Table B4. Details and Specifications on Whether State Has Test Security Handbook/Manual, Affirmation Agreement, and Confidentiality Agreement, and How States’ Policies Address Peer Review Critical Elements (Irregularities and Monitoring)
If a state provided specific test security information for the AA-AAAS that differed from the overall state policy, it is included in italics in the table.
| State | Specifications and Descriptions (AA-AAAS information in italics) |
|---|---|
| AL | Irregularities: The Principal or BTC should complete this report if unusual or unexpected circumstances have occurred (e.g., misconduct of student, illness of student, suspicion of cheating, interruption of testing) during the administration of a state assessment. Once the report is completed, it must be submitted to the STC. The STC must complete this report only in the event that a major violation/irregularity has occurred. Upon receipt of a major irregularity, contact the Office of Assessment immediately. (Test Coordinator Manual) |
| AK | Confidentiality: 4 AAC 06.765 Test security;
consequences of breach… [listing of state’s security
requirements for all test materials and testing procedures –
Districts must complete forms] Level 1-2 Test Security Agreement (TSA) - District Level Oversight NOTE: All sections on pages 2-4 of the TSA apply to all personnel with district level oversight of required state assessments. This includes the following sections of the TSA: • Testing Role • Testing Location • Testing Personnel • Training for Testing Personnel • Test Materials Security • Data and Test Results • Secure Testing Practices • Accommodations [Note: State has 5 levels of security agreements for testing personnel. Levels 1 and 2 described above. Guidance covers all aspects of testing for key roles of district and school personnel with forms at each level to complete.] (Test Security Agreement Guidance) Irregularities: All potential irregularities must be documented and reported to the District Test Coordinator as soon as practicable. There is an Assessment Log and Irregularity Report in Appendix E of this manual for districts to use in documenting and tracking irregularities. Some irregularities have the potential to become test security violations or breaches if they affect student performance on the assessment, test security, or test validity. The District Test Coordinator may make a determination on whether or not the irregularity has compromised the student’s assessment and is cause for further action. District Test Coordinators may consult with DEED for guidance. (Test Coordinator Manual) Monitoring: Once the administration of PEAKS begins, the District Test Coordinator and Building Test Coordinators are required to continually track and monitor assessment completion. District Test Coordinators track assessment status and completion throughout the district using local, established procedures. Building Test Coordinators are responsible for tracking assessment completion status at the building level. (Test Coordinator Manual) DEED will conduct monitoring utilizing data and evidence submitted to DEED by the district. DEED also reserves the right to conduct on-site monitoring for any assessment at any time. The test administration year being monitored will be the most recent administration. For example, in school year 2020-2021, the test administrations being monitored will be spring 2020. One webinar will be hosted for each district after monitoring notification to review the monitoring process and timeline for submission, and one webinar will be hosted to follow-up after the process is complete to discuss the status of the district’s submission. All documentation must be received by DEED by the date indicated in the notification letter. Documentation may only be submitted in electronic format. See Appendix B for the Documentation Submission Process. (Statewide Monitoring Guide) |
| AZ | Confidentiality: I acknowledge that all Achievement Tests are
secure tests and agree to the following conditions of use to
ensure the security of the test. For this document,
Achievement Tests refers to AASA, AzSCI, ACT Aspire, and ACT.
(Test Security Agreement) Irregularities: AA-AAAS: Each person participating in the MSAA is responsible for immediately reporting any violation or suspected violation of test security or confidentiality. As part of test security and validity, TCs should monitor administration for a portion of students. Observation documentation should be retained by the Local Education Agency. Report any incidents involving alleged or suspected violations that fall under the category of a serious irregularity to the State MSAA Coordinator in accordance with state guidelines. (MSAA Test Administration Manual) |
| AR | (None found) |
| CA | (None found) |
| CO | Training: This form must be filled out by the District
Assessment Coordinator, signed by the District Superintendent,
and submitted to the Assessment Division as documentation that
all district personnel who come in contact with the
assessments before, during, and after the spring 2021 CMAS and
CoAlt: Math, ELA, Science, and Social Studies administration
have been trained. (Procedures Manual) Confidentiality: Maintaining the security of all test materials is crucial to obtaining valid results from the CMAS and CoAlt: Math, ELA (including CSLA), Science, and Social Studies assessments. The security of all test materials must be maintained before, during, and after test administration. Because you are involved in the administration of the CMAS and/or CoAlt: Math, ELA, Science, and Social Studies assessments, it is important for you to know that the prohibited activities on the following list threaten the integrity of the test. Engaging in prohibited activities may result in an investigation, suppression of scores, and possible disciplinary action. This form must be signed by all individuals involved in the administration of the CMAS and/or CoAlt: Math, ELA, Science, and Social Studies assessments to certify that security measures will be maintained and that prohibited activities, such as the examples identified below, have been acknowledged and understood. (Procedures Manual) Irregularities: Test Administrators report persistent or reoccurring item irregularities to the SAC, who reports to the DAC and Customer Service. The DAC completes a Form to Report a Testing Irregularity or Security Breach (Appendix D) and the Test Incident Report spreadsheet to send to CDE through the Assessment Forms folder on CDE Assessment Syncplicity by May 7, 2021. If the issue results in students not completing the unit on the same day, contact CDE (Procedures Manual). Testing Irregularity or Security Breach Form. (Procedures Manual) Monitoring: DACs are actively involved in test administration through monitoring of the administration and test security procedures described in this manual. DACs ensure schools understand and follow active test proctoring procedures for CMAS and CoAlt and that all secure materials are collected after testing and CBT units are locked at the end of each testing day. (Procedures Manual) Test Administrators engage in active proctoring by walking around the testing environment during testing. Clarify only general administration instructions (i.e., questions regarding test procedures) after reading the “SAY” directions word-for-word. Do not answer any questions related to test content. Test Administrators must not read the test content appearing in the students’ test materials. (Test Administration Manual – Paper-Based Testing) Test Administrators engage in active proctoring by walking around the testing environment during testing. Clarify only general administration instructions for students (i.e., questions regarding test procedures) after reading the “SAY” directions word-for-word. Only provide TestNav assistance if a student receives an error message or if the technology is not functioning correctly. Test Administrators must not read the test content appearing on the students’ device screens. Test Administrators should monitor student progress through PearsonAccess-next by watching the unit progress bar at the session level and the status of individual test units for individual students. Click the Refresh button to update the displayed data. Click on a student’s unit status to view detailed information about the student’s test unit and item progress. (Test Administration Manual – Computer-Based Testing) |
| CT | Irregularities: AA-AAAS: Monitoring testing procedures and
reporting inappropriate test practices is outlined in state
law and policy. Each person participating in the state
assessment program is directly responsible for immediately
reporting any violation or suspected violation of test
security or confidentiality. TEAs and other staff must notify
their SC or DC if they witness or become aware of an
inappropriate test practice or suspect one has occurred. DCs
and SCs must report these concerns to the CSDE Performance
Office (see Appendix A). DCs must report any incidents
involving alleged or suspected violations that fall under the
category of a serious irregularity to the CSDE Performance
Office. State professional codes of ethics and state law
provide the guidelines for determining the consequences for
any inappropriate test practices. (Connecticut Alternate
Assessment (CTAA) Test Administration Manual). Test security incidents, such as improprieties, irregularities, and breaches, are behaviors prohibited either because they give students an unfair advantage or because they compromise the security of the assessments. Whether intentional or by accident, failure to comply with security rules, either by staff or students, constitutes a test security incident. Improprieties, irregularities, and breaches need to be reported in accordance with the instructions in this section for each severity level. Definitions for test security incidents are provided in Table 11. There are times when these situations may even require a retest of an individual or a group of students. Any breaches in test security must be reported immediately to your District Administrator, who will contact the Connecticut State Department of Education Performance Office. (Next Generation Science Standards Test Administration Manual For In-Person Testing) Monitoring: Teachers may assist students in navigating the online test environment and responding to different item types (e.g., using the available global tools, such as the Mark for Review feature and the Next button), but they should not assist students with any content needed to answer questions. It is very important that the teacher monitor student progress throughout the test session. The teacher may also use the Test Administration Interface to view the testing progress of any student using the Students in your Test Session table (see Figure 17). This site will not show test items or scores, but it will let the teacher see how many items have been delivered to each student (e.g., question 24/40), as well as the time the student spent on the assessment. (Next Generation Science Standards Test Administration Manual For In-Person Testing) It is important that the test examiner monitor student progress throughout the test session. This includes verifying that students are participating in the summative test, appropriate content area (ELA or mathematics), and type of test (CAT or PT). The test examiner monitors the test each student is taking by referring to the Students in your Test Session table in the Test Administration Interface. In the event a student is taking an incorrect test, the test examiner should pause the student’s test and instruct the student to log out and log in again to select the correct test. Once students have started their tests, the test examiner should circulate through the room to ensure that all conditions of test security are maintained. If the test examiner witnesses or suspects the possibility of a test security incident, the District Administrator should be contacted immediately in accordance with the security guidance provided in this manual. (Smarter Balanced: Summative Assessment In-Person Test Administration Manual) |
| DE | Test security handbook: DeSSA Test Security Manual – https://www.doe.k12.de.us/cms/lib/
DE01922744/Centricity/Domain/530/DeSSA%20Test%20Security%20Manual%209-18-18.pdf The Delaware System of Student Assessments (DeSSA) is a combination of national, state, and district level administered assessments. The measured outcomes of each assessment and the curriculum assessed vary. The assessments are utilized for a variety of purposes, including determining the strengths and needs of students as well as the instructional program. This Test Security Manual has been approved by the Director of the Office of Assessment and will be reviewed and revised, as needed, on at least an annual basis. All District Test Coordinators (DTCs), School Test Coordinators (STCs), Test Administrators (TAs), and support staff involved in the testing process are required to review and adhere to this security manual and coordinated security training. (DeSSA Test Security Manual) Handbook includes students with disabilities: KACE/DOE Helpdesk provides the method of submission for the following types of assessment requests/ actions: …. 4. Unique Accommodation – This request type allows for the submission and request of any unique accommodations that are not currently supported for DeSSA assessment types…. 6. Data Review – This request type allows for the request to review student, accommodation, or user data issues for DeSSA assessments. (Test Security Manual) Irregularities: KACE/DOE Helpdesk is used to document test security incidents and should be used by all districts and charter schools. This system is used to record any security incidents as described previously. Please see KACE/DOE Helpdesk Information Guide on the DeSSA Portal for more detail. Each DTC should have access to this application. More serious incidents will be reported either immediately (breach) or by the end of the day (irregularities). KACE/DOE Helpdesk provides the method of submission for the following types of assessment requests/ actions: 1. Incident – This should be submitted to identify any situation that occurs outside the normal administration and operation of DeSSA assessments. 2. Security Incident – This allows for the report of any incident or issues that violate DeSSA Test Security Policy. 3. Special Exemption – This allows for the submission of exemptions for any students who should be exempted from DeSSA assessment testing. 4. Unique Accommodation – This request type allows for the submission and request of any unique accommodations that are not currently supported for DeSSA assessment types. 5. Test Update – This request type allows for the request of resets, re-opens, and invalidations of DeSSA assessments. 6. Data Review – This request type allows for the request to review student, accommodation, or user data issues for DeSSA assessments. (Test Security Manual) Monitoring: The Delaware Department of Education monitors the implementation of the Guidelines for students with disabilities as part of efforts to oversee the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). The Delaware Department of Education Program Specialist monitors the implementation of the Guidelines for English language learners for the Title III ESL/Bilingual and Title I, Part C Migrant Programs. (Guidelines for Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners) |
| DC | Test security handbook: District of Columbia Test Security
Guidelines In-Person Test Administration 2021 – https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/service_content/
