Questions and Answers: Related to Operations Memo 04-14 Literacy and Numeracy, April 2, 2004
Question: If an agency used a testing tool (e.g., WRAT) that is not among the recognized tools identified in Operations Memo 04-14 as the pre-test prior to April 1, 2004, how should they record an attainment for the literacy and numeracy performance standard?
Answer: If the agency used a testing tool that was not identified in Operations Memo 04-14 (e.g., WRAT) as the pre-test prior to April 1, 2004, the same non-identified test must be used to record the attainment. The prior direction of having a 6-month to 12-month goal recorded in CARES at the beginning of the educational placement and met by evidence of the post test, will still apply to these situations.
Question: If an agency used a recognized testing tool prior to April 1, 2004, how will an attainment be determined?
Answer: If the agency used a valid testing tool (e.g.,TABE, ABLE) as identified in Operations Memo 04-14 prior to April 1, 2004 as the pre-test, the agency will continue to use that same test to record the gain in the post-test. However, if the 6 month to 12 month goal that was originally identified in CARES was not met by March 31, 2004, the agency will need to record an attainment based on Attachment A – Educational Functional Level Descriptors that accompanied Operations Memo 04-14.
Question: If we don’t get the TABE test results in the form of a raw score but rather in the form of a grade level, how would we record a literacy and numeracy gain?
Answer: The agency should use the chart attached to Operations Memo 04-14 to determine how the grade-level test result relates to the federal Educational Descriptors attainment level. A change in grade level (from pre- to post-test) counts as a literacy or numeracy gain only if it also represents a move to a higher attainment level. For example: A participant takes the TABE test at the start of Basic Education activities and scores a grade level of 2.2. A 2.2 grade level TABE score falls within the Beginning Basic Education level on the Educational Functioning Level Descriptors chart. In order to earn an attainment, the participant would need a post-test score that falls within the Low Intermediate Basic Education Level (which corresponds with a TABE grade level score of 4.0 - 5.9) or higher.
Question: What resources are available for training and obtaining copies of the valid testing tools?
Answer: Operations Memo 03-77 notifies the agencies of the following:
Technical Assistance and Training for W-2 Agencies
The Division of Workforce Solutions can provide technical assistance and training to W-2 agency staff on the topics of educational needs assessment, career counseling, career development assessment and how to select and use standardized assessment tools. Training can be conducted locally at a W-2 agency or at the Department of Workforce Development in Madison, depending on the request. To inquire about technical assistance or training please contract Roger H. Gantzarow, Director of Counseling and Testing, at 608-266-8390 or email him at roger.gantzarow@dwd.state.wi.us.