[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2892-2893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1055]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Ability-to-Benefit Tests

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: List of approved ``Ability to Benefit'' tests and passing 
scores; notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary updates the list of approved ``ability-to-
benefit'' (ATB) tests to include the Combined English Language Skills 
Assessment (CELSA) test Forms 1 and 2 published by the Association of 
Classroom Teacher Testers (ACTT). The Secretary has approved this test 
and its passing scores under section 484(d) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965, as amended (HEA), and the implementing regulations in 34 CFR 
Part 668, Subpart J. An institution may use the CELSA test as an 
approved English as a Second Language (ESL) test to determine if a 
student who does not have a high school diploma or its recognized 
equivalent is eligible to receive funds under any title IV, HEA 
program. (The title IV, HEA programs include the Federal Pell Grant, 
Federal Family Education Loan, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan, 
Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study, Federal Supplemental 
Educational Opportunity Grant, and the Leveraging Educational 
Assistance Partnership (LEAP) programs.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Kennedy, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Regional Office Building 3, Room 
3045, Washington, DC 20202-5451, Telephone: (202) 708-8242. If you use 
a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 25, 1996, we published a notice 
in the Federal Register (61 FR 55542-55543) that provided a list of 
eight ``ability-to-benefit'' tests that the Secretary approved under 
section 484(d) of the HEA and the implementing regulations in 34 CFR 
Part 668, Subpart J. We also included the approved passing scores for 
each of the approved tests. We added a ninth approved test, the 
American College Testing (ACT) Service test, and its passing score, in 
a Federal Register notice dated October 27, 1998, (63 FR 57540-57541). 
Finally, in a Federal Register notice dated May 5, 1999, (64 FR 24246-
24247), we indicated that the nine approved ATB tests could be used for 
students with disabilities if certain conditions were met.
    We are now adding a new approved test, the Combined English 
Language Skills Assessment (CELSA) test Form 1 and Form 2, as an 
approved English as a Second Language (ESL) test under 34 CFR 
668.153(a)(2) and (a)(4). The passing score for Form 1 is 90 and the 
passing score for Form 2 is 90.
    The CELSA test can be used to determine the ability-to-benefit of 
two groups of students whose native language is not English and who are 
not fluent in English. One group includes students who are enrolled 
solely in an ESL program. The second group includes students who are 
enrolled in a postsecondary educational program that is taught in 
English and has an ESL component where the students are also enrolled 
in the ESL component.
    Please note that the CELSA test cannot be used for the following 
three groups of students whose native language is not English and who 
are not fluent in English:
    Students who are enrolled in a program that is taught entirely in 
the students' native language which is not English.
    Students who are enrolled in a program that is taught in English 
without an ESL component.
    Students who are enrolled in a program that is taught in English 
with an ESL component but do not enroll in the ESL component.
    Under 34 CFR 668.145(c)(1), when the Secretary approves an ATB test 
and the passing score on the test, the Secretary publishes the name of 
the test and the passing score in the Federal Register. Accordingly, 
the Secretary is publishing this update notice to indicate the approved 
additional test, CELSA, and its passing score. For the convenience of 
all interested parties, we are also including the nine previously 
approved ATB tests and passing scores. These 10 tests and passing 
scores are:
    1. American College Testing (ACT): (English and Math)
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: English (14) and Math (15).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: American College 
Testing (ACT), Placement Assessment Programs, 2201 North Dodge Street, 
P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52243, Contact: Dr. James Maxey, 
Telephone: (319) 337-1100, Fax: (319) 337-1790.
    2. ASSET Program: Basic Skills Tests (Reading, Writing, and 
Numerical)--Forms B2 and C2.
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: Reading (34), Writing (34), and Numerical (33).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: American College 
Testing (ACT), Placement Assessment Programs 2201 North Dodge Street, 
P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52243, Contact: Dr. John D. Roth, 
Telephone: (319) 337-1030, Fax: (319) 337-1790.
    3. Career Programs Assessment (CPAT) Basic Skills Subtests 
(Language Usage, Reading and Numerical)--Forms A, B, and C.
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: Language Usage (43), Reading (44), and Numerical (42).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: American College 
Testing (ACT), Placement Assessment Programs, 2201 North Dodge Street, 
P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52243, Contact: Dr. John D. Roth, 
Telephone: (319) 337-1030, Fax: (319) 337-1790.
    4. Combined English Language Skills Assessment (CELSA), Forms 1 and 
2.
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: CELSA Form 1 (90) and CELSA Form 2 (90).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: Association of 
Classroom Teacher Testers (ACTT), 1187 Coast Village Road, PMB 378, 
Montecito, California 93108-2794, Contact: Pablo Buckelew, Telephone: 
(805) 569-0734, Fax: (805) 569-0004.
    5. COMPASS Subtests: Prealgebra/Numerical Skills Placement, Reading 
Placement, and Writing Placement.
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: Prealgebra/Numerical (21), Reading (60), and Writing (31).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: American College 
Testing (ACT), Placement Assessment Programs, 2201 North Dodge Street, 
P.O. Box 168, Iowa