attachments/OSSE%202021%20Test%20Security%20Guidelines%20ACCESS%20and%20MSAA.pdf OSSE has developed these Test Security Guidelines to set forth minimum requirements to ensure that local educational agencies (LEAs) and school personnel are aware of the state requirements for maintaining strict test security procedures. OSSE’s goal is for schools and LEAs to deliver a uniform and equitable statewide assessment program. For assessments to yield fair and accurate results, the assessments must be administered, to the extent possible, in consistent and standardized conditions; and the best way to ensure that occurs is to ensure all teachers and administrators understand and recognize acceptable and unacceptable assessment practices. (District of Columbia Test Security Guidelines In-Person Test Administration 2021) Handbook includes students with disabilities: The special population coordinator is considered by OSSE to be authorized personnel and must comply with all the responsibilities and prohibitions of authorized personnel. The primary function of the special population coordinator is to ensure that students entitled to accommodations and accessibility features have access to those accommodations and features on all applicable statewide assessments, and to provide training to authorized personnel tasked with providing those accommodations and features to students…. Failure to provide appropriate accommodations or providing accommodations to students who are not eligible is a direct violation of the Testing Integrity Act. The special population coordinator should be an employee of the school or LEA and should be selected by the LEA test integrity coordinator(s) or school test monitor. (District of Columbia Test Security Guidelines In-Person Test Administration 2021) Students receiving accommodations that require student speaking (e.g., student reads aloud to themselves) must be tested in a one-on-one setting. Students receiving a human reader accommodation must be tested in a one-on-one setting or a small group setting with only students receiving the human reader accommodation. Students receiving the human scribe accommodation must be tested in a one-on-one setting. (District of Columbia Test Security Guidelines In-Person Test Administration 2021) Irregularities: For a list of testing irregularities and security breaches that must be reported and documented, refer to your School Test Coordinator. Incidents must be reported. To report an incident, follow the protocol outlined below. The incident must be reported to the School Test Coordinator immediately. If follow-up documentation is required by your LEA Test Coordinator or OSSE, complete any additional documentation required. (PARCC Test Administration Manual – CBT) Monitoring: Most PARCC states currently collect information on which accommodations were used on state assessments by individual students. As described in Section 2, PARCC states will capture their own data via the SR/PNP File Layout. However, PARCC states differ as to how accessibility features and accommodations monitoring occurs. In some PARCC states, representatives may visit schools to monitor assessment procedures and observe the use of accommodations to ensure they are implemented appropriately. In other states, districts require their own trained staff to observe and report on accommodations provided during instruction and assessment. In still other states, test administration and accommodations discrepancies are reported to the state and result in the investigation of the irregularities. (PARCC Accessibility Features and Accommodations Manual) The LEA Test Coordinator or the School Test Coordinator must be actively involved in test administration or by monitoring testing and ensuring test security procedures are followed as described in this manual. School Test Coordinators must be available during testing to answer questions from Test Administrators and Proctors. LEA Test Coordinators must monitor reports of testing irregularities and security breaches and ensure that School Test Coordinators submit incident reports to OSSE in appropriate situations. Refer to the Remote Testing Supplement for guidance on monitoring remote test sessions. School Test Coordinators must ensure that during each unit of the test, Test Administrators and Proctors walk around the room and check that students are working in the correct unit and section (if applicable). At no time are any school staff allowed to log in to TestNav using a student testing ticket; however, Test Administrators may help students log in if issues arise. In addition, ensure that Test Administrators provide applicable students with their approved testing accommodations and pre-identified accessibility features. If a computer-based accommodation is not appearing for a student, refer to Personal Needs Profile (PNP) Guidance—Managing Incorrect Accessibility Features and Accommodation PNP Data (available at dc.mypearsonsupport.com/ technology-setup). (PARCC Test Coordinator Manual) Developing and implementing standards and a process for monitoring (“auditing”) the administration of statewide assessments to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies at any point during the assessment cycle. (Test Security Guidelines) The school test monitor is an individual who is designated by the LEA test integrity coordinator to be responsible for testing integrity and security at a school or campus site. There must be one test monitor for each school or campus under the LEA’s control, including nonpublic placements. The school test monitor is responsible for creating and implementing all aspects of the school test security plan before, during, and after the statewide assessment at the school or campus site. The school test monitor coordinates security maintains data integrity within their school or campus and trains and supports all authorized personnel at that site. The test monitor must be an employee of the LEA, assigned to the school, and capable of successfully fulfilling these functions. (Test Security Guidelines). |
| FL | Confidentiality: Separate forms for general and alternate
assessments. Irregularities: Test administrators should report any test irregularities (e.g., disruptive students, timing issues, loss of Internet connectivity) to the school assessment coordinator immediately. A test irregularity may include testing that is interrupted for an extended period of time due to a local technical malfunction or severe weather. School assessment coordinators must notify district assessment coordinators of any test irregularities that are reported. Decisions regarding test invalidation should not be made prior to communicating with the district assessment coordinator. If further guidance is needed or to report an irregularity requiring action by FDOE (e.g., reporting teacher misconduct to the Office of Professional Practices), district assessment coordinators should contact the Bureau of K–12 Student Assessment. For any test irregularities that require investigation by the district, a written report must be submitted as indicated below and on the following page. For test irregularities requiring further investigation by the district and for security breaches, a written report must be submitted within 10 calendar days after the irregularity or security breach was identified. (Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: Student progress and test completion rates for computer-based tests can be monitored in TIDE. You should use Participation Reports in TIDE to track completion rates and determine which students still need to be tested. Further information on Participation Reports can be found in the TIDE User Guide. (Test Administration Manual) |
| GA | Test security manual: 2021-2022 Assessment Administration
Protocol Manual – https://www.gadoe.org/
Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Documents/For%20Educators/2021-2022_Assessment_Admin_Protocol_Manual.pdf Content found in the Assessment Administration Protocol Manual reflects the Georgia Department of Education’s (GaDOE) ongoing efforts to improve the security and monitoring procedures for the state’s assessments. Data used to support these efforts include those collected from the GaDOE’s testing irregularities audits, school site visits, testing administration trainings, and information collected from school districts. This manual also highlights the steps System Test Coordinators (STCs) and School Test Coordinators (SchTCs) should take to ensure that test security is maintained, and the required test procedures are implemented per guidance provided by the GaDOE. This document is not intended to replace the Student Assessment Handbook (SAH) or Accessibility & Accommodations Manual but should be used as a supplement to these documents. Specific policies, details, and clarifications regarding state assessments must include a thorough understanding by system and school personnel of the Student Assessment Handbook, Accessibility & Accommodations Manual, Assessment Administration Protocol Manual and any other accompanying test administration manuals and resources for each state assessment. (2021-2022 Assessment Administration Protocol Manual) Handbook includes students with disabilities: This document is not intended to replace the Student Assessment Handbook (SAH) or Accessibility & Accommodations Manual but should be used as a supplement to these documents. Specific policies, details, and clarifications regarding state assessments must include a thorough understanding by system and school personnel of the Student Assessment Handbook, Accessibility & Accommodations Manual, Assessment Administration Protocol Manual and any other accompanying test administration manuals and resources for each state assessment. (2021-2022 Assessment Administration Protocol Manual) Training: STCs and SchTCs are instructed to clearly document attendance at all training sessions and include agendas and supporting presentations and/or handouts with specific guidance and policy related to test security and assessment administration protocols (Assessment Administration Protocol Manual). Appendix E: Examiner’s Certification of Adherence to Prescribed Test Administration Procedures – Examiner participated in all test security and test administration training. Examiner’s Manual was thoroughly reviewed prior to the first testing session. (Student Assessment Handbook) Irregularities: The Testing Irregularity form was developed to capture any irregularity with assessment testing conducted by a state, public, or charter school. All personnel in the local district must follow protocol as they become aware of testing irregularities. All irregularities must be reported to the GaDOE by completing the Testing Irregularity Form (TIF) in the MyGaDOE Portal. (Assessment Administration Protocol Manual) Appendix J: GaPSC Reporting and Investigation; Appendix N: Incident Reporting Guide (Assessment Administration Protocol Manual). Monitoring: Appendix G: Desk Audit Monitoring; Appendix H: GaDOE Assessment Monitoring and Observation Form; Appendix I: GaDOE Assessment Monitoring and Feedback Report. (Assessment Administration Protocol Manual) Schools should review to ensure that accommodations are correctly assigned before testing. Online accommodations can be checked against lists of accommodations from IEP, IAP/504, and EL/TPC plans. (Assessment Administration Protocol Manual) |
| HI | Training: I participated in professional development on test
security and administration provided for this test
administration on ___/___/___. I will follow all testing
procedures as outlined in the Test Administration Manual and
all other guidelines and instructions provided by my school
test coordinator or by the Hawaii Department of Education
Assessment Section including: identifying students approved
for accommodations and ensuring they are administered the test
with the assigned accommodations. (Test Administrator and
Proctor Acknowledgement of Security and Confidentiality
Statement) Confidentiality: AA-AAAS: This signed HSA-Alt Test Security and Confidentiality form is required of all HSA-Alt Test Administers who will be administering the HSA-Alt to a student who receives the Translated Test designated support or any of the following accommodations: Read Aloud, Scribe, and/or Visual Descriptions. (HSA-Alt Test Coordinator’s Manual) Test Administrator and Proctor Acknowledgement of Security and Confidentiality Statement. (Science Test Administration Manual; SBA Test Administration Manual) Irregularities: The TA must immediately fill out the Testing Incident Report Form and verbally inform his/her grade-level counselor and TC (TC will inform Principal). (Test Administrator Training) The Test Security Required Action Steps depict the required actions for each test security incident in a process flow diagram format. (Test Administration Manual – Alternate Assessment; SBA Test Administration Manual) APPENDIX K: Testing Incident Report Form. (HAS-Alt Test Administration Manual) All staff members at a school are required to report test security incidents to the Principal. Test security incidents that do not involve the Test Coordinator should also be reported immediately to the Test Coordinator. (Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: Once students have started their tests, the TA should circulate through the room to ensure that all conditions of test security are maintained. If the TA witnesses or suspects the possibility of a test security incident, the Principal and TC should be contacted immediately in accordance with the security guidance provided in this manual. (Science Test Administration Manual) |
| ID | Test security handbook: Assessment Integrity Guide https://apps.sde.idaho.gov/TestIncidentLog/
Content/files/Assessment-Integrity-Guide.pdf This guide sets forth test administration policies, procedures, and responsibilities. These procedures are standardized to: • Address federal and state requirements; • Provide secure exams that result in valid and reliable scores; • Adhere to high professional standards; • Maintain consistency across all testing occasions and sites (i.e. schools); and • Protect the investments of resources, time, and energy. (Assessment Integrity Guide) Handbook includes students with disabilities: Professional test administration practices before, during, and after test administration include but are not limited to: – Verify accommodations with the Special Education teacher for students with disabilities Unprofessional test administration practices before, during, and after test administration include but are not limited to: – Prevent eligible students from testing without appropriate accommodations Districts and schools must provide equal opportunity for all students to: – Have access to and be familiar with appropriate tools, supports, and accommodations For reliable and valid reporting, assessments must be properly administered to all eligible students. Students must be correctly identified to be considered eligible for specific assessment(s), and be provided with supports and accommodations when applicable. (Assessment Integrity Guide) Irregularities: Whether intentional or by accident, failure to comply with security rules, either by staff, students, or other individuals in the remote testing environment, constitutes a test security incident. Recommended processes TAs may use to detect and report irregularities and breaches are provided in Table 17 below. (Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: Monitoring Test Selection: It is very important that TAs monitor student progress throughout the test session. This includes verifying that students are participating in the appropriate content area. The TA monitors the test each student is taking by referring to the Students in Your Test Session table in the TA Interface. In the event a student is taking an incorrect test, the TA can pause the student’s test. The TA should then instruct the student to log out and log in again to select the correct test. In the rare event that a student starts a test unintentionally (for example, selected mathematics instead of ELA), the test’s expiration timeline will be activated. Monitoring Test Progress: Once students have started their tests, the TA should monitor student progress through the test via the Students in Your Test Session table in the TA Interface to ensure that all conditions of test security are maintained. If the TA witnesses or suspects the possibility of a test security incident, the SC and DC should be contacted immediately. The TA may also use the TA Interface to view the testing progress of any student. (Test Administration Manual) Monitor Administration Activities (part of District Coordinator Checklist). (Test Administration Manual) Early detection is a key to avoid compromising the integrity of the assessment. Undetected incidents could lead to the misidentification of students, schools, program effectiveness, etc., and even the loss of program credibility. The following sections describe various detection methods. (Assessment Integrity Guide) |
| IL | Confidentiality: The content of the IAR assessment is
confidential and must be kept secure at all times. Maintaining
the security of test materials is critical in order to obtain
valid results from the test. Accordingly, each individual
authorized to administer the IAR assessment or have access to
test materials, including Technology Coordinators, or those
authorized to observe administration, must sign this security
agreement and agree to the statements below. Failure to abide
by the terms of the agreement may result in sanctions by ISBE
including (but not limited to) score invalidation or
employment and licensure consequences. (Test Administration
