Test Security & Confidentiality Training 2016-2017

Legal Requirements & Terminology Chapter 1

Remember, state assessments are considered secure government documents and as such, law governs the handling, security, and protection of these documents. Viewing this presentation does not replace your obligation to: attend Test Administrator trainings sign the security oath read all Test Administration manuals Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Laws include, but are not limited to: Texas Education Code (TEC) Chapter 39, Subchapter B Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 19 Subchapter 101, Assessment Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) Federal law protecting the privacy of student education records Texas Penal Code 37.10 – Tampering See 2016 Test Security Supplement at Test Security(2017 is not available yet) Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Security & Confidentiality Maintaining test security is the responsibility of all testing personnel: Do not view inappropriately, duplicate or electronically capture, discuss, score, discard, or misplace a test or answer document Never review, discuss, or alter student responses Train ALL testing personnel before they work with testing materials Confidentiality Protect the contents of the: Tests Students’ personal information and responses Online assessments Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Oath of Test Security & Confidentiality Sign one Oath of Test Security and Confidentiality for each role example, a Campus Coordinator and a Test Administrator, sign an oath for each role Only one oath is required for the year Types of oaths required for each testing program: Principal Campus Coordinator Test Administrator (Noncertified) Testing Personnel STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator TELPAS Rater TELPAS Verifier TELPAS Reading Test Administrator Technology Staff Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Secure vs. Nonsecure Nonsecure Test Materials Secure Test Materials Test Administrator Manuals Unused Reference Materials (no student work written on them) Secure Test Materials Precoded and hand-gridded answer documents Test booklets Online test content Reference Charts, Graph Paper and Scratch Paper (if examinee writes on them) Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

TEA Training Modules TEA provides three online training modules available at: http://www.texasassessment.com/securitytraining Module 1 - Active Monitoring Module 2 - Distribution of Test Materials Module 3 - Proper Handling of Secure Materials PISD requires all testing personnel to view the modules prior to testing. Individuals are required to view once Print certificate to confirm participation with Coordinators Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Testing Irregularities & How to Prevent Them Chapter 2

What is a Testing Irregularity? An incident resulting in a deviation from documented testing procedures Irregularities can lead to consequences for the testing personnel involved, and/or prevent a student’s test from being scored TEA divides testing irregularities into two categories: Serious Irregularities – purposeful, deliberate, intentional Procedural Irregularities – clerical, accidental (human error) Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Serious Irregularities 2016 Security Supplement, p. 19 (2017 is not available yet) (High Schools only) Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Penalties for prohibited conduct 19 TAC §101.65 Any person who violates, assists in the violation of, or solicits another to violate or assist in the violation of test security and confidentiality, and any person who fails to report such a violation, may be subject to the following penalties: Placement of restrictions on the issuance, renewal, or holding of a Texas education certificate, either indefinitely or for a set term; Issuance of an inscribed or non-inscribed reprimand; Suspension of a Texas educator certificate for a set term; or Revocation or cancellation of a Texas educator certificate without opportunity for reapplication for a set term or permanently. Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Penalties for prohibited conduct TEC §39.0303 Section 552.352 Texas Government Code Section 37.10 Texas Penal Code 19 TAC §249.15 Release or disclosure of confidential test content could result in criminal prosecution. Irregularities resulting in a breach of test security or confidentiality may result in the invalidation of students’ assessments. Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

How to Avoid Serious Irregularities Do not assist students, tell them to check their work again, or advise them to write a longer composition. Responses are off-limits Do not tamper with a student’s answer document - erasing stray marks or “cleaning up” answer documents is not allowed Collect all reference materials and scratch paper following a test. It must be shredded if written on by students. Do not duplicate, record, or capture electronically any secure test content Do not review used test booklets to check for strategies Ask your Coordinator if you are not sure how to handle a situation Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Procedural Irregularities Improper Accounting for Secure Materials: A Test Administrator did not return testing materials, check in, and account for all materials following each day’s administration Testing personnel lost completed answer documents or test booklets How to Avoid: Account for all test booklets, answer documents before, during, and after testing Ensure that no answer documents were left in test books accidentally Never mix state test materials with district test materials Follow all testing procedures outlined for your campus Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Procedural Irregularities Individualized Education Program (IEP) Errors: Accommodation errors – student is provided an accommodation that is not allowed on a test, or not provided accommodations required for testing Test Version errors – a student is administered a regular STAAR test instead of a STAAR online with accommodations A LEP student who was exempt from one or more domains was rated in that domain Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

How to Avoid IEP Errors Know who your special education and ELL/special education testers are. Know their tests and what accommodations they should be provided Pay attention to supplemental aids. Make sure you have what you need for testing Recommendation - review your testing rosters and materials with Coordinators prior to the day of the test(s). Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Procedural Irregularities Eligibility Errors: Eligible students are NOT tested. TELPAS is the #1 occurrence. This includes TELPAS ratings and Reading test Ineligible students WERE tested Newly enrolled students who must retake an EOC or retest in grade 5 or 8 Reading and/or Math are not provided a retest opportunity Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