[[Page 2893]]

City, Iowa 52243, Contact: Dr. John D. Roth, Telephone: (319) 337-1030, 
Fax: (319) 337-1790.
    6. Computerized Placement Tests (CPTs)/Accuplacer (Reading 
Comprehension, Sentence Skills, and Arithmetic).
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: Reading Comprehension (52), Sentence Skills (60), and 
Arithmetic (36).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: The College Board, 
45 Columbus Avenue, New York, New York 10023-6992 Contact: Ms. Loretta 
M. Church, Telephone: (212) 713-8000, Fax: (212) 713-8063.
    7. Descriptive Tests: Descriptive Tests of Language Skills (DTLS) 
(Reading Comprehension, Sentence Structure and Conventions of Written 
English)--Forms M-K-3KDT and M-K-3LDT; and Descriptive Tests of 
Mathematical Skills (DTMS) (Arithmetic)--Forms M-K-3KDT and M-K-3LDT.
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: Reading Comprehension (108), Sentence Structure (9), 
Conventions of Written English (309), and Arithmetic (506).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: The College Board, 
45 Columbus Avenue, New York, New York 10023-6992, Contact: Ms. Loretta 
M. Church, Telephone: (212) 713-8000, Fax: (212) 713-8063.
    8. Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE): (Reading Total, Total 
Mathematics, Total Language)--Forms 5 and 6, Level A, Complete Battery 
and Survey Versions.
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: Reading Total (768), Total Mathematics (783), Total Language 
(714).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: CTB/McGraw-Hill, 
20 Ryan Ranch Road, Monterey, California 93940-5703, Contact: Ms. Rea 
Christoffersson, Telephone: (831) 393-7363, Fax: (831) 393-7142.
    9. Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE): (Reading, Total 
Mathematics, Language)--Forms 7 and 8, Level A, Complete Battery and 
Survey Versions.
    Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: Reading (559), Total Mathematics (562), Language (545).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: CTB/McGraw-Hill, 
20 Ryan Ranch Road, Monterey, California 93940-5703, Contact: Ms. Rea 
Christoffersson, Telephone: (831) 393-7363, Fax: (831) 393-7142.
    10. Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST)--Verbal Forms VS-1 & VS-2, 
Quantitative Forms QS-1 & QS-2.
    Passing scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as 
follows: Verbal (200) and Quantitative (210).
    Publisher: The test publisher and the address, contact person, 
telephone, and fax number of the test publisher are: Wonderlic 
Personnel Test, Inc., 1509 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048-
1380, Contact: Mr. Victor S. Artese, Telephone: (800) 323-3742, Fax: 
(847) 680-9492.

Duration of Approval

    The Secretary approves each of these tests for five years, unless 
the Secretary withdraws this approval or the publisher requests that 
approval of a test be withdrawn. In either case, the Secretary will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register indicating this change.

Electronic Access to This Document

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    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
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    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091(d).

    Dated: January 9, 2001.
Greg Woods,
Chief Operating Officer, Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 01-1055 Filed 1-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P