Changes and Requirements for Using COMPASS and ESL for Ability to Benefit (ATB) Testing

1. New Department of Education Financial Aid Rules (effective as of July 1, 2012; Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012, Public Law 112-74)
   • For New ATB* Students Enrolling July 1, 2012 or After: No Longer Able to Use Test Results to Become Eligible for Federal Title IV Financial Aid Resources
     • Beginning July 1, 2012, to be eligible for Title IV financial aid programs, all new, first time enrolling students must have either a high school diploma or a GED certificate (testing results can no longer be used by new students).
   • For ATB* Students Enrolled On or Before June 30, 2012: May Continue To Use Test Results (such as COMPASS or ESL tests in COMPASS System) to Become Eligible for Federal Title IV Financial Aid Resources
     • *ATB (Ability To Benefit) regulations apply to students who have not graduated from high school or do not have a GED, who wish to use approved test results to become eligible for federal Title IV financial aid programs and services.
     • The most recent statement from the US DOE on the new July 1, 2012 ATB regulations includes a helpful clarifying section in the middle of the document called Grandfathering Test:, along with information at the end of the document about who to call or email with additional questions (Federal Student Aid Research and Customer Care Center at 800-433-7327 or email the Care Center at fsa.customer.support@ed.gov).
     • To access the US DOE Clarification document (publication date: June 28, 2012), go to: http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN1209.html
   • Extension of COMPASS and ESL ATB Testing Services for Institutions by ACT (for Use After July 1, 2012 Only with ATB Students Who Enrolled Prior to July 1, 2012)
     • To assist institutions as they provide testing services for ATB students enrolled before July 1, 2012, ACT is extending the current set of COMPASS and ESL ATB testing services beyond July 1, 2012, to respond to the changes in ATB policy at the federal level (continuation of certification of new test administrators, automatic renewal of certifications, data reporting to ACT for students tested for ATB purposes, etc. as described in Box B below).
   • Extension of Current COMPASS and ESL ATB Test Administrator Certificates
     • To assist institutions going forward, ACT has automatically extended all COMPASS/ESL ATB Test Administrator certificates (for individuals in good standing) through June 30, 2013 . Each Certified COMPASS ATB Test Administrator has received an e-mail message from ACT (dated June 19, 2012) with notification that their Certification has been extended through June 30, 2013.
     • Certified individuals are required to attach the “Certification Extension” e-mail message to their current certificate, to verify eligibility to administer COMPASS and ESL ATB exams for ATB purposes.
     If you have additional questions related to ATB Test Administrator Certification, please email ACT at ATB@act.org or call 319.341.2269.

2. ATB Testing Requirements for COMPASS and ESL Tests in COMPASS (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012; July 1, 2012 and beyond)
   1. COMPASS (and ESL) ATB Test Administration Certification Process
      
      • All individuals who administer the COMPASS tests (or the ESL tests in COMPASS) for ATB purposes must be certified by ACT and pass a COMPASS ATB Test Administration Knowledge Test to be eligible to conduct ATB testing sessions—for students who will later use the results as part of their Ability-to-Benefit eligibility requirements for accessing Federal Title IV Financial Aid grants or loans.
      • This certification process requires completion and submission to ACT of an Application for Certification as a COMPASS ATB Test Administrator and successful completion of a COMPASS Test Administrator Knowledge Test. Certified individuals will then receive a COMPASS ATB Test Administrator Certificate from ACT, which qualifies the individual to serve as a COMPASS/ESL ATB Test Administrator.
      • To become certified as a COMPASS or ESL ATB Test Administrator, begin the process by completing the COMPASS/ESL Ability To Benefit Test Administrator Application (online).
   2. Top Ten (10) Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (PDF; 3 pages, 35KB)
      • Updated June 1, 2011; includes information about the process for completing the Application for Certification
   3. COMPASS ATB Test Administration Manual (PDF; 24 pages, 140KB)
      • June 10, 2011 edition; contains specific requirements for ATB test administration procedures and details regarding the COMPASS and ESL Test Packages required to be used for Ability-to-Benefit testing; updated June 16, 2011 to include Attachment A: COMPASS ATB Data Release Item
   4. COMPASS/ESL ATB Student and Test Administrator Identification Form (PDF; 1 page, 32KB)
      • This form must be completed at time of testing for each ATB test (COMPASS or ESL) administered by the institution, requiring the gathering of individual student identifying information (and signature) from the examinee and the entry of Certified COMPASS/ESL Test Administrator information (and signature) by the certified test administrator delivering the testing to the examinee.
      • The form may be copied as needed. Some entries (such Institution Name, Street Address, City, State, Zip, Institution Telephone Number, Test Administrator's Printed Name, and Test Administrator's ID Number) may be pre-filled.
      • The Student Information (ID Number, Printed Name, Signature, Test Date) and Certified Test Administrator's Signature and Test Date (all noted with an *) must be original and completed in colored ink (red, blue, green; cannot be black ink).
      • The form also includes initial instructions for how to deliver the required information to ACT as part of the U.S. Department of Education Ability to Benefit financial aid regulations, which are in effect as of July 1, 2011 (different procedures for "assessment centers" and for use by Independent Test Administrators at "sites not qualifying as an assessment center").
   5. Procedures for Preparing and Returning the COMPASS and ESL ATB Certification Testing Information File to ACT (PDF; 2 pages, 18KB)
      • These instructions describe the final steps required for institutions that meet the US DOE requirements for qualifying as "an ATB Assessment Center." Note: All ATB Data Reports for the period of July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 must be returned to ACT by July 31, 2012. Reports for each quarter (July-September; October-December; January-March; April-June) in the period of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 must be returned to ACT by the end of the month following the end of each quarter.

   Students may qualify for eligibility for ATB access to Federal Title IV Financial Aid programs by exceeding the minimum score levels on the appropriate tests and completing specified additional demographic items within the required COMPASS or ESL test packages.

Minimum COMPASS Score Achievement Requirements for ATB Students

(Effective for students tested June 19, 2002, and beyond)

Note: Students must achieve or exceed these minimum scores in each COMPASS test.

Minimum ATB Qualifying Scores for the ESL Tests in the COMPASS System

(Effective for students tested May 19, 2006, and beyond)

Note: Students must achieve or exceed these minimum scores in each ESL test.