1. Literacy and
Numeracy for Adults
Assessment Tool
Joanne McCracken
What you need to know!
12 October 2012

2. This session will outline
Where we are
Current expectations with the Tool
Where we are going
Future of the Tool

3. Context
• Tool designed to help teaching and learning,
diagnose learners’ proficiencies, and collect
comparable data
• Tool developed in 2009, rolled out from 2010,
usage required from 2011.
• Professional Development provided through
National Centre of Adult Literacy and Numeracy
• Capability planning given to institutions to
embed literacy and numeracy, which includes
using the Tool

4. TEC funding
• We want to help improve literacy and numeracy
outcomes for learners in all foundation level
education. Performance matters.
• For all level one to three provision:
– 100% Assessment Tool usage
– 100% Embedding Literacy and Numeracy
• We will only fund provision that does both
• Stated in Plan Guidance (Initial and
Supplementary), reinforced in Level 1-2 process

5. TEC funding
• The Ministry (and Minister) determine overall
policy and funding levels. We operationalise.
• The funding determination (159L) is to be
revised and strengthened to reflect changes.
• Assessment Tool usage guidelines to be
revised. They apply across several funds -
SAC, STM, ILN, ILN ESOL, WPL, YG, FFTO
• These guidelines will shortly become ‘rules’
and ‘conditions’ of funding.

6. Starting Points and ESOL learners
• ‘Starting Points’ assessment guide is useful
for ESOL and pre-Progressions learners.
• New guidelines will be put in place for clarity
about Assessment Tool or Starting Points
• Snapshot Threshold assessment
– Above threshold Assessment Tool
– Undecided -
– Below threshold Starting Points

7. Usage
• 100% usage means learners should have at
least one initial and one progress assessment
• 100% of learners WHO ENROL must
complete an initial assessment
• 90% of learners WHO COMPLETE must
complete a progress assessment
• Exemption for progress assessment if learner is assessed at Steps 5 or 6

8. Tool information in future
• How we will use Tool information in future?
• Current focus is on increasing uptake and
information collection NOT tying funding to
‘performance’ or ‘gain’
• However, proposed LN gain indicators and
other information will help INFORM future
funding decisions

9. Tool information in future
When will the definitions of performance indicators for
literacy and numeracy and the Tool be released?
The TEC will release the first version of the definitions and
rules for calculating performance indicators for literacy and
numeracy provision and gain once
(a) feedback has been sought and obtained on the
indicators for all funds with a literacy and numeracy
component and
(b) this feedback has been considered.
The TEC anticipates that this will be later this year.

10. Tool information in future
When will Assessment Tool data be made
available the sector?
The TEC will advise a date for this.
This will be after the release of the first version
of the definitions and rules for calculating
performance indicators for literacy and
numeracy provision.

11. Gain
• TEC will shortly release rules and definitions
regarding L+N gain indicators after all
feedback is considered.
• 3 indicators are being finalised
– gain based on Assessment Tool scores
– number of learners receiving assessments (percent assessed)
– percentage of LN provision that is embedded

12. New development
• A paper-based snapshot assessment will be
launched after Labour Weekend!
Unique NSNs (learners) using each assessment in 2011
Full Snapshot
Online 55,100. (3,230 use the 30,400.
online non-adaptive
assessment).
Paper- 38,322
based

13. New development
A revised alignment
diagram between the
Progressions and NZQF
is being produced.

14. New development
• Of interest for those in workplaces or who are in
WPL-funded courses
• Skills Highway programme transfer
• Focuses on employers to encourage and
stimulate demand for training
• We also fund CTU’s Learning Reps
programme – stimulate demand from
peer-to-peer support and increasing
employee engagement

15. Answers and help
• Online Tool support on National Centre website
http://literacyandnumeracyforadults.com
and click ‘Assessment Tool Support
• TEC usage guidelines
search ‘Assessment Tool Guidelines’ on www.tec.govt.nz.
Usage requirements differ by fund.
• NZCER Helpdesk
assessforadults@nzcer.org.nz
04 381 4576, Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm

16. Some brief group work
• Given the current context and your
experiences:
• What is GOOD about using the Tool?
• What are some CHALLENGES with
using the Tool?
• What COULD BE DONE to improve
the Tool’s usage or resolve issues?