Manual) Irregularities: For a list of testing irregularities and security breaches that must be reported and documented, refer to your School Test Coordinator. If an incident must be reported according to state policy, follow the protocol outlined below. – The incident must be reported to the School Test Coordinator immediately. – If follow-up documentation is required by your District Test Coordinator or State Contact, complete any additional documentation required. (Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: The District Test Coordinator or the School Test Coordinator (depending on state policy) must be actively involved in test administration by monitoring testing and ensuring test security procedures are followed as described in this manual. School Test Coordinators must be available during testing to answer questions from Test Administrators and Proctors. District Test Coordinators must monitor reports of testing irregularities and security breaches and ensure that School Test Coordinators follow state procedures for reporting such events. Refer to Appendix C for state procedures. School Test Coordinators must ensure that during each unit of the test, Test Administrators and Proctors walk around the room and check that students are working in the correct unit and section (if applicable). At no time are any school staff allowed to log in to TestNav using a student testing ticket; however, Test Administrators may help students log in if issues arise. In addition, ensure that Test Administrators provide applicable students with their approved testing accommodations and pre-identified accessibility features. (Test Coordinator Manual) |
| IN | Confidentiality: Appendix A: 2021-2022 Indiana Testing
Security and Integrity Agreement. (Assessments Policy Manual) Irregularities: Appendix A: Protocol for Reporting and Investigating Alleged Assessment Breaches. (Assessments Policy Manual) TIDE allows CTCs, NPSTCs, and STCs to request action for a student test (e.g., re-open a test, re-open a test segment) in response to a testing irregularity that occurs in the standardized test environment. See the TIDE User Guide for directions on how to create an Irregularity Request in TIDE and the 2021–2022 Indiana Assessments Policy Manual on how to submit a Testing Irregularity Report to IDOE. In many cases, formal documentation is required in addition to the creation of an Irregularity Request in TIDE. (Test Coordinator’s Manual) Monitoring: TAs and proctors must monitor the testing session to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed. It is not acceptable for TAs and/or proctors to leave the room, to concentrate on other tasks or materials, or to otherwise ignore what is happening. All TAs and proctors should be trained to understand the testing procedures and their respective responsibilities. (Code of Ethics and Procedures) OSA contracts with a third-party vendor to conduct unannounced onsite or announced online monitoring visits (via an online meeting platform) during testing windows. The purpose of monitoring is to ensure the fidelity of the test administration and test security requirements. Schools are identified for monitoring based on previously submitted testing irregularities, test security concerns, failure of a CTC to complete required training by designated deadlines, failure to return secure test materials by required deadlines, Data Forensic Analysis concerns (see Section 9, Part F), and a random sample derived from Indiana demographic data. A minimum of five school sites will be monitored during most test administration windows. Monitoring is an expectation defined for states by the U.S. Department of Education. (Assessments Policy Manual) |
| IA | Test security handbook: State of Iowa Test
Security Manual – https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/
documents/2021-2022TestSecurityManual.pdf This manual was developed to assist districts, schools, and AEAs plan for and maintain the security of both online and paper-based testing to ensure the integrity, validity, and confidentiality of item types, prompts, and student information; maintain our investment; and adhere to Iowa’s Code of Ethics. This manual should serve as guidance to help districts create sound test security policies and practices. They should, at a minimum, apply to all federally mandated assessments, including ISASP, ELPA21, DLM, and NAEP. (State of Iowa Test Security Manual) Handbook includes students with disabilities: This manual should serve as guidance to help districts create sound test security policies and practices. They should, at a minimum, apply to all federally mandated assessments, including ISASP, ELPA21, DLM, and NAEP. (State of Iowa Test Security Manual) Confidentiality: Iowa has a separate test security/confidentiality agreement for human readers, scribes, translators, and paraeducators. (Accessibility Manual, Appendix A) Test administrators and assessment coordinators for DLM alternate assessment must agree to security agreement in Educator Portal. (DLM manual) Irregularities: Examples may include student cheating or providing answers to another student; student accessing the Internet, use of unauthorized electronic equipment (e.g., smartphone, camera, smart watch), or another unauthorized software during the test administration; allowing student(s) to use a calculator during a test prohibiting its use; non-trained personnel administering the test; TA giving incorrect instructions that are corrected prior to students testing; TA providing his/her password to other authorized users; TA coaching or providing nonapproved assistance to students (e.g., verbal clues, pointing, nodding head, leading thinkalouds, asking students to point to the correct answer, or requiring students to answer all questions); providing students with non-allowable materials; allowing accommodations not in the student’s IEP or 504 Plan; a technology error that could have compromised the validity of the student or group of students performance. Test Irregularities should immediately be reported to the assigned Iowa Assessment Consultant and the Deputy Director in the Division of Learning and Results through the Testing Incident Reporting Application. (Test Security Manual) Monitoring: Internal monitoring - Each district must include in their Test Security Policy a plan and procedures for monitoring these federally mandated assessments as well as other state assessments and district assessments. The plan should establish written procedures that address monitoring students during test sessions, monitoring social media sites, and monitoring practices of all staff to ensure compliance with the district test security policy. Additionally, the plan should include monitoring accessibility and IEP designated accommodations to ensure fair testing practices are implemented. (Test Security Manual) External monitoring–Test security manual includes appendix with monitoring checklist. Includes special population checklist items: – Observes administration of paper and pencil. Observes: Students marking their answers on the paper copy of the assessment. Answer sheets are not generated by the school or district. (Yes, No, NA) – Observes student use of embedded and/or non-embedded designated features (e.g. answer masking, color contrast, general masking, line reader, print-on-request, turn off universal features, zoom). Evidence of Documentation provided matches District Coordinator information. (Yes, No, NA). List which designated features students used during the observation: – Observes student use of embedded and/or non-embedded accommodations (e.g., assistive technology, braille, large print test booklet, scribe, speech-to-text). Evidence of Documentation provided matches District Coordinator information. (Yes, No, NA) List which accommodations students used during the observation. (Test Security Manual) |
| KS | Test security handbook: Kansas State Department of Education
Test Security Guidelines https://ksassessments.org/sites/default/files/documents/Test_Security_Guidelines.pdf Test security is essential to obtain reliable and valid scores for accountability purposes. Accordingly, the Kansas State Department of Education must take every step to ensure the security and confidentiality of the state assessment materials. Everyone who is involved in student testing, communicates results, and receives testing information is responsible for test security. (Kansas State Department of Education Test Security Guidelines) Handbook includes students with disabilities: 2021 State Monitor Quality Assurance Checklist for Test Security and Ethics include item related to accommodations: – District/building coordinator provides documentation for accommodations entered in the Personal Needs Profile (PNP). This may be kept at the building or district level. (Kansas State Department of Education Test Security Guidelines) Confidentiality: Agreement to Abide by Guidelines form that is signed by staff has a place to indicate whether received training and reviewed materials regarding the read aloud guidelines. (Test Examiner’s Manual) Monitoring: 2021 State Monitor Quality Assurance Checklist for Test Security and Ethics include item related to accommodations: – District/building coordinator provides documentation for accommodations entered in the Personal Needs Profile (PNP). This may be kept at the building or district level. (Kansas State Department of Education Test Security Guidelines) |
| KY | (None found) |
| LA | Confidentiality: School Test Coordinator: Pre-administration
oath of security and confidentiality includes statements which
address accommodations: – I will keep all secure materials in a locked, secure storage area before and after testing. – I will follow security regulations for distribution and return of secure test materials. – I will provide a list of students approved for accommodations, with the accommodations they are to receive, to the appropriate test administrators. School Test Coordinator: Post-administration oath of security and confidentiality includes statements which address accommodations: – I kept secure materials in a locked, secure storage area before and after testing. – I followed security regulations for distribution and return of secure test materials. – I provided a list of students approved for accommodations, with the accommodations they are to receive, to the appropriate test administrators. Test Administrator: By signing this form [Test Administrator Post-Administration Oath of Security and Confidentiality], test administrators are stating that they maintained the security and confidentiality of all secure materials and participated in professional development on test security and administration. If both test administrators and scribes participate in test administration, then each should complete a form. Interpreters should also sign the form and write “Interpreter” next to their names. (Test Coordinator’s Manual, Grade 7) Irregularities: The following were included in a list of violations of test security and possible test irregularities: – Failing to provide a student with a documented accommodation – Providing a student an accommodation that is not documented. (Test Coordinator’s Manual, Grade 7) |
| ME | Test security handbook: Maine Educational Assessment Security
Handbook – https://www.maine.gov/
doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/
Maine%20Educational%20Assessment%20Security%20Handbook%202021-2022%20VF.pdf Assessing student learning is an essential aspect of education, as it provides data that can lead to improved instruction and outcomes. Assessments take many forms, and each type of assessment has distinct value and purpose in a comprehensive assessment system. Educators, policymakers, and the assessment community use assessment data to improve education and to address needs for the workforce and the economy. As required by Maine Statute 20-A §6202, the Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) must establish a statewide assessment program to measure and evaluate, on a continuing basis, the academic achievement of students in Maine’s public schools, charter schools, and private schools whose school enrollments include at least 60% publicly funded students. Results from these statewide assessments contribute to educational decisions made at the federal, state, and local levels about both schools and students. It is critical that assessment results are accurate, fair, and comparable. To that end, the Maine DOE has established policies and defined procedures to ensure the integrity of the state assessment system. Adherence to Maine’s assessment security expectations ensures that the assessments will yield high-quality data that can be trusted to support valid and fair conclusions related to academic achievement. (Assessment Security Handbook) Handbook includes students with disabilities: Assessment Administration Observation Checklist includes, “List any observed accommodations provided to Students.” (Assessment Security Handbook) Monitoring: Assessment Administration Observation Checklist includes, “List any observed accommodations provided to Students.” (Assessment Security Handbook) |
| MD | Confidentiality: Test Security–The following code of ethics
conforms to the Standards for Educational and Psychological
Testing developed by the American Educational Research
Association, the American Psychological Association, and the
National Council on Measurement in Education. IT IS A BREACH OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE VERBAL OR NONVERBAL CLUES OR ANSWERS, TEACH ITEMS ON THE TEST, SHARE WRITING PROMPTS, COACH, HINT, OR IN ANY WAY INFLUENCE A STUDENT’S PERFORMANCE DURING THE TESTING SITUATION. A BREACH OF ETHICS MAY RESULT IN INVALIDATION OF TEST RESULTS AND LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY (LEA) OR MSDE DISCIPLINARY ACTION. Online versions and Test Books for MISA are confidential and are kept secure at all times. Unauthorized use, duplication, or reproduction of any or all portions of the assessment is prohibited. VIOLATION OF SECURITY CAN RESULT IN PROSECUTION AND/OR PENALTIES AS IMPOSED BY THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND/OR THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMAR 13A.03.04 AND 13A.12.05. TAs and anyone else with access to test materials are aware of the consequences of test security violations and sign a Test Administration and Certification of Training Form and Non-Disclosure Agreement, which is kept on file. Anyone handling test materials solely for clerical purposes sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, which is kept on file. (MISA Technical Manual) Irregularities: 2.2 Testing Irregularities and Security Breaches–Any action that compromises test security or score validity is prohibited. These may be classified as testing irregularities or security breaches. Section 2.2.1 contains examples of activities that compromise test security or score validity (note that these lists are not exhaustive). It is highly recommended that School Test Coordinators discuss these and other possible testing irregularities and security breaches with Test Administrators during training. Refer to Section 2.2.2 for information on reporting testing irregularities and security breaches. (info from multiple MCAP TAMs) [Note: many examples of irregularities follow – they apply to all the different exams for the state.] |
| MA | Monitoring: School Observations – In order
to ensure the security and proper administration of the MCAS
program, the Department conducts announced and unannounced
monitoring visits to schools to observe the procedures
followed during test administration. This may include
entering testing rooms to observe students and test
administrators directly. Principals and designees should be
prepared to meet observers upon their arrival and also be
available during the observation to answer questions. School
staff may contact the Department’s Student Assessment
Services Unit at 781-338-3625 to verify the identity of
Department observers. Department observers will confirm that
all test security requirements in Part I of this manual are
being met, including the following: • Materials are stored
properly. • Staff have been trained. • Test administrators
are administering tests appropriately. • The testing
environment is secure. (MCAS Test Security Requirements for CBT and PBT) |
| MI | Test security handbook: MDE Assessment
Integrity Guide – https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Assessment_Integrity_Guide
