1. Test Security, Confidentiality and Integrity 2017
ESC Region 15

2. Test Administrator Modules
Active Monitoring
Distribution of Test Materials
Proper Handling of Secure Materials
OPTIONAL

4. Oaths District Superintendent/Chief Administrative Officer
District Testing Coordinator
TELPAS Rater
Technology Staff
Test Administrator
TELPAS Writing Collection Verifier
Campus Principal
STAAR Alternate Test Administrator
Grades 2-12 TELPAS Reading Test Administrator
Campus Testing Coordinator

5. Texas Education Code (TEC)
It’s the Law!
Texas Education Code (TEC)
Sec SECURITY IN ADMINISTRATION OF ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS.
(a) The commissioner:
(1) shall establish procedures for the administration of assessment instruments adopted or developed under Section , including procedures designed to ensure the security of the assessment instruments; and …

6. Texas Administrative Code (TAC)
It’s the Law!
Texas Administrative Code (TAC)
Title 19. Education
Chapter 101. Assessment
Subchapter CC. Commissioner’s Rules
Division 3. Security of Assessments, Required Test Administration Procedures and Training Activities
19 TAC §
Required Test Administration Procedures and Training Activities to Ensure Validity, Reliability, and Security of Assessments.

7. It’s the Law!
19 TAC §
Purpose. To ensure that each assessment instrument is reliable and valid and meets applicable federal requirements for measurement of student progress, the commissioner of education shall establish test administration procedures and required training activities that support the standardization and security of the test administration process.
Test administration procedures. These test administration procedures shall be delineated in the test administration materials provided to school districts and charter schools annually. Districts and charter schools must comply with all of the applicable requirements specified in the test administration materials…

8. Procedures for maintaining the security and confidentiality of assessments are specified in the following guides:
Test Security Supplement
District and Campus Coordinator Manual
Test administrator manuals
Conduct that departs from the test administration procedures as established in these resources is considered a testing irregularity.

9. Highlights from the 2017 Test Security Supplement
References to STAAR L and STAAR A removed
References to the names of shipping documents updated
Examples added to clarify information about removing or covering instructional displays
Prior to the administration, walk through each testing location to verify that the environment is appropriate for testing and no instructional displays are visible (e.g., process and cycle diagrams, definitions or examples of literary terms, test-taking strategies, how to write an essay, anchor charts, maps, word walls, timelines, posters identifying historical figures, etc.)
drafted language

10. Testing Irregularities
Procedural
Serious
Less severe and more common
Examples:
Eligibility Errors
IEP Implementation Issues
Improper Accounting for Secure Materials
Monitoring Errors
Miscellaneous Other
Potential referral to SBEC
Examples:
Assisting students with responses to test questions
Viewing secure test content
Duplicating, recording, or capturing electronically secure test content without permission from TEA
“A deviation from documented testing procedures”
both require submitting an Incident Report
Local form for collecting information from campus initially and/or prior to submitting
Testing Irregularities

11. Testing Irregularities
Procedural Irregularities
reflect minor errors or deviations in testing procedures
do not represent severe breaches in security or confidentiality
do not require a call to TEA unless guidance is needed by the district
do not require supporting documentation

12. Serious Irregularities
constitute severe violations of test security or confidentiality
must be investigated by the district coordinator immediately
require a district to call or TEA immediately to inform test security of the incident
can result in the individual(s) responsible being referred to the TEA Educator Certification and Standards Division for consideration of disciplinary action

13. Serious Irregularities
Conduct that constitutes a serious testing irregularity may include, but is not limited to, the following:
changing or altering an examinee’s response or answer to a secure test item;
providing, suggesting, or indicating a test question response;
aiding or assisting an examinee with a response or an answer to a secure test question;
identifying incorrect responses for students;

14. Serious Irregularities
solving questions in the test or scoring a student’s test;
duplicating secure test materials;
viewing a test before, during, or after an assessment unless specifically authorized to do so;
disclosing the contents of any portion of a secure test;

15. Serious Irregularities
failing to report to an appropriate authority that an individual engaged in any of the events listed above;
fraudulently exempting or preventing a student from the administration of a required state assessment; or
encouraging or assisting an individual to engage in the conduct described above.

16. Penalties for Violation of Security and Confidentiality of Assessments
Release or disclosure of confidential test content is a Class C misdemeanor and could result in criminal prosecution under TEC § , Section of the Texas Government Code, and section of the Texas Penal Code.
In addition, any irregularities in test security or confidentiality may result in the invalidation of student results.

17. PENALTIES
Any person who violates, assists in the violation of, or solicits another to violate or assist in the violation of test security or confidentiality, as well as any person who fails to report such a violation is subject to the following penalties:
REVOKED
placement of restrictions on the issuance, renewal, or holding of a Texas teacher certificate, either indefinitely or for a set term;
issuance of an inscribed or non-inscribed reprimand;
suspension of a Texas teacher certificate for a set term; or
revocation or cancellation of a Texas teacher certificate without opportunity for reapplication either for a set term or permanently.

18. Reporting Testing Irregularities

19. Tips to Avoid the Most Common Testing Irregularities
Reminders
Tips to Avoid the Most Common Testing Irregularities
Ensure that test administrators have accurate testing rosters that include updated information about accommodations
Create accurate seating charts
Announce the time left to test in one hour intervals
Verify that students have recorded their responses on the answer document or in the online form
Ensure that principals, campus coordinators, and other staff are available to support test administrators and to monitor testing
Account for all test materials immediately upon materials check-in

20. Test Administrator Responsibilities include:

22. Ensure that there is one pair of headphones per student for administrations of the
STAAR online Oral Administration and STAAR online tests with text-to-speak and/or
embedded accommodations in which multiple students are tested in the same room.

28. Active Monitoring

29. Active Monitoring

30. Active Monitoring

33. Make sure you read the appropriate Test Administrator Manual!
Make sure you read the appropriate Test Administrator Manual!

34. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions or need assistance!
Carol Stevens 325/