 New Goals Series Strongly aligned with College and Career Readiness (CCR) Standards for Adult Education Reading – assesses higher order thinking skills (Depth of Knowledge), complex informational text, and vocabulary, including academic language Math – math concepts assessed in common life and work applications PRESENTER/TRAINER NOTES: Linda 2014 CASAS National Summer Institute
CASAS National Scale for ABE Equal interval scale determines learner skill levels learner gains transition from ESL to ABE/ASE Accurate from Beginning Literacy to Advanced Adult Secondary Skill Level Descriptors to interpret test results
New Reading GOALS for ABE/ASE Test Timing Intake Short Locator -- 10 mins. – eTests only Appraisal -- 30 mins. -- Paper and eTests Appraisal can be used alone for screening but not for NRS reporting New Reading GOALS for ABE/ASE Pre- and post-tests -- 75 minutes each (60 mins. for Level A)
Test Timing Life Skills Math or Secondary Math for ABE/ASE Life and Work Reading (80 series) for ESL and ABE/ASE Life and Work Listening (980 series) for ESL Pre- and post-tests -- 60 minutes each Post-testing Administer post-test(s) after 70 -100 hours of instruction but not less than 40 hours
New Test Series Content 2014 National Consortium, Certified Trainers, and Trainers-in-Progress Meeting June 16, 2014 New Test Series Content CASAS new Reading Series Blueprint reflects: CASAS Competencies Content Standards CASAS Reading Standards CCR Standards for Adult Education in the areas of: Reading Reading Foundations Reading Task Areas Depth of Knowledge (DOK) Linda 2014 CASAS National Summer Institute
Reading GOALS Item Types Multiple choice – All levels Comprehension (in existing Reading tests) Sentence completion New text and item features – Levels B, C, D Numbered lines in text passages Underlined words embedded in passage Level A only Photo prompts and distractors in beginning of the test Item Families – Multiple items related to one reading passage makes efficient use of test time 16
CASAS Sample Test Items Available at no cost at www.casas.org Reading -- Levels A – D Listening – Levels A – C, including audio files Use these sample test items to: familiarize students with CASAS items give students practice in taking a CASAS test help reduce student test-taking anxiety https://www.casas.org/product-overviews/curriculum-management-instruction/sample-test-items Presenter:
Sample Test Item – Cite evidence in text Which lines explain that the company is inspecting employees’ use of computers and the internet? A. lines 1-2 B. lines 3-4 C. lines 5-6 D. lines 7-8
Sample Test Item – Summarize Which statement best summarizes this announcement? The company requires a more straightforward computer-use policy. Too many employees have violated proper computer-use standards. The company plans to prohibit sending and receiving personal e-mail. There are restrictions to the use of company computers by employees.
Sample Test Item – Academic Vocabulary Which word means the same as liberal as used in this announcement? generous radical traditional widespread
***FDOE General Policies The Use of CASAS Assessments for ESOL Programs are required to administer the CASAS Oral Screening as the first step in the intake process. Pre-test all new students enrolling in both reading and listening. Do not post-test students before they have completed 70 hours of instruction. It is not allowed to use an average of the reading and listening pre-test scores to establish the EFL.