_291950_7.pdf This Assessment Integrity Guide focuses on four main integrity themes: • Prevention – standards and best practices for the test integrity and security aspects of the design, development, operation, and administration of state assessments, both paper/pencil and online test administrations, to prevent irregularities from occurring • Detection – guidelines for assessment monitoring, and working with the OEAA when irregularities are found • Follow-Up Investigations – guidelines for the state and local educational agency working together to investigate irregularities • Remediation – guidelines for working with the OEAA to resolve irregularities and to ensure valid results for all students. Handbook includes students with disabilities: OEAA Supports and Accommodations Monitoring–The OEAA monitors the student use of designated supports and accommodations on the state’s assessments. Monitoring of supports and accommodations includes verification that support and accommodation decisions are made following the provided guidelines on supports and accommodations for each state assessment. (MDE Assessment Integrity Guide) Monitoring: OEAA Supports and Accommodations Monitoring–The OEAA monitors the student use of designated supports and accommodations on the state’s assessments. Monitoring of supports and accommodations includes verification that support and accommodation decisions are made following the provided guidelines on supports and accommodations for each state assessment. Monitoring involves verifying that students had access to available universal tools, specific to each assessment type and content area. Additionally, OEAA wants to ensure that designated supports were determined by individuals or teams of professionals, so that a student receiving a dedicated support during assessment is receiving it because the student receives the support during regular instruction. All students who legitimately need a support should be able to properly access it during the assessment. (MDE Assessment Integrity Guide) |
| MN | Irregularities: Data Audit–The Yearbook provides an annual
review of percentages of accommodations used against the
number of assessments scored without accommodations. MDE
continually reviews these numbers both in overall percentage
and in percentage expected in specific disability categories
based on past data… (2019-20 Technical Manual, p. 71) The following are examples of situations that should be documented; note that some are misadministrations and some are special circumstances: A student is administered the incorrect assessment or accommodation/linguistic support. (Procedures Manual for Minnesota Statewide Assessments 2021-22) AA-AAAS: If a misadministration (i.e., a non-standard situation) or security violation occurs during testing, contact your District or School Assessment Coordinator as soon as possible for next steps. Similarly, if you observe or become aware of actions that violate test security, follow the district procedure for notifying the District or School Assessment Coordinator as soon as possible. Specifically for test security, while you are encouraged to raise your concerns first within the district, you can report suspected incidents of cheating or other improper or unethical behavior on statewide assessments to MDE using an online test security “tip line.” (MTA Task Test Administration Manual Spring 2022) Monitoring: Data Audit–The data collection is intended to provide MDE with the information about districts’ use of accommodations on state assessments. This information allows MDE to analyze the accommodation data to draw conclusions about the use and overuse of accommodations and will inform future policy decisions and training needs regarding the use of accommodations. (2019-20 Technical Manual) MDE requires District and School Assessment Coordinators (or any of their designated, trained staff) to conduct random, unannounced observations of testing rooms to confirm adherence to state and district policies and procedures by Test Administrators, Test Monitors, and other staff. This requirement applies to both ACCESS and MCA administrations. Similar observations can be conducted for other aspects of test administration, like inventorying and organizing secure test materials, distributing test materials on the day of testing, and preparing technology for online testing. Districts can develop their own monitoring list or use the Minnesota Statewide Assessments Monitoring List in Appendix C, as needed. It is up to the district to determine how many schools and testing rooms to observe. Monitoring of individual administrations (Kindergarten ACCESS, Alternate ACCESS, and MTAS) is not required, but districts may include them in applicable portions of their monitoring, if desired. (Procedures Manual for Minnesota Statewide Assessments 2021-2022) |
| MS | Irregularities: Anyone with knowledge of or information
regarding a possible testing irregularity or alleged security
violations reports the alleged irregularity/violation to an
appropriate authority. {Miss. Code Ann. § 37-16-4(1)(f)} 15.
Test administrators and proctors keep written records of any
testing irregularities occurring during testing and report
these to the school test coordinator who then reports to the
District Test Coordinator. The District Test Coordinator
reports all irregularities for a test administration to the
district superintendent for investigation. Documentation
regarding testing irregularities is maintained on file in the
district. 16. The superintendent of the District investigates
all reports of alleged violations of test security and/or
potential testing irregularities and submits a report of
findings to the Office of Student Assessment within fifteen
(15) working days after the alleged violation and/or potential
irregularity has been reported to him or her. (Appendix F:
Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System
Standard 16). The procedure for handling testing irregularities is repeated for each test administration. The Office of Student Assessment will notify the school district in writing when a possible testing irregularity has been identified. Within fifteen (15) working days following a reported potential irregularity/violation and/or receipt of the written notification from the Office of Student Assessment, the District will submit a written report to the Office of Student Assessment. The Office of Student Assessment reserves the right to conduct an independent investigation. The Office of Student Assessment will evaluate the District report to determine whether the possible testing irregularity has been resolved or the testing irregularity has been verified. If the possible testing irregularity has been resolved, the Office of Student Assessment will notify the District that no further action is required. If a testing irregularity has been verified, the Office of Student Assessment will notify the district superintendent. In the case of any verified testing irregularity that jeopardized or may have jeopardized the security and integrity of the test(s) or the accuracy of the test results, the Office of Student Assessment will report the irregularity to the Office of Accreditation for appropriate action and follow-up. (See VI.CONSEQUENCES.) In the case of improper student behavior supported by a data forensics company and not disproved in the District report, the Office of Student Assessment will respond to the district superintendent with a request on behalf of the State Superintendent of Education that the district superintendent ask for the invalidation of the suspect test scores and prepare for the students with the suspect test scores to participate in the next test administration. If the District refuses to invalidate the suspect scores, the State Superintendent will have the authority to invalidate the scores. (Appendix F: Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System Standard 16). Monitoring: Test Administrators should verify that all online tests have been submitted for each student upon the completion of testing by following these steps: – Log in to the DRC Portal: www.drcedirect.com. – Select Student Status Dashboard under the Student Management Application. – Search for a school by name or code and select the school from the list. – Select the administration from the list. – Select different portions of the charts to filter to only those students. Any chart filtering will change the Student Search Results table below. To save results, you can export the table to a spreadsheet by selecting Export to CSV. (Test Administration Manual) |
| MO | Irregularities: A MAP Grade-Level Assessment should be
invalidated only if a student is discovered cheating. Cheating
is the only time the “Teacher Invalidation” code is used. This
code invalidates all sessions of the content area. If a
district chooses to use the “Teacher Invalidation” bubble, the
test examiner and the STC must agree that the student cheated.
The STC should then notify the DTC. (Test Administration
Manual) Monitoring: This form is used both for district self-monitoring purposes and by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) employees or designees during an on-site Quality Assurance (QA) visit. (Test Coordinator’s Manual) Once students have started their tests, the TE should circulate through the room to ensure that all conditions of test security are maintained. If the TE witnesses or suspects the possibility of a test security incident, the STC and DTC should be contacted immediately in accordance with the security guidance provided in this manual. (Test Administration Manual) |
| MT | Test security handbook: MontCAS Test
Security Manual – https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/
Page%20Files/Statewide%20Testing/Test%20Security/MontCASTestSecurityManual.pdf This manual accompanies the Montana Comprehensive Assessment System (MontCAS) Test Administrator Manual, MontCAS Accessibility and Accommodation Guidelines, MontCAS Accommodations Manual and Guidance Memo, and the MontCAS Test Coordinators Manual as required to administer each state assessment under the authority of MCA §20-2-121(12), ARM §10.55.603, ARM §10.56 for public schools and those private schools seeking accreditation. All accredited schools must annually administer the state assessments approved by the Board of Public Education and follow the test administration protocols according to standardized procedures published by the Office of Public Instruction. These policies and procedures provide documentation of the protections used by the Office of Public Instruction to safeguard the suite of state assessments under the obligations of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Handbook includes students with disabilities: The OPI must be made aware of incidents within the MontCAS Application for each state-mandated assessment (i.e., ACCESS for ELLs [or WIDA], CRT-Science, CRT-Science Alt, Multi-State Alternate Assessment [MSAA], Smarter Balanced, and ACT with Writing). System Test Coordinators must follow the reporting times specified in the MontCAS Test Security Manual. (Roles and Responsibilities for Test Security Information: Authorized Representatives and School Principals) Training: The System Test Coordinator must certify online he/she has received and provided training in test security, handling of test materials, test administration, accommodations, and calculator use to the appropriate educators in the School System, such as Authorized Representatives/Principals, Building Coordinators, and Test Administrators and have communicated to the appropriate educators that it is their professional responsibility to maintain the security of the test and test materials. It is essential that professional educators complete training on test security and administration prior to testing in order to fulfill their professional obligations. It is the responsibility of a professional educator to maintain the security of the test and the test materials and to follow prescribed test administration procedures. (Roles and Responsibilities for Test Security Information: System Test Coordinators) Irregularities: All testing incidents that involve a student and test and that require an action for the test, such as to reset or reopen a test that a student was taking at the time of the incident, must be recorded in the TIDE Appeals system for action by the OPI State User and documented in the MontCAS Application. All test security incidents should be recorded in the Test Security Incident Worksheet and should be maintained at the school district level. (AMSA Test Administration Manual) System Test Coordinators report any test security incident immediately to the Montana Office of Public Instruction within the MontCAS Application or based on the reporting periods specified by the severity of the incident. These reporting guidelines can be found in the MontCAS Test Security Manual. The OPI must be made aware of incidents within the MontCAS Application for each state-mandated assessment (i.e., ACCESS for ELLs [or WIDA], CRT-Science, CRT-Science Alt, Multi-State Alternate Assessment [MSAA], Smarter Balanced, and ACT with Writing). System Test Coordinators must follow the reporting times specified in the MontCAS Test Security Manual. (Roles and Responsibilities for Test Security Information: Authorized Representatives and School Principals) The Test Security Required Action Steps describes the required actions for each test security incident in a process flow diagram format. (Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: TAs should actively monitor student testing and assist students in navigating the online administration as needed. TAs should make sure that students are listening to the complete audio description of the answer options or answer option cards when PicSyms are present. While the PicSym may contain a single word, the script that is provided when the answer option is digitally read aloud often contains more information. It is important to remember that TAs are allowed to support students with test navigation, however when TAs directly enter a student’s response based on student selection using a non-direct method, that the Scribe accommodation will need to be indicated for this student. This includes the entry of a “No Response” for students (see section Early Stopping Rule). The TA should try to maintain a natural classroom atmosphere during the test administration. Before each test begins, he or she should encourage students to do their best. Students may have all parts of the assessment presented to them as many times as is necessary, including passages/stimuli, question stem, and response options. (AMSA Test Administration Manual) It is the OPI’s responsibility to observe test administration activities in schools to ensure that the state assessments are conducted in a standardized and consistent manner throughout Montana. The OPI organizes annual monitoring of schools during the testing windows as both a learning experience, where department staff can learn more about the MontCAS testing process, and as a monitoring requirement to ensure appropriate testing practice in schools…. A school can be monitored during a test administration if they were selected for 1) Targeted Assessment Monitoring, or 2) Random Assessment Monitoring (see Appendix X: SEA School Selection Protocol). (Test Security Manual) |
| NE | Test security handbook: Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment
System (NSCAS) Summative Assessment Security Manual – https://cdn.education.ne.gov/wp-content/
