Annual Recertification for BEST Plus Administrators and CLAS-E Writing Folio Scorers

Annually, ACLS and UMass-Center for Educational Assessment, the provider of standardized assessment trainings and publisher of the MAPT-CCR, release specific details about the required BEST Plus 2.0 and CLAS-E Writing recertification process. Below are some general expectations with respect to the annual recertification process:

• The BEST Plus 2.0 and CLAS-E Writing Scoring annual recertifications are conducted concurrently in the late winter-early spring to provide more time and flexibility. 
  • Please note, there is no BEST Plus 2.0 recertification during FY24 (see below for more details)
• The CEA communicates directly with program directors during the winter months via email. The goal of this communication is to confirm a list of program staff that need to complete recertification. In addition, the CEA will ask the program directors to also confirm the email address associated with each staff member.
• The CEA communicates directly with program directors during the winter months via email. The goal of this communication is to confirm a list of program staff that need to complete recertification. In addition, the CEA will ask the program directors to also confirm the email address associated with each staff member.  
• All materials needed to complete the recertification process will be made available to all practitioners needing to complete recertification.
• (CLAS-E Writing Folio Scorer – optional) Practitioners are encouraged to review the rubrics and supplementary scoring guide. This review can be done individually or as a program wide activity.  
  • Upon request, the CEA can provide scoring samples to certified scorers.  Please email your request to aclstesthelp@umass.edu.
• At the conclusion of the recertification period, the CEA will send a list of certified program staff to the directors. 

CLAS-E Writing Folio Scorer Recertification

To ensure scoring accuracy statewide, all CLAS-E Writing Folio Scorers need to complete the following activities to be recertified:

	Activities	Materials needed
1.	Watch the recertification video AND complete the attestation of task completion	1) Recertification video Click here to watch the recertification video 2) Attestation survey: Click here to complete attestation survey
2.	(optional, but recommended) Review the CLAS-E Expository Writing Rubrics with the embedded Notes to the Scorer	CLAS-E Expository Writing Rubrics with the embedded Notes to the Scorer
3.	(optional, but recommended) Review the TABE’s CLAS-E Writing Scoring Guide, which includes the Summary Chart (page 3), Glossary (pages 69-70), and Sample Responses (pages 13-61)	CLAS-E Writing Scoring Guide, which includes the Summary Chart (page 3), Glossary (pages 69-70), and Sample Responses (pages 13-61)

BEST Plus 2.0 Administrator Recertification Process

Due to the upcoming transition to BEST Plus version 3.0, there will be no recertification for BEST Plus 2.0 test administrators this spring (February 2024 – Summer 2024). Instead, CAL, the developer of the BEST Plus assessments, plans to release a free, self-paced, online transition training in early 2024.

Please Note: Once available, the free, online, self-paced transition training is mandatory for all BEST Plus 2.0 administrators who are planning to continue administering BEST Plus 3.0 in FY25.” 

For more information on the transition to BEST Plus 3.0, please visit the ACLS Test Help Blog’s homepage for a recorded webinar and FAQ, or visit CAL’s FAQ page.

Should you have additional questions about the transition to BEST Plus 3.0, please email aclstesthelp@umass.edu.