***FDOE General Policies The Use of CASAS Assessments for ESOL It is recommended to re-test students who stop out and return to classes in the same reporting year – “if the date of their most recent test exceeds four months”. For continuing students (those enrolled in the previous program year) the test scores from one year can be used for establishing the Initial EFL in the next year. However, it is recommended to re-test students with test scores that exceed four months. Philip.anderson@fldoe.org
Life and Work Listening – 980 series Appropriate for all ESL levels CASAS test levels A – C Available via computer in CASAS eTests Features Updated content and contexts, and more natural speech Developed based on content standards and competencies All aural - no reading (answer) options Picture item type and test booklet at Level A only Three item types per level Repetition at Level A and in first two item types of Level B Preview questions introduce the context of each question
Initial Implementation Select skill area(s) to be assessed (e.g., reading, math, listening) CASAS Training is required before implementation. Select training option: State or agency-sponsored face-to-face training by a CASAS Certified Trainer Distance Training – free online module for Initial Training CASAS Summer Institute eTests Training -- free online modules Coordinator Training Proctor Training Complete Online Implementation Agreement
Sign Up for Field Testing! 2014 National Consortium, Certified Trainers, and Trainers-in-Progress Meeting June 16, 2014 Sign Up for Field Testing! Research studies for new ELL Reading GOALS test series Item field testing for new Listening GOALS series Cooperative studies with GED Testing Service and ETS HiSET for new Reading GOALS and Math GOALS test series To participate in CASAS field testing and research studies, send an email to: fieldtesting@casas.org Or contact Karen Burger (kburger@casas.org) 2014 CASAS National Summer Institute
QuickSearch Online QuickSearch software provides an essential link between assessment and instruction in the CASAS system Available Online at no cost Helps select materials that match curriculum Provides quick, easy access to a database of more than 2,000 instructional materials Is correlated to more than 300 CASAS Competencies and content standards Includes print, audio, video, and software materials Is updated continuously
Advantages of using CASAS Accommodation features Enlarge text easily with touch screen Extra time (up to double time allowed) Research shows this is sufficient Low vision considered in font, layout and color selection in reading passages and test items Free short Practice tests online
Features of “Basic” Online Implementation Individual Student Skills Profile Individual Student Competency Performance Personal Score Report (at end of test) Test History -- of all test takers CASAS test form, test date, scale score, and scores outside of accuracy range Next Assigned Test Test Administrations -- # of tests given per month Export student test data to 3rd Party data system
Features of “Enhanced” Online Implementation Student Level Class Reports (Content Standards, Competencies) Monitor program effectiveness Class, Site and Agency Data Reports Track clients in multiple programs Record instructional hours Drill-down: reports-to-data Customizable listers, Ad hoc reporting State & Federal accountability reporting (NRS Fed Tables)
Reports for Students – Basic Online Implementation 2014 National Consortium, Certified Trainers, and Trainers-in-Progress Meeting June 16, 2014 Sample report displays competencies assessed in listening and reading. per student This is another example of an Individual Skills Profile report. This sample displays competencies and content standards assessed in reading and listening. Sample report available on the CASAS website at: www.casas.org > Product Overviews > Software > TOPSpro Enterprise > Sample Reports 2014 CASAS National Summer Institute
Reports for Teachers – Enhanced Online Implementation 2014 National Consortium, Certified Trainers, and Trainers-in-Progress Meeting June 16, 2014 Non-bold Competency Descriptions and Numbers give additional details about the test item. Bold Competency Descriptions give details about the Competency Number Test Question Number Percentage of students who answered this question correctly The Competency Number on which this question is based Task Area Sample report displays the competency number per test item and student item responses sorted by percentage correct. per form per class Class PRESENTER/TRAINER NOTES: This slide displays a Class Performance report sorted by percentage correct. This report is a popular alternative to the Class Profile report from the previous slide. Teachers can readily identify areas of greatest need to develop lessons that address those needs and prepare students for post/progress-testing. Sample report available on the CASAS website at: www.casas.org > Product Overviews > Software > TOPSpro Enterprise > Sample Reports . 2014 CASAS National Summer Institute
Reports for Teachers and Testers – Enhanced 2014 National Consortium, Certified Trainers, and Trainers-in-Progress Meeting June 16, 2014 Reports for Teachers and Testers – Enhanced Sample report displays every student who took a test and the test history for each student by agency by site by class PRESENTER/TRAINER NOTES: The Student Test Summary report lists, by agency, site, or class, every student who has taken a test and displays the test history for each student—including CASAS test form, test date, scale score, hours of instruction, and scores outside of accuracy range. 2014 CASAS National Summer Institute
CASAS Website: www.casas.org Register! A great resource for training & professional development.
Contacts CASAS Office in San Diego -- 800-255-1036 Tech Support press option 2 from 9 am to 8 pm Eastern time: To get started with CASAS eTests: Elizabeth Scheib escheib@casas.org Martha Gustafson mgustafson@casas.org