uploads/2021/10/NSCAS-Summative-Assessment-Security-Manual-11-4-21.pdf In a centralized testing process, it is critical that equity of opportunity, standardization of procedures, and fairness to students, teachers, and districts is maintained. Therefore, the Nebraska Department of Education requires that all school districts place a high priority on test security and review the NSCAS Summative Security procedures outlined in this document. Test security includes test maintenance and storage, training of test administrators, test administration, test ethics, and secure return of materials. In addition to state required security measures, districts are expected to adhere to NSCAS ACT and ELPA21 security. The goals of this Security Manual are the following: • To assure all Nebraska students equality to be assessed appropriately, fairly, and in a secure manner; • To assure that all Nebraska educators understand and follow the steps to develop and maintain a secure NSCAS Summative testing process; • To document the practices and procedures so that all NDE staff will consistently follow the steps to assure the security of NSCAS Summative testing. Confidentiality: Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) Confidentiality Agreement for Educators Exposed to NSCAS Content: The following optional confidentiality agreement may be used for educators or language experts that are exposed to NSCAS test content during the administration/preparation of NSCAS accessibility supports or during the administration of NSCAS Alternate tests [italics added]. While this is allowed, the content of all passages and items are secure and should not be read by anyone but the student taking the assessment. Educators that are not administering specific accessibility supports or administering the NSCAS Alternate tests should not read or view any secure test content. (Accessibility Manual) Irregularities: Any identification or suspected violation of defined testing procedures must be reported immediately. If a student suspects a breach in test security, the student should report the alleged incident to a teacher or administrator. If a teacher, parent, assessment administrator, or school administrator suspects a breach in test security, he or she should report the alleged incident in writing to the district’s superintendent or the Nebraska Statewide Assessment Office. In the case of a test contractor suspecting a breach in test security, the suspected tests should be “flagged.” The contractor’s scoring director and project manager will then review the flagged tests and determine whether a test security breach has occurred. The test contractor should immediately notify the Nebraska Statewide Assessment Office of any test security breach and send them a summary file of the flagged student work. As soon as a suspected test security breach has been verified, either by the test contractor or the Nebraska Department of Education, a district superintendent or designee of the investigation will have 45 days to complete a report. (Appendix B – NSCAS Security Procedures) Monitoring: Annually 50-70 schools are selected for monitoring. The assessment office selects schools and assigns monitors for the schools to be visited. Schools are selected based upon geographic representation, district size, and additional NSCAS testing characteristics. NDE recruits certificated staff annually to help with the monitoring and testing visitation process. Staff members who have agreed to monitor and visit schools are provided with training orientation on guidelines to conduct a testing monitoring visit. Staff from the assessment office conducts the training. Each staff member and monitor is provided with a NSCAS Observation Checklist, which is to be completed after the visit and submitted to the statewide assessment office. The checklist is revised annually to reflect current security requirements. Monitors are instructed to contact the school principal and the District Assessment Contact by email to arrange an appropriate day and time for the visit. Monitors may request of a school district to visit a specific content area, but it is likely that any of the content areas might be monitored. Monitors are reminded that it is not their responsibility to provide feedback to the school, but rather to observe and to take note of anything that needs to be reported back to the Statewide Assessment Office. If feedback is necessary to the school, or if a process needs follow up or change, it will be the responsibility of the Statewide Assessment Office to provide that feedback. (Security Manual) |
| NV | Test security handbook: Test Security Procedures–https://doe.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/ndedoenvgov/
content/Assessments/Docs/Test_Security_Procedures_1920.pdf This manual, in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 390.250 through 390.430, inclusive, is designed for district test directors, school principals, and school test coordinators. Test security procedures must be understood and adhered to by all district and school personnel involved in test administration or the handling of materials related to state assessments. Unless otherwise stated, test security procedures apply to all state-mandated test administrations, including actual (live) as well as field and pilot tests. Strict adherence to procedures protects the integrity of the State assessment program, and ensures consistency in test administration, security of test materials, and the validity of scores. Failure to adhere to the procedures outlined herein may result in state-administered corrective action, including, but not limited to, invalid scores and/or licensure sanctions. Handbook includes students with disabilities: The school plan must be consistent with the procedures outlined in the state and district plans and must include, but is not limited to, the following provisions: – Procedures to ensure compliance with testing accommodation plans Before Testing – Embedded testing accommodations and designated supports must be selected for the appropriate students in the online testing system prior to test administration. Non-embedded accommodation and designated support information must also be provided to test administrators. Testing Environment – Student desk/table tops must be cleared of any material not specified in the Test Administrator’s Manual. Students may not access additional materials unless documented as testing accommodations or designated supports. Unauthorized possession of non-permissible materials may result in invalid scores. Monitoring Students – Electronic devices are strictly PROHIBITED unless a student has an accommodation plan or designated support that allows a specific permissible device, or the device is required for test administration as indicated in the Test Administrator’s Manual. Unauthorized possession of electronic devices may result in invalid scores. (Test Security Procedures 2019-2020) Irregularities: If the district test director has reason to believe a violation of the state or district test security plan has occurred, they must do the following: – Immediately notify the NDE test security coordinator either orally or in writing. – Ensure that a Report of Testing Irregularity is submitted within 14 school days after the incident occurred. – Begin an investigation of the incident. -If a potential breach in test security has occurred, and the school has video surveillance equipment capable of downloading and saving a digital clip of the alleged occurrence, that clip must be retained as evidence for three consecutive school years. -All other evidence related to test security investigations must be retained for three consecutive school years. -The district test director or designee must submit all investigative findings to the NDE test security coordinator during the course of the investigation. A school official who has reason to believe that a violation of the state or district test security plan has occurred must immediately notify the school test coordinator, principal, district test director, or their designee. (Test Security Procedures) |
| NH | Irregularities: Report the incident to an
administrator such as the District Test Coordinator, School
Test Coordinator or Principal immediately. Local
administrators take corrective action and document
impropriety within 24 hours in Test Security Incident
Notification Form. Retain form for assessment monitoring.
Should an appeal be required, then enter the incident in the
TIDE system and submit Test Security Incident Notification
Form to the Dept. of Education. State authorizes TIDE appeal
(if appropriate). (Policy and Procedures Manual) Monitoring: All public school districts will be monitored at least once during a 5-year cycle based on random selection or on past compliance concerns. Of the randomly selected districts: 25% will be monitored on-site, 75% will have a desk monitoring procedure. The New Hampshire Department of Education will notify the district superintendent and school principal that the school will be monitored in the upcoming test administration at least 2 weeks prior to the opening of the testing window. Notification will specify the state-wide assessment to be monitored and the type of monitoring that will occur. On-site Monitoring: Selected schools will need to submit the school testing schedule to the New Hampshire Department of Education one week prior to the opening of the testing window. Please refer to the On-Site Monitoring Checklist that will be used during the visit. Results will be available within 45 days of the site visit. Desk Monitoring: Selected schools will need to submit the school testing schedule to the New Hampshire Department of Education one week prior to the opening of the testing window. Please refer to the Desk Monitoring Checklist. All required documentation must be submitted to the New Hampshire Department of Education within 30 days of school wide testing completion. Results will be available within 45 days of submission. (Policy and Procedures Manual) |
| NJ | Confidentiality: The content of the NJSLA assessment is
confidential and must be kept secure at all times. Maintaining
the security of test materials is critical in order to obtain
valid results from the test. Accordingly, each individual
authorized to administer the NJSLA assessment or have access
to test materials, including Technology Coordinators, or those
authorized to observe administration, must sign this security
agreement and agree to the statements below. Failure to abide
by the terms of the agreement may result in sanctions
including (but not limited to) score invalidation or
employment and licensure consequences. (Security Agreement) AA-AAAS: Alternate Assessment Security Agreements: – New Jersey DLM Test Security Agreement 2021-2022 for Assessment Coordinators, Technology Representatives, and Other School/District Educators – New Jersey DLM Test Security Agreement 2021–2022 Support Staff Present During DLM Test Administration (New Jersey DLM Test Security Agreement 2021-2022 Teachers & SLPs Assigned as Test Administrators) Irregularities: STC must report any incident to the DTC immediately. DTC must then email the appropriate NJSLA state coordinator as soon as possible after receiving notice from the STC. STC must complete appropriate form documenting the incident and provide completed form to DTC. DTC must upload form to PAN within five school days and provide NJDOE with support request confirmation number. Be sure to upload to appropriate assessment administration scope within PAN (ELA/Math or Science). (DTC Training) This form is to be completed and uploaded by the District Test Coordinator (DTC) or School Test Coordinator (STC). Please follow the steps outlined below. (New Jersey Student Learning Assessment Testing Irregularity and Security Breach Form) Monitoring: The DTC and STC must be actively involved in test administration by monitoring testing and ensuring test security procedures are followed as described in this manual. STCs must be available during testing to answer questions from TAs and proctors. DTCs must monitor reports of testing irregularities and security breaches and ensure that STCs follow procedures for reporting such events. Refer to Section 2.2.2 for reporting procedures. STCs must ensure that during each unit of the test, TAs and proctors walk around the room and check that students are working in the correct unit and section (if applicable). At no time are any school staff allowed to log in to TestNav using a student testing ticket; however, TAs may help students log in if issues arise. (Test Coordinator Manual) |
| NM | Irregularities: When an incident occurs, the person who witnesses it, usually the TA or a proctor, immediately reports it to the STC and the principal. The STC then reports it to the DTC and makes sure the TA reported it to the principal. If the incident constitutes an irregularity, DTCs are required to notify PED by phone or email within three days. The DTC then conducts an investigation and makes a recommendation as to whether the test should be invalidated. The PED Testing Irregularity Reporting form should be completed in the PED Test Coordinator Portal with a recommendation as to whether or not the assessment should be invalidated within ten days. (DTC Manual) |
| NY | Confidentiality: AA:AAAS: Agree to the annual security
agreement in Educator Portal. Users will have no access to
data in Educator Portal until they agree to the security
agreement each year. (DLM Test Coordinator Manual) Irregularities: Pursuant to Section 102.3 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, “Building principals are responsible for administering department examinations and maintaining the integrity of examination content and programs, in accordance with directions and procedures established by the commissioner.” Accordingly, the building principal is responsible for all aspects of the school’s test administration and must take appropriate measures both to prevent, as much as possible, and to investigate all security breaches and irregularities associated with the administration and scoring of the test. In addition, the principal must report the following testing irregularities and misconduct by students—in writing, on school letterhead, and signed by the principal—to OSA via fax to 518-474-1989 or by e-mail to emscassessinfo@nysed.gov. New York City public schools must also e-mail testsecurity@schools.nyc.gov. (School Administrator’s Manual v202) |
| NC | Test security handbook: Testing Security Protocol and
Procedures for School Personnel – https://www.dpi.nc.gov/media/12215/open General Statute §115C-174.10 states that the Annual Testing Program has three purposes: “(i) to assure that all high school graduates possess those minimum skills and that knowledge thought necessary to function as a member of society; (ii) to provide a means of identifying strengths and weaknesses in the education process in order to improve instructional delivery; and (iii) to establish additional means for making the education system at the state, local, and school levels accountable to the public for results.” In order to maintain the integrity of the Annual Testing Program, it is essential for school personnel to develop awareness of proper testing protocol and procedures. Knowledge of testing policies and procedures helps ensure the Annual Testing Program is conducted in a manner that is fair, consistent, and equitable for all students. The Testing Security Protocol and Procedures for School Personnel publication is provided to principals, teachers, and other school personnel as a reference for implementing secure, uniform test administrations in North Carolina schools. Handbook includes students with disabilities: The test administrator and proctor must monitor the test administration by walking frequently and quietly throughout the room and scanning the students’ work areas to ensure students follow the test directions, perform the required tasks, do not share responses, and those eligible have access to required accommodations. (Testing Security Protocol and Procedures for School Personnel) Irregularities: Use and follow all procedures in the OTISS to document and report all testing irregularities within five days of the occurrence. Immediately report irregularities to the school director or principal and RAC. Submit completed and signed Irregularity Investigation Checklists, investigation summaries, and all pertinent investigation documentation to the NCDPI within five business days of the occurrence (or the date the incident was identified). Notify the school director and the RAC for consensus before deciding whether to declare a misadministration. The OTISS irregularity report should be submitted within five days of the occurrence. Schools cannot submit one report for several different testing violations or irregularities. Different incidents are expected to be documented on separate reports of testing irregularity even when the incidents occur during the same test administration in the same room. For example, if one student is disruptive during testing and another student becomes ill during the administration of the same test, two separate reports of testing irregularity must be filed in OTISS. If a misadministration is declared, it must be documented and reported using appropriate procedures outlined in OTISS. (Test Coordinator Handbook) Monitoring: North Carolina’s Comprehensive Plan for Monitoring Testing Accommodations. The U.S. Department of Education (USED) requires North Carolina to submit evidence of a system for monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of testing accommodations. This system must include the documentation of testing accommodations required, provided, and used. The monitoring ensures required testing accommodations are provided during test administrations and documents the usage of these accommodations by students during testing. In October 2009, the USED approved North Carolina’s comprehensive plan for monitoring the use of testing accommodations in local school systems. The NCDPI Division of Accountability Services is responsible for conducting all monitoring activities with assistance and participation from the Divisions of Exceptional Children and K–12 Standards, Curriculum, and Instruction. (Testing Students with Disabilities Handbook) Test administrators and proctors must avoid creating distractions and causing testing irregularities while monitoring students during the test. During training, test administrators and proctors must be made aware of what they can and cannot do to assist students. The test administrator and proctor must monitor the test administration by walking frequently and quietly throughout the room and scanning the students’ work areas to ensure students follow the test directions, perform the required tasks, do not share responses, and those eligible have access to required accommodations. (Testing Security Protocol and Procedures for School Personnel) |
| ND | Confidentiality: Agree to the annual security agreement in
Educator Portal. Users will have no access to data in Educator
Portal until they agree to the security agreement each year.
