PROPOSED Program 2623.01 - Revised 10/20/14�

 

TEST SECURITY PROVISIONS FOR STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS

 

It is the intent of the Board that all staff comply with the requirements of the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) regarding test security and integrity of all statewide assessments as designated by IDOE.�

 

The Superintendent shall:

A.    Oversee the educational program, including assessments.

B.    Assume responsibility for the testing program.

C.   Ensure the development of a test security policy for the corporation and each individual school.

D.   Implement ethical testing practices and procedures.

E.    Designate Corporation Test Coordinator (CTC and School Test Coordinator(s) (STC)

 

The Corporation Test Coordinator (CTC), shall:

F.    Inventory and track assessment materials.

G.   Control the secure storage, distribution, administration, and collection of tests.

H.   Ensure that no tests are discussed and/or reproduced in any manner.

I.      Ensure ListServ messages and updates from the Office of Student Assessment are distributed to relevant corporation and school staff.

J.    Ensure that all school staff (including but not limited to principals, teachers, custodians, front office staff, etc.) are aware that once test materials are delivered to the corporation office and to the school, the materials must be securely stored until the materials are in the care of the CTC or School Test Coordinator (STC).� In the rare, but possible, event that test materials have been routed to the wrong location, staff must be informed of the locally developed protocol that must be followed to ensure the materials are correctly routed to the CTC or STC immediately.

K.    Ensure all applicable staff receive Test Security and Test Administration training prior to the beginning of testing.

L.    Ensure all applicable school and corporation staff review and sign the Indiana Testing Security and Integrity Agreement annually by the deadline as described in the Code of Ethical Practices and Procedures.� (NOTE: For new staff hired after September, the training should be provided and the signed Agreement should be collected and appropriately filed as soon as possible or no later than two weeks prior to the next testing window that occurs after the staff member was hired.)� In addition, it is important that a review of the content of the Indiana Testing and Integrity Agreement is completed with staff prior to each test administration.

M.   Follow procedures outlined in the Code of Ethical Practices and Procedures.

N.   Follow procedures located in testing manuals and those outlined by IDOE.

O.   Return all used and unused (including damaged, large print and/or Braille) assessment books to the testing contractor as directed.

P.    Report any possible or suspected security breaches to the Superintendent or IDOE.

 

The School Test Coordinator (STC) shall:

A.    Provide Test Security and Test Administration training to all applicable staff.

B.    Follow security regulations for distribution and return of secure test materials as directed, accounting for all secure test materials before, during and after testing (i.e. control distribution within the building).� Materials include those necessary for online and/or paper-and-pencil test administrations.

C.   Follow procedures located in testing manuals and those outlined by the IDOE, including procedures referring to testing conditions, timing, and instructions.

D.   Provide all necessary furniture and lighting to allow students to do their best work on the test.� (All school personnel involved in administering the test are responsible for the quality of testing conditions.)

E.    Submit a test for each student who participates in the assessment.

F.    Report any missing assessment books or other irregularities to the CTC.

G.   Report any possible or suspected security breaches to the CTC, Superintendent or IDOE.

 

Delivery of Secure Test Materials

Secure test materials will be received at the Administrative Offices location and will be kept in a locked room until distributed to each school building.� Secure test materials will be delivered to school buildings no more than one week prior to test administration.� The CTC and one other person designated by the Superintendent is responsible for the secure distribution of the assessment materials to each school building.� Building Administrators and/or School Test Coordinators are responsible for the security of assessment materials during the time the materials are in each school and until the materials have been inventoried and released to the CTC for return to the testing contractor.

 

Access to Secure Test Materials (Access Policy)

Teachers and other school staff members are not allowed access to secure materials (except for the Examiner�s Manual) until test administration.� Only appropriate staff members are to have access to test administration manuals prior to the administration of the test.� Viewing of any test materials containing secure test questions before, during, or after the assessment is strictly prohibited.

 

Storage of Secure Test Materials

In order to ensure the security of assessment materials during testing and storage, all test materials will be stored in a central and secure location that is accessible by more than one locking device.� No one person shall possess access to both locking devices at the same time.

 

Test Examiner

The assessment is to be administered only by personnel who hold a license granted by the IDOE.� The license must be an instructional, administrative, or school services license.� Test examiners should be thoroughly familiar with the administration of the test and with the procedures to be followed during testing, including:

A.    Participate in all required training regarding test security and administration.

B.    Study the Examiner�s Manuals (paying specific attention to the icons representing reading comprehension and calculator usage).

C.   Review the Code of Ethical Practices and Procedures.

D.   Read all applicable portions of the current Indiana Assessment Program Manual.

E.    Provide all applicable accommodations to individual students in accordance to the student�s IEP, ILP and/or Section 504 Plan.

