Overview

TABE Complete Language Assessment System–English (CLAS-E) Writing is one section of the complete TABE CLAS-E suite of assessments designed for adult learners in ESOL programs. The assessment policies in Massachusetts require programs to use the CLAS-E Writing for all ESOL students whose goal is to improve their writing skills. This is a training to become a new TABE CLAS-E Expository Writing test scorer.

The TABE CLAS-E Writing Scoring two-part (seven hours total) online facilitated training is the second of four steps to become certified to score the TABE CLAS-E Expository Writing test:

  1. Before completing the seven-hour training, each participant must complete the online, self-paced Assessment Basics Webinar and TABE CLAS-E Writing Administration training. (See Prerequisites section below for more information).
  2. Complete the two-day TABE CLAS-E Writing Scoring online facilitated training.
  3. Complete the brief homework assignment (review materials, watch 6-minute video, and answer a few questions) – approximately one hour.
  4. Within three weeks after the training, practitioners are required to successfully complete the assigned scoring activity.

A note about materials: 

After registering, participants will receive an email from the Center for Educational Assessment (CEA) at UMass to confirm a mailing address (via a link to an online form). You will be asked for a mailing address, home or work, where the Center for Educational Assessment at UMass can ship training materials to you in the days leading up to the training.

***Given the timing of this training, you must register by Thursday, February 8th to receive paper copies of the materials via USPS. Registration will close on Thursday, February 8th to allow time for mailings. Please see the SABES calendar for future training dates, or email Kat Tremblay at kattremblay@umass.edu to discuss possible exceptions.

    Audience

    This professional development activity/course is designed for:

  • ESE/ACLS-funded practitioners who need to be trained as TABE CLAS-E Expository Writing scorers
Description

The TABE CLAS-E Writing Scoring two-part (seven hours total) online training is the second of four steps to become certified to score the TABE CLAS-E Expository Writing test (explained above).

  • This is a training to become a new TABE CLAS-E Expository Writing test scorer.
  • Training time will be spent learning about and using the CLAS-E Expository Writing Rubrics with the embedded Notes to the Scorer, the Supplementary Scoring Guide for the CLAS-E Expository Writing Assessment, and the TABE’s CLAS-E Writing Scoring Guide.
  • Participants are asked to arrive 5-10 minutes early in case of technology issues, but at a minimum must arrive on time for both sessions and must attend both sessions in their entirety to complete the first requirement of the certification. In addition, participants are expected to complete one hour of self-study between Day 1 and Day 2 of the training.

The CEA is managing registration for this training to ensure that as many programs as possible have access to this training.

  • This training is capped at 24 participants, and only two people per program will be permitted in this training.
    • If more than two participants from a single program sign up, the third participant (and any subsequent individual who signs up from that program) will be placed on a waitlist and contacted for interest and availability for a training at a later date.

***Given the timing of this training, you must register by Thursday, February 8th to receive paper copies of the materials via USPS. Registration will close on Thursday, February 8th to allow time for mailings. Please see the SABES calendar for future training dates, or email Kat Tremblay at kattremblay@umass.edu to discuss possible exceptions.

    Learning Objectives

    Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:

  • Explain the TABE CLAS-E Writing Scoring Rubrics and scoring rationale
  • Accurately score the students’ expository writing using the TABE CLAS-E Writing Rubrics and other scoring materials
Presenter(s) / Facilitator(s)
Prerequisites

Practitioners should complete the online Assessment Basics webinar (first) and CLAS-E Writing Administration Training (second) prior to the training. If you have already completed the Assessment Basics webinar, you do not need to complete it again.

Assessment Basics webinar: This webinar-based training takes 30-40 minutes and consists of two videos. The first video describes what assessment is, how assessment fits into curriculum and instruction, and how to interpret different types of test scores. The second video explains what assessments are required in Massachusetts for NRS reporting purposes and provides an overview of the ACLS assessment policies.

CLAS-E Writing Administration Training: This online training developed by the Center for Educational Assessment at UMass Amherst is a self-paced learning experience designed to last approximately 90 minutes. The training consists of the following modules:

  • Module 1: CLAS-E Writing Overview 
  • Module 2: What to Do Before Administering the CLAS-E Writing
  • Module 3: Administering the Locator Interview and Locator Test for First-Time Test Takers
  • Module 4: Administering and Scoring the Multiple-Choice Portion of the CLAS-E Writing Test
  • Module 5: Administering the Expository Writing Portion of the CLAS-E Writing Test
  • Module 6: CLAS-E Writing Administration Training (added September 2020)
  • Module 7: CLAS-E Writing Administration Training (added September 2020)
Date
02/23/2024 - 9:30 am to 02/23/2024 - 1:00 pm
03/01/2024 - 9:30 am to 03/01/2024 - 1:00 pm
Location

ONLINE
MA
United States

PD Team
Massachusetts NRS Assessments page
Topic Area
Assessment
ESOL/English Learners
Open Date
Close Date