(DLM Test Coordinator Manual) Irregularities: Throughout the testing window, TAs are to report breaches of protocol and testing irregularities to the School Test Coordinator (SC) and, if appropriate, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. Online test invalidation requests are submitted, as appropriate, through the Appeals/Invalidations module under Administering Tests in the TIDE system. NDDPI makes the final decision on whether to approve the requested test invalidation. SCs can track the status and final decisions of requested test invalidations in TIDE. (Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: Monitor assessment activity for an individual student by using the fall Essential Elements Status Report. Monitor assessment activity for all students in a district or building prior to the end of the assessment window by using the DLM Instructionally Embedded Monitoring extract during the assessment window. Test administrators perform administrative tasks for students in the Instruction and Assessment Planner section of Educator Portal. (DLM Test Coordinator Manual) While students are taking the test, move around the room to make sure students are progressing through the test. Test Administrators may answer student questions about test directions. Test Administrators may not answer student questions about test content. Test Administrators can monitor and pause student assessments from within the TA Interface. (Test Administration Manual) |
| OH | Irregularities: A testing irregularity is an unexpected test
incident that results in a change to the established test
administration procedure or protocols. This change may, or may
not, compromise the test results. Examples include: …extra
testing time they were not entitled to or a student doesn’t
get an accommodation that they are entitled do. (Test Security
Powerpoint, Slide 17) The test administrator is responsible for ensuring that the translator and the student adhere to test security policies. (Ohio’s State Tests Fall 2021 Test Administration Manual, Appendix B) Test Incident Guidance Document - Example of testing irregularity – Accommodation should have been provided but was not for example read aloud, oral translation and extended time – How to proceed is provided…) Accommodation was provided to a student that was not eligible – Providing testing accommodations to a student who is not eligible results in an invalid assessment. (Ohio’s State Tests Fall 2021 Test Administration Manual, Appendix H) Test Incident Guidance Document – Example of NOT testing irregularity – A student refused test accommodations…. It may be necessary to convene with the student’s IEP team or 504 Plan committee to review accommodations and the impact on participation in the assessment. (Ohio’s State Tests Fall 2021 Test Administration Manual, Appendix H) AA-AAAS: An example of an unsecure test is paper tests not returned to the state (This includes answer sheets and the AASCD paper manipulative cards.) (Test Security PowerPoint, Slide 23) Monitoring Procedures: AA-AAAS: During every test administration, a test administrator who meets these criteria must be in the room at all times. This person must actively monitor the student to ensure test security. (Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities, Test Administration Manual, Spring 2022) AA-AAAS: At any point, if personnel believe that a violation of test security has occurred, they should contact the building test coordinator (BTC) about the alleged test security violation. The building test coordinator should report the alleged test security violation to the district test coordinator (DTC). The district test coordinator will contact the Department to discuss the situation. Guidance on test incidents is available in Appendix G of this manual. (Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities, Test Administration Manual, Spring 2022) |
| OK | Monitoring: Office of Assessments Desk & On-site
Monitoring Checklist. District/Site Provided Documentation.
(selected examples provided below) Each monitored site is to provide documentation for items 1 – 12 for the OSTP. Documentation must be submitted electronically to the Office of Assessment by the date indicated above. Items 3 – 12 request information that should be written, finalized, and provided to Test Administrators and Test Proctors prior to administering or proctoring tests. 3. Provide a detailed, written plan describing how security of the test materials is maintained at your district/building(s) and during test sessions. Include specific procedures to maintain the security of test booklets, test tickets, answer documents, and access codes prior to, during, and after testing sessions. 4. Provide your district’s detailed, written plan for the transfer of secure testing documents to and from an Alternate Site of Instruction (e.g., hospital, juvenile detention center, homebound, etc.). Required, even if your site did not use an alternate site. 7. Provide your detailed, written school plan and procedures for providing testing accommodations. This must include: • who is responsible for ensuring accommodations are provided, and • who is responsible for verifying the accommodation received is documented on the students IEP, 504 Plan, or ELAP. (Office of Assessments Desk & On-site Monitoring Checklist) On-site Monitoring Checklist. (selected examples provided below) Legal notice prohibiting copying of test documents is posted above all copy machines and scanners. 3. Security of materials when not in use (i.e., in a secure, locked area). 4. Observe and/or provide written procedure for appropriate sign-out of test materials using the School and Classroom Security Checklist or other appropriate method of checking out secure materials. 5. Read-Aloud Plans [verify subjects & documentation; only for students with IEP/504 plans or English Learners (EL) students; small group of (8 – 10 maximum) students when a Human Reader is utilized]. 11. Cell phones and other electronic devices (including smart watches) are off, not visible, and not in use by the TA, TP, and/or students (unless required for specific student accommodations or in case of an emergency). 12. Students are working independently or under approved accommodation requirements. 13. Security during testing maintained (e.g., no one copying or viewing student test forms). 17. Site correctly implements the OSTP Nonstandard Accommodation procedures outlined in the Test Preparation Manual and maintains appropriate documentation. 18. Follows procedures for use of calculators as outlined in the state calculator policy. 19. Provide evidence for approval of and proper implementation/use of Emergency Accommodations (EA Form) and Nonstandard Accommodations (ELA/Reading Test Read-Aloud & Unique). (On-site Monitoring Checklist) |
| OR | (None found) |
| PA | Test security handbook: Handbook for Secure Test
Administration – https://www.education.pa.gov/
Documents/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/PSSA/
Test%20Administration%20Materials/Handbook%20for%20Secure%20Test%20Administration.pdf State assessments rely on the measurement of individual achievement. Any deviation from procedures meant to ensure test validity and security (e.g., group work, teacher coaching, teaching or release of any test items, use of previously administered Pennsylvania assessments as preparation tools) is strictly prohibited and will be considered a violation of test security. Local Education Agency (LEA)/school personnel with access to the assessment materials must not review, discuss, disseminate, or otherwise reveal the contents to anyone. (This prohibition excludes the Item and Scoring Samplers available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s [PDE’s] website.) Any action by a professional employee or commissioned officer that is willfully designed to divulge test questions, falsify student scores, or compromise the integrity of the state assessment system will be subject to disciplinary action under the Educator Discipline Act, 24 P.S. §§ 2070.1a et seq, which may include a private reprimand, a public reprimand, a suspension of his/her teaching certificate(s), a revocation of his/her teaching certificate(s), and/or a suspension or prohibition from being employed by a charter school. Handbook includes students with disabilities: Before Test Administration – DAC – Complete the Accommodations Guidelines training annually. – Review the Handbook for Assessment Coordinators (HAC), Directions for Administration (DFA), Accommodations Guidelines, Online User Guides (if online testing) and other test-related documents necessary to conduct training for test administration. – Ensure that SACs are trained on the Accommodations Guidelines. Before Test Administration – SAC – Review DFA’s, the Handbook for Assessment Coordinators, Accommodations Guidelines and Online User Guides (if testing online). – Know the required accommodations and those allowable accommodations for each student with an IEP or 504 Service Plan and/or for each English Learner being assessed and communicate this to the appropriate personnel. – Provide the appropriate testing environment for each student requiring an accommodation. Before Test Administration – TA/Proctor – Know and prepare to appropriately implement the required accommodations. During Test Administration – TA/Proctor – Appropriately implement required accommodations. (Handbook for Secure Test Administration) Confidentiality: Educational Sign Language Interpreter agreement. Educational sign language interpreters may review test materials up to three days prior to test administration. Test materials must be reviewed in a secure location supervised by the principal or test coordinator. Materials may not be removed from the secure location. Filing or retaining any notes beyond the testing window or making copies of any kind is strictly prohibited. The principal and/or test coordinator must receive and securely destroy any notes required by the educational sign language interpreter to administer the test. These assessments rely on the measurement of individual achievement. Any deviation from the assessment procedures outlined in this manual [group work, teacher coaching (e.g., paraphrasing, explaining, giving suggestions about test items), pre-teaching or pre-release of the performance tasks or assessment items, use of old Pennsylvania assessments as preparation tools, etc.] is strictly prohibited and will be considered a violation of test security. (Test Administrator Handbook) All persons assigned to the student(s) during testing must sign a Test Security Certification form (Accessibility Manual) Irregularities: Test administrators and others involved in assessments must: – provide for and document all reasonable and allowable accommodations for the administration of the assessment to persons with disabilities or special needs; and – avoid actions or conditions that would permit or encourage individuals or groups to receive scores that misrepresent their actual levels of attainment. (Accessibility Manual) |
| RI | Confidentiality: RI NGSA items and test materials are secure
and must be appropriately handled. Secure handling protects
the integrity, validity, and confidentiality of assessment
items and student information. Sign and submit this form to
your School Test Coordinator prior to testing. This signed
agreement must be maintained by the school at least three
years. (NGSA Test Coordinator Manual) Irregularities: All test irregularities must be reported by the test administrator to the school test coordinator. The school test coordinator must collect any information and/or documentation and inform the Local Education Agency (LEA) or district test coordinator. The LEA or district test coordinator must contact RIDE to discuss the incident and provide any documentation, as necessary. RIDE will inform the local LEA/district if it is required to submit a formal investigation report of the irregularity. If any school or district employees with knowledge of a test irregularity has questions about their reporting obligations, RIDE can be consulted. (NGSA Test Coordinator Manual) Monitoring: In order to ensure the security and proper administration of the RICAS program, RIDE conducts announced monitoring visits to schools to observe the procedures followed during test administration. If selected for a visit, at least two regular classrooms should be visited by RIDE staff and at least one accommodation session. (Test Security Guidelines) |
| SC | Training: AA-AAAS: South Carolina Alternate Assessment
Agreement to Maintain Test Security and Confidentiality for
Test Administrators and Monitors form says, “I acknowledge
that I have received training regarding the administration of
alternate assessments. I further acknowledge that the training
included a discussion of test security policies and test
administration procedures as outlined in the TAM.” Confidentiality: AA-AAAS: South Carolina Alternate Assessment Agreement to Maintain Test Security and Confidentiality for Test Administrators and Monitors. (SC confidentiality agreement form) Irregularities: Test Security Violations: AA-AAAS: Any breach of test security must be reported to the SCDE in accordance with the Test Security Legislation and State Board of Education regulations. See Appendix A: Test Security Regulations and Violations for the test security legislation, Code of Laws Section 59-1-445 and 59-1-447, State Board of Education (SBE) regulations on test security and guidelines for Reporting Test Security Violations and the Test Security Violation Action Form. (SC Alt TAM) AA-AAAS: Operational Invalidations Window DTCs-Alt can request an invalidation of an assessment due to test security violations, incorrect administration procedures, errors in scoring, and errors in administration procedures during the testing window. (SC Alt TAM) 1. Test Security Violation (TSV) Application–DTC must complete this TSV Application online via the SCDE website membership login page. The TSV Application will automatically be directed to Lynn Ferguson, Test Security Program Manager, Office of Assessment. The Test Security Violation Application must include all of the requested information including the identification of the person who allegedly committed the violation and their certificate number. Indicate the law that is violated, if applicable. See S.C. Code Ann. § 59-1-445—located in the “Test Security” section of the Test Administration Manual (TAM) for each assessment program and posted under “South Carolina Test Security Law” on the Test Security Web page—for the appropriate letters (a–f) to use for Legislative Violation(s). Also indicate the regulation(s) violated, using the exact wording of the violation(s) as stated in 2 S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 43-100 (2016), found in the TAM for each assessment program and posted under “State Board Test Security Regulations” on the Test Security Web page. For example, if a teacher assisted a student on the test, the following should be indicated in the online application drop-down as Regulation Violation(s): “H. Coaching examinees, altering examinee responses, or interfering with examinee responses in any way prior to, during, or after testing. This includes hinting to examinees about the correctness of their response.” (SC Alt TAM) How to Conduct an Investigation and Document the Information–The following paragraphs outline more specific information about how to conduct an investigation and how to document the information included in the test security violation application. A. If a test security violation is observed within a school, the individual(s) observing the incident must notify the STC or the district test coordinator (DTC) as soon as possible. The STC must notify the DTC immediately regarding the violation. The DTC must notify the appropriate Office of Assessment program manager. (SC Alt TAM) Monitoring: X. The SCDE has the right and responsibility to observe test administration activities without prior notice in order to monitor adherence to test security. Examinees should be made aware that monitoring may occur. (Test Security Regulations) |
