1. TEST SECURITY TRAINING
October 2018

2. Changes in Commissioner’s Rules
TAC , Required Test Administration Procedures
Removing the Security Supplement and adding a Test Security Policy
Posting for public comment is planned for October or November
Effective date is planned for February 2019

3. State Oaths for
Beginning with December 2018 administration, only three state oaths of Test Security and Confidentiality will be available:
District Superintendent/Chief Administrative Officer
District and Campus Testing Coordinator
General Oath (for all other testing personnel)
State oaths are located in the District and Campus Coordinator Resources (DCCR) under Security tab and are interactive. M/pages/ /Test+security+oath

4. Test Security and Confidentiality
Confidentiality involves protecting all secure test content and includes:
Test booklets
Online assessments
Online test tickets
Completed answer documents
STAAR Alternate 2 stimulus images and text
TELPAS calibration activities and components for holistically rating student performance

5. Test Security and Confidentiality
Compliance with confidentiality requirements involves:
Training testing personnel on their obligations concerning confidentiality
Monitoring administrations to ensure all assessments are administered in strict accordance with the test administration procedures
Reporting any alleged or confirmed breaches of confidentiality

6. Types of Irregularities
Serious – irregularities that constitute severe violations of test security and/or confidentiality and can result in the individual(s) responsible being referred to the TEA Educator Standards and Certification Division for consideration of disciplinary action
Procedural – irregularities that are less severe and typically the result of minor deviations from testing procedures

7. Serious Irregularities
Constitute severe violations of test security or confidentiality
Must be immediately investigated by the District (Office of Test Security)
District must report to TEA as soon as the District Testing Coordinator is made aware of a possible or confirmed violation
Can result in the individual(s) responsible being referred to the TEA Educator Certification and Standards Division for consideration of disciplinary action
All evidence and documentation of a confirmed violation is forwarded to the Professional Standards Office (PSO), Employee Relations (ER), and Human Capital Management (HCM) for consideration of disciplinary action.

8. Examples of Serious Irregularities
Directly or indirectly assisting students with responses to test questions
Viewing secure test content before, during, or after an administration without authorization by TEA
Discussing secure test content, student responses, or student performance
Tampering with student responses
Scoring student tests, either formally or informally
Falsifying holistic ratings or student responses

9. Examples of Serious Irregularities
Duplicating, recording, or electronically capturing confidential test content unless authorized by TEA
Fraudulently exempting or preventing a student from participating in required state assessments
Receiving or providing unallowable assistance during calibration activities (e.g. taking notes, sharing answers)
Encouraging or assisting an individual to engage in any conduct described in the items listed above or any serious violation of test security
Failing to report an individual engaged in any violation of test security

10. Potential Educator Sanctions (By State Board of Educator Certification)
Placement of restrictions on the issuance, renewal, or holding of a Texas educator 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
Revocation or cancellation of a Texas educator certificate without opportunity for reapplication either for a set term or permanently

11. Procedural Irregularities
Reflect minor errors or deviations in testing procedures
Do not represent severe breaches in test security or confidentiality
Do not require a call to TEA unless guidance is needed by the District
Must be reported via the online Testing Irregularity/Security Violation Form (TISV) as soon as possible and include statements from the test coordinator and all individuals involved

12. Examples of Procedural Irregularities
Eligibility Errors
Eligible students were not tested.
Students were tested with the wrong test or in the wrong language.
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Implementation Errors
Student was administered the wrong version of a test.
A student did not receive allowable accommodations or was tested with unallowable accommodations

13. Examples of Procedural Irregularities
Improper Handling of/Accounting for Secure Materials Errors
Testing personnel lost or misplaced completed answer document(s), test booklet(s), or other secure materials
Test administrator or test coordinator did not return testing materials at the end of the testing day or by the critical deadlines

14. Examples of Procedural Irregularities
Monitoring Errors
Secure testing materials were left in a room unmonitored
Test administrator accepted a blank answer document and did not verify that a student had recorded his/her answers
Students not properly monitored during testing or during lunch
Test administrator not actively monitoring so students were able to share answers, use their cell phones, go back and work on the previous day’s test, or improperly use a dictionary or calculator

15. Examples of Procedural Irregularities
Other Procedural Errors
Testing personnel did not read the test administration script verbatim from the test administrator manual
Student was permitted to test beyond the allotted time limit or not provided the full time to complete the assessment
Personnel permitted to administer tests, monitor test sessions, relieve a test administrator during a break, handle secure materials without being properly trained or signing an oath
Seating chart not fully completed
Testing personnel failed to remove or cover instructional material that could provide answers to students during testing

16. Reporting Testing Irregularities
Anyone aware of a potential testing irregularity must report it to the appropriate authority (Test Coordinator, Principal, Executive Director, Assessment Department, Office of Test Security).
Assessment Department must be contacted for instructions on how to proceed with testing.
The Test Irregularity/Security Violation Form (TISV Form) must be completed and submitted online immediately. Additional statements and documentation should be collected and submitted as quickly as possible.

17. Test Irregularity/Security Violation (TISV) Submission Guidelines
Determine type of irregularity
Contact Assessment Department and/or Office of Test Security for guidance
Collect statements (refer to “Questions to Answer” and “Sample Statement” on Assessment website for how to write an appropriate statement)
Submit information on the online TISV form

18. TISV Form (Top)

19. TISV Form (Bottom)

20. Required Test Security Documentation
Scan and submit in three separate attachments to
District Principal/TC Oaths - as soon as possible
Secure Storage Forms – as soon as possible
Campus Test Security Plans – by October 30, 2018
All testing documentation must be kept for 5 years.

21. Office of Test Security Rina Davis arguello@dallasisd.org 972-925-8868
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Office of Test Security
Rina Davis