UMassAmherst: Psychometric Methods, Educational Statistics, and Research Methods (Psychometrics)
Center for Educational Assessment

Developing New Tests for Adult Basic Education in Massachusetts

Since January of 2003, the Center for Educational Assessment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has worked closely with the Massachusetts Department of Education's Office of Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) to develop achievement tests in math and reading that are appropriate for adult learners in Massachusetts. Our collaborative vision in creating these tests involved ensuring the tests are (a) aligned with the curriculum frameworks established by ACLS and the adult basic education (ABE) community in Massachusetts, (b) consistent with the instruction in ABE classrooms as directed by these frameworks, and (c) developed with comprehensive input from teachers and administrators from the ABE community in Massachusetts. Other activities completed as part of this contract include the preparation of guidelines and instruments to assist with program monitoring and developing additional writing prompts for an extant writing assessment.

To learn more about ACLS and what's going on with the Massachusetts Adult Proficiency Tests (MAPT), browse the Massachusetts Adult and Community Learning Services website.

Version 2 of the MAPT technical manual is available here.



Resources

Center for Educational Assessment

Key Links

Contact

Find out more!