| SD | Irregularities: AA-AAAS: Each person participating in the
state assessment program is directly responsible for
immediately reporting any violation or suspected violation of
test security or confidentiality. PRs and other staff must
notify their SC or AC if they witness or become aware of an
inappropriate test practice or suspect one has occurred. ACs
and SCs must report these concerns to the SDDOE Student
Assessment Office (see Appendix A: State-Specific
Information). ACs must report any incidents involving alleged
or suspected violations that fall under the category of a
serious irregularity email the South Dakota office of
Assessment at DOEAssessment@state.sd.us. (Test Administration Manual – Alternate Assessment) The Test Security Required Action Steps depict the required actions for each test security incident in a process flow diagram format. (Test Administration Manual) AA-AAAS: Each person participating in the MSAA is responsible for immediately reporting any violation or suspected violation of test security or confidentiality. As part of test security and validity, TCs should monitor administration for a portion of students. Observation documentation should be retained by the Local Education Agency. Report any incidents involving alleged or suspected violations that fall under the category of a serious irregularity to the State MSAA Coordinator in accordance with state guidelines. (MSAA Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: It is very important that PRs monitor student progress throughout the test session. This includes verifying that students are participating in the appropriate content area and type of test (CAT or PT). The PR monitors the test each student is taking by referring to the Students in Your Test Session table in the PR Interface. Once students have started their tests, the PR should circulate through the room to ensure that all conditions of test security are maintained. If the PR witnesses or suspects the possibility of a test security incident, the SC and AC should be contacted immediately in accordance with the security guidance provided in this manual. (Test Administration Manual) |
| TN | Test security handbook: Tennessee Test Security Manual – https://tn.mypearsonsupport.com/resources/userguide/TennesseeTestSecurityManualFINAL_20190820.pdf The Test Security Manual focuses on three main areas of test security: - Prevention – policies and best practices for the administration of paper-based and computer-based TCAP assessments. Proactive actions will prevent irregularities and test security breaches. - Detection – guidelines for assessment monitoring, reporting, and working with the Office of Assessment Logistics when irregularities or test security breaches are found. - Follow-Up Investigations – guidelines for the state and local educational agency working together to investigate test security breaches. All test administration practices are subject to this ultimate question: Will the test administration lead to student results that accurately reflect a valid and reliable measure of what each student knows and is able to do compared to Tennessee state standards? Following these guidelines will ensure that all students have equal opportunities to show their knowledge, skills, and abilities and are actively involved in demonstrating those opportunities through their engagement with the test. Handbook includes students with disabilities: If any TCAP, MSAA/TCAP-Alt, or WIDA potential security breaches occur before, during, or after testing, the district testing coordinator must report them to the office of assessment logistics as soon as possible. (Test Security Manual) Confidentiality: This agreement must be signed by any adults within proximity to test materials or test administration, including but not limited to test administrators, proctors, testing coordinators, and school or district administrators. Signed agreements should be collected by building test coordinators and kept filed for a period of 12 months. (Test Security Manual) Irregularities: If any TCAP, MSAA/TCAP-Alt, or WIDA potential security breaches occur before, during, or after testing, the district testing coordinator must report them to the office of assessment logistics as soon as possible. (Test Security Manual) Test Administrators are responsible for submitting documentation of testing irregularities to building testing coordinators including date, content area, affected subparts, and affected students. The building testing coordinator will make the determination whether this needs to be documented as an RI and, if so, will follow documentation procedures. (Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: It is the responsibility of the district and the school to monitor testing practices and enforce the policies and guidelines in this Test Security Manual to promote fair, approved, and standardized practices. Resolving irregularities is a good faith partnership between the schools and the department. The department prefers that a district monitor its own performance and take self-corrective actions to resolve any problems. During testing, district testing coordinators should be available to answer questions and resolve issues. Monitoring schools during a test administration will help confirm that procedures are being followed and can minimize the risk of error. Principals and building testing coordinators play a critical role in this effort, ensuring that all test administrators are actively monitoring their rooms. All testing personnel must adhere to the proper procedures. (Test Security Manual) Test administrators and proctors are required to frequently and unobtrusively move through the room and monitor the students’ work area during testing. (Test Security Manual) The department has internal and independent assessment monitors who conduct visits to schools during each testing window. The assessment monitors follow procedures developed to assure the security and confidentiality of state assessments and that all testing personnel are adhering to proper procedures. A school can be monitored during a test administration if they were selected either for Targeted Assessment Monitoring or for Random Assessment Monitoring. Districts with schools selected for targeted or random assessment monitoring will receive an email…. Monitoring will occur via observation on an unannounced day and time of the department’s choosing. (Test Security Manual) During any day of testing, an assessment monitor may present themselves to the front office of the school at the beginning of the school day. These assessment monitors will deliver a signed letter, on department letterhead (SAT and ACT will have their own letterhead), to the principal of the school…. Once the monitor arrives in the testing room, they will introduce themselves to the test administrator and any proctors, then quietly sit at the back of the room and observe the test administration. The assessment monitor has a checklist of questions (see Appendix C) to indicate if they see any irregularities and if any best practices are observed during testing. Assessment monitors are unable to answer any questions about the test administration. All questions should be directed to the building or district testing coordinator. The assessment monitor will also take time to interview the building testing coordinator and observe secure materials storage, distribution and intake. After the monitoring session is complete, the assessment monitor will return all observations to the department, including both concerns and positive comments about exemplary and/or innovative test security practices. A summary letter of the observation will be sent to the district testing coordinator to provide overall information on the observation…. The DTC will be asked to respond to any problem areas observed. (Test Security Manual) |
| TX | Test security handbook: Security - District and Campus
Coordinator Resources - Recommendations for Implementation of
14-point Test Security Plan Develop a Test Integrity/Security Guide—Recommendation #12: TEA will develop a model policy on test integrity and test security procedures for adoption by local school boards. Rationale: Procedures to help ensure test security and confidentiality are spelled out in the District and Campus Coordinator Manual that is produced annually for the state assessment program. All individuals involved in the administrations of the state assessments are required to sign oaths indicating they understand test security and confidentiality requirements. By providing a model policy to local school boards for their review and consideration, there is an expectation that districts would be more cognizant of state test security requirements for district personnel. Timeline: TEA convened a focus group of district testing coordinators from across the state to assist in the development of a model policy. A draft of the policy was provided to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) for review. The final version of the model policy, to be considered for possible local adoption, was incorporated into the Test Security Supplement, beginning in 2009. (Recommendations for Implementation of 14-point Test Security Plan) Training: The Oath of Test Security and Confidentiality includes “I have received training on the appropriate administration(s) of the state assessments as required.” Confidentiality: Oaths of Security and Confidentiality–All district and campus personnel who participate in state-mandated testing or handle or have access to secure test materials must be trained and sign an oath of test security and confidentiality. Any person who has more than one testing role (for instance, a district coordinator who also serves as a test administrator) must receive appropriate training and sign a security oath for each role. Test security oaths are valid for the entire school year, including fall, spring, and summer testing, as well as any field testing and mandatory sampling conducted during this time period. Test administrators must complete the general oath. General oaths should be printed or saved and provided to the campus coordinator. All oaths are required to be maintained by the district for a period of five years. The general Oath of Test Security and Confidentiality is available in the Security section of the Coordinator Resources. (STARR Alt 2 TAM) Understand your obligations concerning test security and confidentiality. • Sign the general Oath of Test Security and Confidentiality following the general training on test security and test administration procedures and before handling secure test materials. (Test administrators are only responsible for signing the oath once per school year.) • Individuals who are authorized to conduct test administration procedures that involve viewing secure state assessments must receive additional training and confirm compliance with state confidentiality requirements. (STARR Alt 2 TAM) Irregularities: Investigating and Reporting Testing Irregularities–Each person participating in the assessment program is responsible for reporting any violation or suspected violation of test security or confidentiality. Campus staff should notify their campus or district coordinator if they witness an irregularity or suspect that one has occurred. All testing personnel have an obligation to report testing irregularities and should follow local reporting procedures. Failure to properly report that an individual has engaged in conduct that violates the security or confidentiality of a test or failure to cooperate with TEA in an investigation is itself a violation under TAC, §249.15(b)(6) and (b)(8). (STARR Alt 2 TAM) Recommendation #9 – TEA will provide additional information in test administration manuals related to consequences for educators and students if cheating occurs. Rationale: The District and Campus Coordinator Manual, the Test Security Supplement, and the General Test Administrator Manual for the state assessment program are the primary means for communicating information related to test security and the consequences of violating state policies. Recommendation #10 – TEA will require school districts to report to TEA any investigatory and disciplinary actions taken against educators and students locally. Rationale: Although districts are required to report testing irregularities to the Student Assessment Division, they were not previously required to provide information in all cases about any actions taken locally as a result of their investigations. The collection of this information would provide a source of data concerning actions taken at the local level and evidence that local actions were taken to address testing violations. Recommendation #13 – TEA will ensure that state investigations, sanctions, and corrective actions are conducted in a fair, expeditious, and equitable manner. Rationale: To be truly effective, investigations of testing irregularities need to be conducted as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Given student and staff mobility, it is critical that investigations are completed as close to the test administration in question as possible. (Recommendations for Implementation of 14-point Test Security Plan) Monitoring: Recommendation #2 - TEA will assign independent test monitors to campuses based on evidence of testing irregularities and make unannounced visits to additional campuses on test days. Rationale: Monitoring of test administrations has always been a requirement of the state assessment program, and the expectation has been that district and campus staff will be responsible. Revised 04/06/2010 2 for test monitoring activities. Although local monitoring efforts have identified incidents of cheating over the years, the assignment of a state presence on campuses during major test administrations did not occur until the 2006 test administration. State assignment of test monitors increased during 2007, 2008, and 2009 testing. In 2008 the first unannounced visits to campuses during testing occurred and continued in 2009. The presence of independent monitors on campuses during the administration of state assessments is a strong deterrent to cheating. (Recommendations for Implementation of 14-point Test Security Plan) |
| UT | Irregularities: AA-AAAS: Contact your assessment coordinator
for additional guidance on test security in your state and
district and for procedures for reporting assessment
irregularities. (DLM Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: After you approve students for testing, you can monitor the testing progress for each student logged in to your session, approve a student’s print request for an accommodated test, and pause a student’s test if necessary. (Test Administration Manual) |
| VT | Irregularities: Test security incidents, such as
improprieties, irregularities, and breaches, are behaviors
prohibited either because they give a student an unfair
advantage or because they compromise the security of the
assessments. Whether intentional or by accident, failure to
comply with security rules, either by staff or students,
constitutes a test security incident. Improprieties,
irregularities, and breaches need to be reported in accordance
with the instructions in this section for each severity level.
