[AAACE-NLA] USCIS Naturalization Test Redesign

[Andy Nash]

Amy,
For those who will not be attending TESOL, what mechanisms are
available for giving feedback on the proposed citizenship test? Is
there, for example, a way to review your sample materials and respond on
a website?

Thank you,
Andy Nash
anash at worlded.org 

>>> Amy.Baide at dhs.gov 3/18/2004 3:22:10 PM >>>
Greetings!

As many of you may know, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS)
is currently revising the U.S. history, government and English tests
administered as part of the naturalization process.  

USCIS has placed a renewed emphasis on cultivating awareness and
understanding of American civic values and the commitments associated
with
U.S. citizenship. An important part of this objective is ensuring that
the
U.S. history, government, and English tests administered to
naturalization
applicants are fair, uniform, and meaningful. 

We have contracted with a professional test development company to help
us
redesign the tests. We're not planning on making the tests either more
difficult or easier.  We're also not going to allow the new test to
unfairly
impact any particular group of applicants. Instead, our focus is on
making
the test more meaningful and the process more standardized. Currently,
both
the content of the naturalization exam and the process used to
administer
the exam can differ from office to office.  We'll carefully pilot the
revised tests before beginning implementation in 2006. Once we finalize
the
content, our newly created Office of Citizenship will coordinate the
development of educational materials to help immigrants prepare for the
new
naturalization test and, more importantly, ensure they understand the
meaning of U.S. citizenship. 

We're planning on implementing a revised test format for the history,
government and reading tests, most likely using multiple-choice items.
However, we are open to your suggestions and feedback.  For the writing
and
speaking tests, we will show applicants photographs and ask them to
describe
them, some in writing and some orally.  Again, we are open to
exploring
other suggested formats.  Finally, we are considering allowing
applicants to
take the new test either on paper or on a computer, depending on their
preference. We are still studying these options and have not yet made
any
final decisions. 

Through the entire process, we have and will continue to consult with
our
stakeholders. We've received feedback from community representatives,
adult
educators, ESL instructors, and USCIS officers on issues ranging from
test
question format and content, to pilot test plans and study guide
techniques.


As an additional part of our efforts to obtain input and feedback on
the
redesign process, we will be presenting information at the TESOL
Convention
in Long Beach, CA, March 31st - April 3, 2004.    We will also be
providing
information at our booth for the duration of the convention, which
will
contain additional background on the test, as well as sample test
items.  If
you will be in attendance, we look forward to seeing you there. 

For more information about the USCIS naturalization test redesign
process,
or should you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please contact
us.
We are always willing to share our plans and want to hear your ideas.

Amy.Baide at dhs.gov 
Lynn.L.Thai at dhs.gov 
Gerri.Ratliff at dhs.gov 

www.uscis.gov 
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