1. 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

2. 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

3. About CASAS Assessments
Re-usable test booklets -- cost-effective
Free training on CASAS website – contact for ESL training
Sample Test Items for test preparation available at no cost on CASAS website and in CASAS eTests

4. 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,

5. 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)

6. 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
* > product overviews > assessments > reading-goals

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. New Reading GOALS for ABE/ASE
Test Timing
Intake
Short Locator mins. – eTests only
Appraisal 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 minutes each (60 mins. for Level A)

11. 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 minutes each
Post-testing
Administer post-test(s) after hours of instruction but not less than 40 hours

12. 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

13. 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

14. CASAS Sample Test Items
Available at no cost at
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
Presenter:

15. 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

16. 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 .
There are restrictions to the use of company computers by employees.

17. Sample Test Item – Academic Vocabulary
Which word means the same as liberal as used in this announcement?
generous
radical
traditional
widespread

18. ***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.

19. ***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.

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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 to:
Or contact Karen Burger
2014 CASAS National Summer Institute

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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)

27. 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: > Product Overviews > Software > TOPSpro Enterprise > Sample Reports
2014 CASAS National Summer Institute

28. 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: > Product Overviews > Software > TOPSpro Enterprise > Sample Reports .
2014 CASAS National Summer Institute

29. 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

30. CASAS Website: www.casas.org
Register! A great resource for training & professional development.

31. 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
Martha Gustafson