(SBA Test Administration Manual) The Test Administrator must immediately report the incident to the District Test Administrator/School Coordinator (DA/SC). The DA/SC will submit the incident in the Appeals module of TIDE (if appropriate) by the end of the day of the incident. Follow the steps in Section VII.II of the Test Coordinator Manual for Filing an Appeal in TIDE for information on submitting an appeal. (AOE Test Security Incident Procedure) Monitoring: AA-AAAS: All users can view participation data through the Monitoring Test Progress task in TIDE. ATEs are encouraged to confirm that a test has been submitted by following the steps provided in the TIDE User Guide, which is also located on the Portal. (Test Administration Manual – Alternate Assessment) It is very important that the Test Administrator monitor student progress throughout the test session. The Test Administrator may also use the TA Interface to view the testing progress of any student. (Science Test Administration Manual) |
| VA | Confidentiality: The School Division Personnel Test Security
Agreement that follows should be read and understood by all
school division personnel. All individuals who may be exposed
to secure test items and those involved in the administration
of the Virginia Assessment Program (VAP) tests (including, but
not limited to, Examiners, Proctors, Interpreters, and
Scribes) MUST read, understand, and agree to adhere to the
following. (Fall Writing Test Implementation Manual) AA-AAAS: 2020–2021 School Division Personnel Test Security Agreement for the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program: All individuals who may be involved in the administration of the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) to include collection development, monitoring, and pre-scoring MUST read, understand, and agree to adhere to the following. (Administrator’s Manual – Alternate Assessment) Irregularities: Examiners are directed to report any testing irregularity to the designated STC immediately, and STCs are directed to report testing irregularities to the DDOT within 24 hours of their occurrence. While some irregularities may be resolved locally by the DDOT, most irregularities are forwarded within 24 hours by the DDOT to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) for review and guidance. DDOTs are required to report certain irregularities to VDOE. All situations that involve the retesting of students, compromised testing procedures or policies, or student test record exclusions must be reported to VDOE. In some cases, testing irregularities are reported to VDOE by concerned individuals, some of whom wish to remain anonymous, through means other than the normal reporting structure. (Fall Writing Test Implementation Manual) AA-AAAS: All known violations of the assessment procedures and security guidelines shall be reported to the Virginia Department of Education Department of Student Assessment, Accountability, and ESEA Programs by any of these methods: E-mail: …; phone: …; or mailed to: …. (Administrator’s Manual – Alternate Assessment) Monitoring: Test sessions must only be started on the day of testing. You may view the status of each test session for students through the online system, at the Students in Sessions screen. The Status on the screen is color-coded. After each student’s name, the student’s real-time test status is indicated based on one of the descriptions in the following chart. Refer to PearsonAccessnext Online Support, located at https://support.assessment.pearson.com/x/BYDy, for directions on Viewing or Maintaining Existing Sessions. Ensure that all secure materials are being handled properly by both STCs and Examiners. Be available to STCs for questions and problem resolution during the test administration. Monitor the administration of the multiple-choice/TEI and short-paper components while testing is being conducted in the school. Be actively involved in test administration by carefully supervising the procedures described in this manual and the Writing Examiner’s Manual. Be available to answer questions and resolve problems as they arise. Examiners/Proctors for paper testing should check that students are working in the correct section of their answer documents and not going back to a previously completed section, and only using a No. 2 Pencil to mark the answer document or write the short paper. Once students and the test Examiner/Proctor enter the testing room, all instruction and/or review of the content covered by the test or discussion of testing strategies must stop. During the test administration, Examiners/Proctors must monitor the testing process by moving as unobtrusively as possible about the room. Examiners/Proctors must not engage in other activities that would interfere with monitoring. Such activities include, but are not limited to, reading, grading papers, using electronic devices, etc. Students may not be left unattended for any length of time. (Test Implementation Manual) |
| WA | Confidentiality: Test Security Staff Assurance Report — Prior
to Testing Irregularities: TAs must log incidents immediately upon identification and submit them, via agreed-upon process outlined in the school’s TSBP, to their SCs and DCs. The TSBP should outline a process that includes how frequently incident reports are submitted. The DC will communicate this preference to schools. All improprieties, irregularities, and breaches, whether being retained at the local level or escalated to the state, must be documented. SCs and DC ensure that all test incidents are documented in a central location, such as the Test Incident Report within ARMS. In addition to logging all test incidents, situations requiring specific actions to be taken on a student’s test are to be escalated. The only incidents that are reported in the TIDE Appeals application are those that involve a student and test that require an action such as to reset, reopen, or invalidate a test that a student was taking at the time of the incident. TIDE does not serve as a log for all incidents. (Test Administration Manual) |
| WV | Training: “I agree to complete each assessment’s required
training.” (Guidelines for Participation in West Virginia
State Assessments 2020-2021) Irregularities: 5.0 Responding to Testing Irregularities Test security incidents are behaviors prohibited either because they give a student an unfair advantage or because they compromise the secure administration of the assessments. Whether intentional or by accident, failure to comply with security rules, either by staff or students, constitutes a test security incident. Irregularities need to be reported in accordance with the instructions in this section for each severity level. (West Virginia General Summative Assessment 2018–2019 Volume 5 Test Administration) Irregularities must be documented in the Test Security Incident Log, and the TA must inform the SC. The SC should notify the DC, and the DC, if needed, will enter the incident in the appeals module of TIDE. A Breach requires immediate notification by telephone to the WVDE by the DC, followed by documentation in the Test Security Incident Log and in the appeals module of TIDE (if appropriate). TAs must use the Test Security Incident Log (available in their test packet) to log incidents immediately upon identification that one has occurred and submit log, via email or alternate agreed-upon process, to their SCs and DCs. District staff should establish a process which includes how frequently these logs should be submitted and communicate this preference to schools. In addition to logging all test security incidents in the Test Security Incident Log, incidents requiring specific actions (appeal requests) to be taken regarding the test itself are to be reported to the WVDE as per WVBE Policy 2340 and entered in TIDE following the procedures noted in section 5.3 Test Security Required Action Steps. (Test Administration Manual) Monitoring: 6. Students, examiners, and technology specialists shall be monitored to ensure appropriate test taking procedures and test security measures are followed. (Guidelines for Participation in West Virginia State Assessments, 2020-2021: Guidance on accommodations for students with disabilities and/or English learners in state and district-wide testing) Appendix J. VS.326 Accommodations Monitoring Form (Guidelines for Participation in West Virginia State Assessments, 2020-2021: Guidance on accommodations for students with disabilities and/or English learners in state and district-wide testing) It is very important TAs monitor student progress throughout the test session. This includes verifying students are participating in the appropriate content area test. The TA monitors the test each student is taking by referring to the “Students in Your Test Session” table in the TA Interface in the TDS. In the event a student is taking an incorrect test, the TA can pause the student’s test. The TA should then instruct the student to log out and log in again to select the correct test. The TA must notify the SC, who would complete the Test Security Incident Log. Once students have started their tests, the TA should circulate through the room to ensure all conditions of test security are maintained. If the TA witnesses or suspects the possibility of a test security incident, the SC should be contacted immediately. The SC will work with the DC to mitigate the incident in accordance with WVBE Policy 2340. (Test Administration Manual) |
| WI | Test security handbook: Test Security Manual
– https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/
assessment/pdf/Test_Security.pdf The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Office of Educational Accountability (OEA) is charged with establishing, and overseeing a state assessment system that fairly and accurately measures student achievement in relation to the State’s academic standards. These assessments include the Forward Exam, the ACT, ACT Aspire, Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM), and ACCESS for ELLs and any other state level assessments that may be developed. The purpose of the assessments and procedures developed by OEA is to accurately measure and report student achievement relative to the Wisconsin academic standards. The procedures must be standardized in order to create a fair and equitable measure for all students. Administrative procedures must be carefully adhered to so each student’s achievement results are a reflection of his or her individual skills and abilities. Educational staff participating in the administration of assessments play a critical role in achieving fair and accurate student results by closely adhering to these guidelines. Failure to follow these guidelines could result in the invalidation of student tests, as well as serious consequences for the students, schools, districts, and staff. This document represents the expected professional conduct of educators who administer OEA assessments in order to ensure proper assessment and academic integrity. It is intended to be used by districts and schools in the fair and appropriate administration of the state assessments. The required state assessments are an important tool used to monitor state, district, school, and student achievement. For these assessments to yield fair and accurate results, they must be given under standardized conditions to all students. Test security policies specific to individual assessments are available in the test administration manuals and other resources specific to the relevant assessments. The ACT assessment has additional educator roles, such as the test coordinator and room supervisor, who play a key part in the implementation of the ACT. It is important for district staff and other high school educators involved in the ACT assessment to review and understand the test security policies specific to the ACT available in the ACT manuals and resources and on the DPI ACT Test Security webpage. Handbook includes students with disabilities: The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Office of Educational Accountability (OEA) is charged with establishing, and overseeing a state assessment system that fairly and accurately measures student achievement in relation to the State’s academic standards. These assessments include the Forward Exam, the ACT, ACT Aspire, Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM), and ACCESS for ELLs and any other state level assessments that may be developed. (Test Security Manual) Report all testing irregularities to the SAC (school assessment coordinator), including if a student cheating, or use of an unallowable accommodation. (Test Security Manual) Irregularities: Report all testing irregularities to the SAC (school assessment coordinator), including if a student cheating, or use of an unallowable accommodation. (Test Security Manual) Situations that will lead to the invalidation of test scores include: • A student was provided with an unallowable support or accommodation or an accommodation that was not in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 plan, or English Learners (EL) plan. • A student was not provided an allowable support that they should have been provided or accommodation that was in the student’s IEP, 504 plan, or EL plan, and this lack of support or accommodation significantly affected the student’s performance. Monitoring: TAs (test administrators) should monitor testing by: • Ensuring that all test administration, test security, and accessibility policies and procedures are maintained • Reporting any test security incidents to DAC/SAC (district assessment coordinator/school assessment coordinator). (Test Administration Manual) |
| WY | Test security handbook: Wyoming’s Assessment Security Guide – https://edu.wyoming.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Assessment-Security-Guide.pdf This Assessment Security Guide focuses on four main security themes: • Prevention – standards and best practices for the test integrity and security aspects of the design, development, operation, and administration of state assessments, both paper/pencil and online test administrations, to prevent irregularities from occurring. • Detection – guidelines for assessment monitoring, reporting, and working with the WDE when irregularities are found. • Follow-Up Investigations – guidelines for the state and local educational agency working together to investigate irregularities. • Remediation – guidelines for working with the WDE to resolve irregularities and to ensure valid results for all students. Handbook includes students with disabilities: Monitoring of supports and accommodations includes verification that support and accommodation decisions are made following the provided guidelines on supports and accommodations for each state assessment. Monitoring involves verifying that students had access to available universal tools, specific to each assessment type and content area. Additionally, WDE wants to ensure that designated supports were determined by teams of professionals, so that each student receiving a designated support during assessment is receiving it because the student receives the support during regular instruction. All students who legitimately need access to supports should be able to properly access it during the assessment. (Assessment Security Guide) Monitoring: State–The WDE monitors the student use of designated supports and accommodations on the state’s assessments. Monitoring of supports and accommodations includes verification that support and accommodation decisions are made following the provided guidelines on supports and accommodations for each state assessment. Monitoring involves verifying that students had access to available universal tools, specific to each assessment type and content area. Additionally, WDE wants to ensure that designated supports were determined by teams of professionals, so that each student receiving a designated support during assessment is receiving it because the student receives the support during regular instruction. All students who legitimately need access to supports should be able to properly access it during the assessment. Further, this monitoring will work to verify that specific accommodations for students with a disabling condition as outlined in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or section 504 plan is provided in accordance with that plan. It is required that any student receiving an accommodation on an assessment has the accommodation(s) documented in his/her IEP or section 504 plan. If a student with an IEP or 504 plan does not receive support(s) as documented in their plan, no matter the support category, this may result in test invalidation and/or student re-testing. Conversely, providing accommodations to students who do not have an IEP or section 504 plan is considered over-accommodation of the student and is not allowable. Under- and over-accommodating students can result in invalidation of student test scores, which may have an impact on the school’s accountability designation. District - Quality assurance checklist that district can use includes monitor test administration sections on accommodations and test administration. (Assessment Security Guide) |