Anderson Community School Corporation

Test Security Policy

2020-2021

This policy details requirements for test security at Anderson Community School Corporation for the 2020-2021school year. All staff are expected to be familiar with this policy. This policy will be posted on the Student Assessment page of the Anderson Community School Corporation’s Website (link) and shared with all staff via the Weekly Assessment Newsletter. 

Ethical Practices and Procedures 

1. All testing materials will be delivered to schools no more than one week in advance of test administration.
2. Teachers and other school staff members are not allowed access to secure materials (except for the Test Administrator’s Manual) more than 4 hours in advance of the test administration.
3. It is the policy of Anderson Community School Corporation that security of assessment materials before, during, and after testing will be maintained as follows:

(i) All secure test materials for Anderson Community School Corporation will be received and  housed in the secure storage area of the Assessment Office at Forest Hills Administration Building to which only the CTC has access. A secure storage area will be designated at each building to which only the STC and Principal have access.

(ii) All secure test materials will be tracked at each secure storage location by the STC or CTC via this ACSC Secure Materials Log. The ACSC Secure Materials Log will be used any time materials are checked out of or into the secure storage area ensuring that  that all student assessments are secure when not being administered;

(iii) All materials will be inventoried by CTC or STCs on each day the secure storage area is accessed and contains secure test materials. The Vendor’s Packing List and/or the ACSC Secure Materials Log will be used for inventorying materials and as evidence for maintaining the chain of custody.

(iv) Reviewing any secure test questions before, during, or after assessment administration is strictly prohibited and as such, all materials must be returned to the secure storage area immediately upon completion of the test session; even if an additional test session is taking place later in the day.

4. Anderson Community School Corporation will ensure that school staff have the knowledge and skills necessary to make ethical decisions related to preparing students for an assessment, administering the assessment, and interpreting the results of the assessment.

Test Preparation Materials Review

Anderson Community School Corporation will use the following process to ensure all test preparation materials are reviewed and approved prior to use with students:

ACSC annually reviews school materials through Curriculum Committees, Grade Level Committees and other such committee meetings. Practices related to preparing students for assessments are headed up by IDOE Program Specific Policy and Guidance along with IDOE Sample Item and Scoring documents. Further discussion of appropriate materials is held during the test specific training with all staff prior to the administering of each assessment. Principal’s conduct “walk-throughs” throughout the school year and specifically during test prep to ensure compliance with proper test preparation materials  and do not violate test security protocols.

Training Requirements

Anderson Community School Corporation assures that all appropriate staff have knowledge of the Code of Ethical Practices and Procedures and understand how to secure, administer, and handle the assessments while in their possession.

1. The CTC and STCs will ensure that all appropriate staff receive test security training. STCs will ensure attendance is documented for each test security training.

(i) All staff must complete the annual ACSC Test Security and Integrity Training by October 30, 2020 or within a reasonable time after becoming employed by Anderson Community School Corporation if employment begins after October 30, 2020.   The ACSC Test Security and Integrity Training is offered online via a link supplied by the CTC or STC and it can be accessed via the Anderson Community School Corporation Website on the Student Assessment page in the Academics Menu. Participation in the training is documented by a google form at the end of the training where participants verify their completion and understanding of said training.

(ii) The CTC and STC will include refresher Test Security & Integrity Training in each of the Test Specific Trainings required throughout the year prior to each test window. Attendance at each training will be verified by an ACSC Attendance Log (hard copy or electronic) that includes the specific assessment, specific training attended, attendees name, signature, job title and date. 

2. The CTC and STCs will ensure that all appropriate staff receive test administration training prior to testing. The CTC and STCs will ensure attendance is documented at each test administration training. Each Test Administrator and Proctor must complete test specific training PRIOR to the opening of the assessment window to ensure they have a firm understanding of their role as set out in detail in the Assessment User Roles & Responsibilities Checklist. Test Specific training will cover:

• Information specific to the assessment being given such as test schedule, test sessions, timing, students testing, etc ;
• School specific procedures to be followed such as procedure for test administrators to obtain and return secure materials;
• District procedures including communication for help with testing questions, technology issues, Reporting Irregularity, Social Media Concern, etc.; and
• refresher Test Security & Integrity Training.

