[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 4, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56539-56540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22547]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
List of Approved ``Ability-to-Benefit'' Tests and Passing Scores
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice to remove the American College Testing Assessment test
from the list of approved ``ability-to-benefit'' tests.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary gives notice that the American College Testing
(ACT) Assessment: (English and Math) test is being withdrawn, at the
request of the test publisher, from the list of approved ``ability-to-
benefit'' (ATB) tests. The ACT Assessment test consists of a test of
English and a test of Math.
With this notice, the Secretary is amending the list of approved
ATB tests and passing scores that were published in the Federal
Register on April 19, 2002, under the authority of section 484(d) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) and the regulations
the Secretary promulgated to implement that section in 34 CFR part 668,
subpart J, by removing the ACT Assessment test and its passing scores.
An institution will no longer be permitted to use this 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.
Transition
Institutions are allowed to continue to make ATB eligibility
determinations using the tests and passing scores that were listed in
the April 19, 2002 Federal Register, including the American College
Testing (ACT) Assessment: (English and Math) until January 2, 2003.
After that date only the tests and passing scores included in this
notice may be used.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Kennedy, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., (830 Union Center Plaza),
Washington, DC 202025345. Telephone: (202) 3774050.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 18008778339.
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 5554255543) that provided a list of
eight ``ability-to-benefit'' tests. These tests were approved under
section 484(d) of the HEA and the regulations that were promulgated to
implement that section in 34 CFR part 668, subpart J. The notice also
included approved passing scores for each of the approved tests.
In a notice published in the Federal Register on October 27, 1998,
(63 FR 5754057541), we added the American College Testing (ACT)
Assessment to the list of approved ability-to-benefit tests.
In a notice published in the Federal Register on May 5, 1999, (64
FR 2424624247), we indicated that the nine approved ATB tests could be
used for testing students with disabilities if the tests are given in a
manner that is consistent with the applicable requirements of section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
In a notice on January 12, 2001 (66 FR 28922893), we approved the
Combined English Language Skills Assessment (CELSA) test as an English
as a Second Language (ESL) test under 34 CFR 668.153(a)(9) and (a)(4).
Additionally, in a notice published in the Federal Register on
April 19, 2002, (67 FR 1943019432), we extended the Secretary's
approval of seven ATB tests for five years and at the request of the
test publisher removed the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)--Forms
5 and 6, Level A as an approved ATB test.
List of Approved Tests and Passing Scores: For the convenience of
all interested parties, we have listed the eight ATB tests and passing
scores.
1. ASSET Program: Basic Skills Tests (Reading, Writing, and
Numerical)--Forms B2, C2, D2 and E2.
Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as
follows: Reading (35), Writing (35), 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) 3371030. Fax: (319)
3371790.
2. Career Programs Assessment (CPAT) Basic Skills Subtests
(Language Usage, Reading and Numerical)--Forms B and C.
Passing Scores: The approved passing scores on this test are as
follows: Language Usage (42), Reading (43), and Numerical (41).
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) 3371030. Fax: (319)
3371790.
3. 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 (25), Reading (62), and Writing (32).
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) 3371030. Fax: (319)
3371790.
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 931082794.
Contact: Pablo Buckelew. Telephone: (805) 5690734. Fax: (805)
5690004.
5. 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 (55), Sentence Skills (60), and
Arithmetic (34).
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 100236992.
[[Page 56540]]
Contact: Ms. Suzanne Murphy. Telephone: (405) 8429891. Fax: (405)
8429894.
6. Descriptive Tests: Descriptive Tests of Language Skills (DTLS)
(Reading Comprehension, Sentence Structure and Conventions of Written
English)--Forms MK3KDT and MK3LDT; and Descriptive Tests of
Mathematical Skills (DTMS) (Arithmetic)--Forms MK3KDT and MK3LDT.
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 100236992.
Contact: Ms. Suzanne Murphy. Telephone: (405) 8429891. Fax: (405)
8429894.
7. 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 939405703.
Contact: Ms. Veronika Guerrero. Telephone: (831) 3936416. Fax:
(831) 3937128.
8. Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST)--Verbal Forms VS1 & VS2,
Quantitative Forms QS1 & QS2.
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., 1795 N. Butterfield Road, Libertyville, IL 60048.
Contact: Mr. Victor S. Artese. Telephone: (800) 3233742.
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Note: The official version of this document is the document
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Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091(d).
Dated: August 28, 2002.
Candace M. Kane,
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid.
[FR Doc. 02-22547 Filed 9302; 8:45 am]
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