Thank you. Much appreciated. 


>>> "Patti White" <prwhite at MadisonCounty.NET> 06/05/06 10:45 AM >>>

I shot this question to our state ESL expert and here's his reply:

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Philip Less 
To: Patti White 
Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 9:26 AM
Subject: RE: [Assessment 343] TABE testing for non-native English
speakers


Hi Patti,
Interesting question. I wonder what kind of response she will get from
other NY folks or people in the field.

I know that TABE is developing and pilot testing a TABE-ESL exam this
year.  I don't know if it will be accepted by the feds to use in NRS
instead of the BEST or TABE or help in the situation mentioned below. 
Of course, the problem in a nutshell (in the example below) is that the
GED tests are not the same as the TABE.  In other words, it is not
really that surprising (if you think about it) that a student with a 6th
or 7th grade reading level can pass the GED.  Some people's reading
skills in 7th grade are probably as good as they will ever get.  The
only improvements we tend to make are in the realms of critical thinking
(gained with wisdom and experience perhaps) and vocabulary development
(gained over time). 

Philip


Dr. Philip Less, ESL Program Advisor
Arkansas Department of Workforce Education
Adult Education Section
Three Capitol Mall
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Tel: 501-682-1970
Fax: 501-682-1706
Email: philip.less at arkansas.gov 
Web: http://dwe.arkansas.gov 






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Patti White [mailto:prwhite at MadisonCounty.NET] 
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 8:13 PM
To: Philip Less
Subject: Fw: [Assessment 343] TABE testing for non-native English
speakers


Another one with your name all over it.......Thanks~
Patti


Patti White, M.Ed.

Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center

Disabilities Project Manager

479 232 5760 / 800 569 3539  v/tty/fax


prwhite at madisoncounty.net 

www.aalrc.org/html/ld/disab2.htm 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mae Dick 
To: assessment at nifl.gov 
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 11:21 AM
Subject: [Assessment 343] TABE testing for non-native English speakers


Hi. I am posting to this list for the first time. Currently I direct an
adult literacy program at LaGuardia Community College  in the City
University of New York.  We serve primarily an immigrant population and
offer classes in basic education, GED and ESL.

We have large numbers of non-native English speakers in our basic
education and GED classes.  We have WIA funding and, as you know, are
required to administer the TABE test for BE and GED students in reading
comprehension in order to measure gain and movement from one NRS level
to another.  While our students do quite well on the GED Practice test
and subsequently on the actual GED exam, their TABE reading scores are
often erratic, and we can have students scoring at 6th and 7th grade on
the TABE M and D who take and pass the GED exam after scoring well on
the GED Predictor.  I realize that the TABE reading test has its
difficulties and it is criticized in NYC (and probably elsewhere) as a
measure of progress.  Whatever its limitations may be,  my understanding
is that the TABE was normed on native English speakers.  I was wondering
if anyone has had experience and/or knowledge of the appropriateness of
the TABE for non-native English speakers?

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