Welcome!

Please use the menu above to find out more about each online training and download training resources.

This blog was created to serve as a “one-stop shop” for all materials related to the online assessment trainings prepared by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Educational Assessment (CEA) for Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS).

If you have any questions, please email the CEA at aclstesthelp@educ.umass.edu.

BEST Plus 3.0: What Do I Do Now?

If you successfully completed CAL’s BEST Plus 3.0 transition training, here are some steps you can do now to prepare for the upcoming testing season:

  1. Make sure you submitted proof that you completed CAL’s transition training to UMass CEA. That can still be done here.
  2. Order test administrations and test administrator guides (TAGs) from CAL here.
  3. Get familiar with the test administration application and the test management online portal here. The blue buttons across the top of that page allow you to do the following:
    • Carefully watch the CAL Test Platform Demo to see how the application and portal work. It is highly recommended that you watch this first.
    • Download the CAL Test Platform App. This will need to be installed on your computer and can only be installed on Windows right now. Please work with your IT department as appropriate.
    • Login to the CAL Test Platform Web Portal. You can do this from any web browser.

Trainings for new BEST Plus 3.0 test administrators can be found on the SABES calendar.

You can find a flowchart of the steps practitioners will be expected to complete here.

TABE CLAS-E Reading and Writing – Webinar Powerpoint

On October 2, 2025 and October 6, 2025 the CEA and ACLS held two webinars to talk through CLAS-E administration guidance and provide an opportunity for attendees to share their experiences. While the session was not recorded, the powerpoint from the webinars is available here.

BEST Plus 3.0 – Webinar Powerpoint

On October 17, 2025 the CEA and ACLS held a webinar to talk through BEST Plus 3.0 administration guidance and provide an opportunity for attendees to share their experiences. While the session was not recorded, the powerpoint from the webinars is available here.

New on the Blog: MAPT-CCR Technical Manual, 5th Edition (2025)

This website provides information relating to adult education assessment in Massachusetts and beyond, and is the collaborative product of Public Adult Education in Massachusetts and the Center for Educational Assessment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.