Notice of Proposed Rule

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:

6A-6.014 General Requirements for Adult General Education Program

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule amendment is to change assessment instruments to align with the National Reporting System (NRS) for adult education. The effect on the local educational agencies will be the change of assessment instruments to properly assess adult speakers of other languages (ESOL).

SUMMARY: This rule is amended to provide consistency with the National Reporting System for adult education.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1008.405 FS., 1011.80 FS.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: March 21, 2006, 8:30 a.m.

PLACE: 400 South Monroe Street, Room LL03, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida 32399

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Bonnie Marmor, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Education, Division of Community Colleges, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida, (850)245-0446

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-6.014 General Requirements for Adult General Education Program.

In the operation of adult general education programs, the following general requirements shall apply:

(1) Facilities. Instructional facilities should be consistent with the number and nature of adults served, as well as instructional methods and objectives. They should provide program accessibility for persons with disabilities as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

(2) Enrollment. Enrollment shall be limited to individuals who have legally left the elementary or the secondary school as specified in Section 1003.21(1)(c), 232.01(1)(c), Florida Statutes; provided, however, that the school may temporarily assign individual students of compulsory school age to one (1) or more classes offered in the adult general education program where such students exhibit an educational need which can more effectively be served by the adult general education program when such courses are required for high school graduation.

(3) Teacher qualifications. Adult general education classes for which state funds are earned shall be taught by qualified teachers as defined in Rule 6A-1.0503, F.A.C., or as approved by a community college board of trustees as defined in Rule 6A-14.0247, F.A.C.

(4) Academic skills tests for adults.

(a) The following tests, English language versions only, are approved to be used for placement of a student enrolled in the adult general education program and shall be used according to standards established for test administration and interpretation set forth in Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (APA, AERA, NCME, 1992) and with appropriate accommodations modifications for students with disabilities as specified in Section 1004.02(7), Florida Statutes. Rule 6A-1.0943, F.A.C.

1. Tests of Adult Basic Eduation (TABE), Complete Battery or Survey Form, Forms 9 and 10, 2003; or, Adult Measure of Essential Skills (AMES) 1997;

2. Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE), Complete Battery or Survey Form, Forms 7 & 8, 1994;

3. Tests of Adult Basic Education - Work Related (TABE-WR) 1994; and

4. Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST) 1994.

(b) When testing students enrolling in Adult ESOL or VESOL whose first language is not English, one of the following tests must be used: If the testing instruments in paragraph (4)(a) of this rule do not meet the assessment needs of the adult student, one of the following alternative assessment instruments may be used for placement in an adult general education program:

1. Adult Language Assessment Scales (A-LAS, 1991);

2. Brigance Employability Skills, 1995;

3. Brigance Life Skills, 1994;

4. Comprehensive Test of Adaptive Behaviors (CTAB), 1986;

2.5. Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS), 1996 (reading and listening);

3. Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) - Life and Work, 2001;

4. Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Plus, 2003; or

5. Basic English Skills Test (BEST), 1984,

6. Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) Employability Competency System Reading Skills for English Literacy for Career and Technical Education (ELCATE) students. Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System - STRETCH (CASAS), 1996;

7. Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System - Test for Special Populations (CASAS), 1996;

8. Kaufman Functional Academic Skills Test (K-FAST), 1994; and,

9. Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) English as a Second Language Oral Assessment (ESLOA), 1995.

(c) If an adult student has a documented disability and the instruments in paragraph (4)(a) of this rule, with accommodations are not an accurate measure of the student's ability, one of the following tests shall be used for placement in an adult general education program:

1. Brigance Employability Skills, 1995;

2. Brigance Life Skills, 1994;

3. Comprehensive Test of Adaptive Behaviors (CTAB), 1986;

4. Comprehensive Adult Life Assessment (CASAS) - STRETCH, 1996;

5. Comprehensive Adult Life Assessment (CASAS) - Test for Special Populations, 1996; or

6. Kaufman Functional Adult Student Assessment System (K-FAST), 1994.

(d) If an adult student has a documented disability and the instruments listed in this rule are not an accurate measure of the student's ability, documentation must be kept showing an attempt was made to assess the student, and the results of this attempt should be kept in the student's record for audit purposes.

(5) Student progress will be measured by progression through Literacy Completion Points (LCPs) using one or more of the following:

(a) Grade level/scale score improvements measured by an approved test;

(b) Improvement of literacy or workforce readiness skills;

(b)(c) Successful completion of curriculum frameworks and course performance standards; or

(c)(d) Attainment of GED or Adult High School Diploma.

Specific Authority 1001.02(1) 228.061(4)(a)3., 229.053(1), 239.301 FS. Law Implemented 1008.405, 1011.80 228.061(4)(a)3., 239.115, 239.30 FS. History–Amended 2-20-64, 4-11-70, 11-17-73, 2-18-74, 6-17-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 12-6-84, Formerly 6A-6.14, Amended 12-28-86, 10-17-89, 12-29-98, ________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Bonnie Marmor, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Education

NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Chancellor David Armstrong, Division of Community Colleges

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: January 25, 2006

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: December 9, 2005