Delivery will be determined by the STC (in person or virtual) and participation will be tracked by an ACSC Test Administration w/ Refresher Test Security Training Attendance Log specific to each assessment including, but not limited to:

• ISTEP+ Winter Retest;
• ISTEP+ Spring Retest;
• ILEARN ECA Biology Winter;
• ILEARN ECA Biology Late Winter;
• ILEARN ECA Biology Spring;
• WIDA;
• IREAD-3 Spring;
• IREAD-3 Summer;
• I AM;
•  

3. The CTC and STCs will ensure that all staff members who will provide students with testing accommodations receive focused test accommodations training prior to the testing window. The CTC and STCs will also ensure that all staff members who will provide students with testing accommodations are familiar with each student’s individual accommodation needs, as per the student’s IEP, ILP, Section 504 plan, CSEP, and/or service plan prior to testing. The CTC and STCs will ensure attendance is documented at each testing accommodations training. Any staff member who may be present during testing a student with accommodations will be required to complete the accommodations training which will include how to verify the student is receiving the accommodations listed on the assessment being taken. The CTC and STCs will ensure attendance is documented at each test accommodation administration training. Delivery will be determined by the STC (in person or virtual) and participation will be tracked by an ACSC Accommodations Training Attendance Log specific to each assessment including

Monitoring

1. The CTC and STCs will define and clearly communicate to all appropriate staff at least once annually how staff implementation of test administration and test security standards and procedures will be monitored by the CTC, STC, and/or school administrators or designees. The CTC, STC, school Administrators and designees will create a monitoring schedule (using the test schedule to assign a monitor such as this ACSC Test Monitoring Schedule) for each state ssessment to ensure that required standards and procedures are being followed.Visits will be documented on the ACSC Monitoring Log which will also be shared with Test Administrators and Proctors at the Test Administration Training.
2. The CTC and STCs will monitor testing to ensure staff are administering assessments with fidelity in terms of test administration and test security protocols/procedures and that staff are appropriately providing students with accommodations included in their IEPs, ILPs, Section 504 plans, CSEPs, or Service Plans.The CTC, STC, school Administrators and designees will include accommodation information in their checklist when monitoring for each state assessment to ensure that students are receiving appropriate accommodation(s). Visits will be documented on the ACSC Monitoring Log which will also be shared with Test Administrators and Proctors at the Test Accommodations Training. If observations are unsatisfactory, additional training and/or follow-up visits may be necessary.

Test Schedule

The CTC and STCs will ensure that a test schedule is developed for each assessment at each school prior to the opening of the test window. STC at each school should create and maintain test schedules using this ACSC Test Schedule in Google Drive so they can be easily updated and adjusted. Test schedules should be shared with all appropriate staff prior to the scheduled Test Specific Training. The test schedule should also be shared with the CTC, Assistant Superintendent and the Curriculum Director. At a minimum, the schedule must include the assessment name, testing dates and times including date and time for make-up testing, applicable grade levels, content areas, and testing room locations.

Addressing Test Security Concerns

1. Anderson Community School Corporation will provide channels of communication that allow teachers, administrators, students, parents/guardians, and other community members to voice their concerns about testing practices they consider inappropriate. Teachers, administrators, students, parents/guardians and other community members may voice their concerns about testing practices they consider inappropriate via phone (765.641.2000), email edavis@acsc.net or in person at the administration building located at 1600 Hillcrest Avenue, Anderson. The Testing Concerns and Security Violations Report found in Appendix C of the Indiana Assessment Policy Manual may also be completed and sent directly to the Indiana Department of Education Office of Student Assessment via mail to 115 W. Washington Street, South Tower, Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or faxed to 317.233.2196.
2. 2. Anderson Community School Corporation has established the following procedures for investigating any complaint, allegation, or concern about inappropriate testing practices, and ensuring the protection of both the rights of individuals and the integrity of the assessment:

(i) Any complaint, allegation or concern regarding inappropriate testing practices must be reported to the CTC. Report should be made using the Testing Irregularity Report, Testing Concerns and Security Violations Report or the Social Media and/or Unallowable Devices Concern Report and sent to the CTC via email (kheff@acsc.net) or in person at the administration building located at 1600 Hillcrest Avenue, Anderson. If unsure how to proceed, contact the CTC at 765.641.2672. The CTC or her designee will investigate the situation to determine if further action is needed.

(ii) STCs and/or staff must report any allegations of test security violations to the CTC immediately. Failure to do so is, in itself, a test security violation. The CTC is required to report the same to IDOE immediately;

(iii) The Testing Concerns and Security Violations Report found in Appendix C of the Indiana Assessment Policy Manual may be completed and sent directly to the Indiana Department of Education Office of Student Assessment via mail to 115 W. Washington Street, South Tower, Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or faxed to 317.233.2196. Please note that this will delay notification to Anderson Community School Corporation so a copy of the report should be addressed to the CTC via phone 765.641.2672, email (kheff@acsc.net) or in person at the administration building located at 1600 Hillcrest Avenue, Anderson.

(iv) Additional information can be found in the Protocol for Reporting and Investigating Alleged Breaches in Appendix A of the Indiana Assessments Policy Manual.