How to Avoid Eligibility Errors Make sure you have correct test version information for ELL students (STAAR or STAAR Online with accommodations) Verify your testing roster to be sure you have the correct students taking the correct test in the correct room Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Procedural Irregularities Monitoring Errors: Test Administrator did NOT: verify that a student recorded his/her responses and accepted a blank answer document read the test administration directions properly monitor and did not detect improper use of an accommodation or possession of a cell phone ensure students worked independently during testing Students were not properly monitored during lunch or a break Test Administrator left the room unmonitored when students’ secure materials were available or secure online administrations were visible Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Procedural Irregularities How to avoid: Never leave testing students or materials unattended – even after all students have completed testing Monitor students closely during testing to be sure they have no electronic devices or other unauthorized or personal items Be sure students are not communicating with each other or others outside the testing room – talking, texting, passing notes, etc. Notify Administrators and Coordinators right away if you see improper student behavior Be sure to remind students to record their answers on the answer document and check the answer document to make sure it is filled out before a student leaves the testing room To avoid problems, collect testing materials when a student indicates s/he is finished Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Incidents Involving Student Cheating If testing personnel suspects a student of cheating on a state assessment, he/she should notify the Coordinator and/or Administrator right away. If the district determines that a student attempted to cheat – either by providing or receiving assistance – the test is marked as “Other” Additional disciplinary action may be taken at the campus in accordance with district policy. Student cheating incidents do not require an incident report to TEA unless the district determines that adult testing personnel contributed to, caused, or did not detect the cheating due to inadequate monitoring. Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Procedural Irregularities Other Procedural Errors: Test Administrator failed to issue the correct materials (for example, dictionaries), or students were provided nonallowable materials Testing personnel who were not properly trained were allowed to administer tests or handle secure materials A student was allowed to test beyond the four-hour time limit or was not provided the full four hours to test Test Administrator failed to use the test administration materials or failed to read aloud the bold, scripted test administration directions verbatim as required Test Administrator did not distribute the correct testing materials to the correct students after lunch Test Administrator did not remove or cover all instructional displays Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

How to Avoid Other Procedural Errors Confirm whether or not a dictionary is allowed for a test or parts of a test Complete the seating chart correctly. Record all start/stop times as required Do not permit students to test beyond four hours – even just to grid answers. If a Test Administrator reminds a student to mark his/her answers several times and s/he does not, call or request assistance from the Coordinator Remind students periodically of the time they have remaining to test Be sure you have your Test Administrator manual on test days and follow all the directions verbatim. Say what is BOLD, read and attend to tasks in the italicized print, and follow directions in the call-out boxes Cover all your instructional displays (not your clock) Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

STAAR Program Policies Including these policies in your training will reduce procedural errors: STAAR Dictionary Policy Explain the types of dictionaries allowed and who can use them on which tests Note differences between the Dictionary Policy and Dictionaries as an accommodation for eligible students STAAR Calculator Policy Explain the types of calculators allowed and who can use them on which tests Note differences between the Calculator Policy and Calculators as an accommodation for eligible students STAAR 4-Hour Time Limit No student is allowed to test beyond 4 hours (5 hours for the English I and II exams, effective Spring 2014) unless eligible for Extra Time. ALL responses must be recorded on the answer document by the end of the 4 hours Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Reporting Irregularities Chapter 3

Reporting Irregularities Each person participating in the Texas student assessment program is directly responsible for reporting IMMEDIATELY any violation or suspected violation of test security and confidentiality. Do NOT wait until the end of the day or the last day of the testing week, etc. Campus staff should notify their Coordinator and/or Administrator Coordinators will contact TEA Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Irregularity Statement If it is determined that an incident has occurred, testing personnel will complete an Irregularity Statement. Everyone involved participates to provide an accurate accounting of what occurred Be specific and thorough List events in sequential order Check for correct grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation PROOFREAD the statement(s) for spelling and grammatical errors before submitting them to the Assessment Department Statements must be completed as soon as possible, preferably the same day as the incident Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

Who What Where When Why It provides the sequence of events: Each individual involved completes an Irregularity Statement. It provides the sequence of events: Who What Where When Why Student Assessment Department 2016-2017

The Most Important Test Security & Confidentiality Rules: ASSUME NOTHING ASK IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT ANYTHING ASK THE PERSON WHO KNOWS THE ANSWER OR CAN FIND OUT THE ANSWER. THIS MEANS YOUR COORDINATORS OR ADMINISTRATORS. Thank you for maintaining test security and confidentiality. This enables our students to have the best testing opportunity possible. Student Assessment Department 2016-2017