F.    Report any possible or suspected security breaches to the STC, CTC or IDOE.

 

Proctor

Personnel not certified may only serve as proctors, not as test examiners.� In no case may unlicensed personnel be allowed to supervise the test administration without the guidance of a test examiner.� Proctors must be trained on test administration procedures before the first testing period.� Proctors should adhere to the following guidelines:

A.    Participate in all required training regarding test security and administration.

B.    Make certain each student is working on the correct test session.

C.   Prevent talking or sharing of answers.

D.   Offer neutral response if a student asks about a test item.

E.    Inform the examiner if any unusual problems arise.

F.    Report any possible or suspected security breaches to the STC, CTC or IDOE.

 

Item Security

No person shall possess a media device or personal electronic device when in the presence of secure test materials.� Staff and students are prohibited from discussing or paraphrasing test items (in person, by phone, by any type of social media) with anyone, including individuals within or outside of the local school district.� No person shall reproduce, summarize or explicitly refer to any item on secure test materials.

 

Code of Ethical Practices and Procedures

All Building Administrators, School Test Coordinators, Test Examiners, Test Proctors and any other staff members responsible for the security of test materials will review the Code of Ethical Practices and Procedures annually and understand how to secure, administer and handle the assessments while in their possession.

 

Test Security Training

All Building Administrators, School Test Coordinators, Test Examiners, Test Proctors and any other staff members responsible for the security of test materials will participate in Test Security Training prior to test administration for each assessment.� Training will include processes and procedures to ensure test security and how those processes and procedures will be monitored by school administrators.� Training shall meet all requirements as established by IDOE.

 

Accommodations

Test Examiners and Proctors who are responsible for providing students with testing accommodations will be familiar with each student�s individual accommodation needs as per the student�s IEP, ILP and/or Section 504 Plan prior to test administration.� Test Examiners and Proctors who are responsible for providing students with testing accommodations will receive focused training on providing such accommodations prior to test administration.� Corporation and School Test Coordinators will monitor to ensure staff are appropriately providing students with accommodations included in their IEPs, ILPs or Section 504 Plans.

 

Other Training

All Building Administrators, School Test Coordinators, Test Examiners, Test Proctors and any other staff members responsible for the security of test materials will participate at least annually in any other professional development necessary to ensure that staff members have the skills necessary to make ethical decisions related to preparing students for an assessment, administering the assessment, and interpreting the results from the assessment, including but not limited to the following:

A.    Code of Ethical Practices and Procedures

B.    Test Administration Procedures

C.   Test Security and Integrity Procedures

D.   Test Accommodation Procedures

E.    Test Preparation and Review Practices

F.    Testing Concerns and Security Violations Reporting

G.   Report and Investigation of Alleged Breaches or Irregularities Procedures

 

Testing Schedule

School Test Coordinators will be responsible for creating a testing schedule for each assessment which complies with the IDOE 2014-15 Testing Windows.

 

Test Preparation Materials

All test preparation and review materials and practices must be reviewed and approved by the School Test Coordinator.� Test preparation and review materials and practices must not contain secure test items (items NOT posted on IDOE�s website).� Test preparation and review practices should not be disruptive to the daily routine of the classroom.� Preparation and review is a yearlong process; specific test preparation practices should be embedded throughout the year.

 

Monitoring of Test Administration

Corporation and School Test Coordinators will monitor test preparation and administration with fidelity to ensure that all staff members are maintaining test security procedures, appropriate test preparation practices, providing appropriate accommodations according to IEPs, ILPs or Section 504 Plans.� Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will use two methods to monitor school implementation of test administration and test security procedures.� Both desktop and onsite monitoring will be conducted by the IDOE during the school year.� Schools receiving onsite monitoring will not receive prior notification.

 

 

 

Testing Concerns and Security Violations

Teachers, administrators, students, parents and other community members will have an opportunity to voice their concerns about testing practices they consider inappropriate.� The Testing Concerns and Security Violations Report link will be available to teachers, administrators, students, parents and other community members on the South Harrison Community School Corporation website. These forms can be completed and submitted directly to Indiana Department of Education.

 

Violations to test security include, but are not limited to the following actions:

A.    Give examinees access to test questions prior to testing.

B.    Copy, reproduce, or use in any manner any portion of any secure assessment book, for any reason.

C.   Alter answer documents after testing.

D.   Share actual or paraphrased test items or student responses in a public forum.

E.    Comment on test content in a public forum.

F.    Post actual test content or paraphrase test content on social media.

G.   Take pictures of test materials.

H.   Email, text or instant message actual or paraphrased test content.

I.      Deviate from the prescribed administration procedures specified in the Examiner�s Manual.

J.    Make answer keys available to examinees.

K.    Review test questions prior to, during or after test administration.

L.    Score student responses on the test locally before submitting the assessment for scoring to the test contractor, as designated by the IDOE.

M.   Participate in, direct, aid, counsel, assist, encourage, or fail to report any of the actions prohibited in this section.

 

Investigation of Complaints

Investigation of all reported complaints, allegations or concerns regarding inappropriate testing practices will be completed by the Superintendent and/or the Corporation Test Coordinator in accordance with IDOE policies and Indiana Code.� All investigations will ensure the protection of both the rights of individuals and of the integrity of the assessment.� All investigations will be conducted according to the Protocol for Reporting and Investigating Alleged Breaches or Irregularities as established and published pursuant to 511 IAC 5-5-4.