2012 General
Test Security
• Resources
• New Test Security Items
• Highlights
Test Security Resources
Test Security:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/security/
2012 Test Security Supplement
Three Online Training Modules
Building Oath Changes
ONE for the year for Classroom Teachers
ONE for the year for Technology Staff
ONE for the year for other building staff
(no more Oaths before & after every test)
Signed prior to handling secure materials
Exceptions: TELPAS Raters & TAKS-Alt still
have separate Oaths.
Classroom Teachers
Oaths
Technology Staff
Oral Test Administrators sign this as well
Student Cheating
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determined by districts
IF cheating determined, district MUST
invalidate (“other”) the test
report as an irregularity
If cheating is suspected, what is the first
step you take?
Contact Building Coordinator!
2 Categories of
Testing Irregularities
Procedural vs. Serious
 new terms
 same reporting procedures for Humble ISD
Procedural Irregularities
- reflect minor errors, minor deviations in testing
- do not represent severe breaches in security or
confidentiality
- require an accurate summary of event
- must be submitted within ten working days
- DTC reports to TEA through online report
Serious Irregularities
- constitute severe violations of test security or
confidentiality
- can result in the responsible indivdual(s) being
referred to the TEA Educator Certification and
Standards Division for consideration of
disciplinary action
- must be reported to TEA by DTC as soon as
the coordinator is made aware of situation
- Coordinator is responsible for investigating,
filing incident report, and submitting required
documentation in a timely manner
Highlights
Seating charts
- require start and stop times
- record names of all assigned test administrators who are
actively monitoring in any testing room. This includes hall
monitors and relief staff who may give a short break to the
assigned test administrator.
- districts keep for five years
Honor statements
- STAAR, STAAR L, and STAAR Modified EOC exams
Maintain test security materials for 5 years
- signed test administrator and technology staff oaths
- seating charts
Investigations
- conduct as quickly and thoroughly as possible in order to
ensure that state investigations, sanctions, and corrective
actions are conducted in a fair, expeditious, and equitable
manner
Confidentiality Requirements
•
Before handling secure test materials and/or TAMS, all testing personnel
must be trained and sign an oath.
•
No person may review, reveal or discuss the contents of a test booklet or
online assessment before during, or after a test administration unless
specifically authorized to do so.
•
No person may duplicate, print, record, write notes about, or capture by
any means any portion of a secure assessment instrument without prior
approval from TEA.
•
No individuals other than students during an assessment may perform
calculations, solve, or respond to test items.
•
Test administrators conducting an oral administration must be aware that
they are viewing secure content, and that responding to test items,
recording the information they see, or discussing the content of the test at
anytime is strictly prohibited. Oral test administrators must sign a
separate section of the oath.
•
All tests must be administered in strict accordance with the instructions
contained in the test administration materials.
•
No person may review or discuss student responses or STAAR Alt
performance data during or after a test administration unless specifically
authorized to do so by procedures outlined in the test administration
materials.
Penalties for Prohibited Conduct
Any person who violates, assists in the violation of or solicits another to
violate or assist in the violation of test security or 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 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; or
• Revocation or cancellation of a Texas educator certificate without
opportunity for reapplication for a set term or permanently.
Release or disclosure of confidential test content could result in criminal
prosecution under TEC §39.0303, Section 552.352 of the Texas Government
Code, and Section 37.10 of the Texas Penal Code. Further, 19 TAC §249.15
stipulates that the State Board for Educator Certification may take any of
the above actions based on satisfactory evidence that an educator has
failed to cooperate with TEA in an investigation.
Additionally, irregularities resulting in a breach of test security or
confidentiality may result in the invalidation of students’
assessments.
Security Measures by TEA
• June 2007, TEA implemented a 14 point security
plan designed to assure parents, students, and
the public that tests are meaningful and valid.
• 2012 Test Security Supplement available online
Maintaining the security and confidentiality of
the Texas state assessment program is critical to
ensuring valid test scores and providing standard
and equal testing opportunities for all students.
Web Based Training Modules
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Updated to reflect the implementation of STAAR
Required of all Building staff.
These supplement this mandatory security training.
May be viewed in a group (sign in sheet), or
individually (certificate is given to CTC)
Module 1 – Active Monitoring
Module 2 – Distribution of Test Materials
Module 3 – Proper Handling of Secure Materials
1) View the Modules
2) Return a copy of certificates
http://texas.testsecuritytraining.com/
Make sure that you sign in
Make sure that you completed the correct Oath
Classroom Teacher
Technology Staff
Other Building Staff (include your supervisor)