Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024
(1) Test Security Procedures. The use of test
results for educational evaluation and improvement is dependent upon the
procurement of accurate test data. To this end, test developers outline in
detail the standardized procedures under which tests must be administered.
Another requirement for obtaining accurate test data is to guarantee that tests
are secure. In order to provide standardized test security measures throughout
Alabama, the following procedures are adopted by the State Board of Education:
(a) The Alabama State Department of Education
(SDE) will organize and oversee test security procedures throughout the state.
Specifically the SDE will:
1. Provide student
enrollment to LEAs in order to determine test materials needed for each school
and district.
2. Require LEAs to
provide to SDE testing schedules for each assessment.
3. Provide test administration and test
security training to all designated District Test Coordinators for each
administered assessment.
4. Require
LEAs to develop and provide to the SDE a District Test Security Plan.
5. Approve District Test Security Plans and
keep a copy on file at the SDE.
6.
Monitor test administration procedures in randomly selected LEAs during
statewide testing to ensure adherence to standardized testing conditions and to
the School and District Test Security Plans.
7. Require LEAs to have a secure storage area
that meets the requirements set forth by SDE, where all test materials will be
kept and securely stored.
8.
Provide technical assistance to LEAs regarding violation(s) of test security
procedures and/or test administration procedures.
(b) LEAs will organize and oversee test
security procedures throughout their districts. Specifically, each LEA will:
1. Ensure that all students are provided the
opportunity to participate in the Student Assessment Program.
2. Provide test administration and test
security training to all designated testing staff. Only those individuals who
have been appropriately trained, according to SDE guidelines, may participate
in the administration of any state assessment.
3. Approve a School Test Security Plan for
each school.
4. Implement the
approved District Test Security Plan.
5. Designate a District Test Coordinator to
be responsible for the testing program and test security in that
district.
6. Designate a Building
Test Coordinator to be responsible for the Student Assessment Program in each
school.
7. Require each school to
have a secure storage area that meets the requirements set forth by SDE, where
all test materials will be kept securely stored.
8. Provide technical assistance to local
personnel regarding all requirements outlined in AAC Rule
290-4-2-.03.
9. Maintain evidence that personnel have been
trained and all testing staff have signed all applicable agreements indicating
adherence to abide by the test security policy as outlined in AAC Rule
290-4-2-.03 and all policies outlined within the Integrity Handbook for Test
Administration.
(3) SDE requires that anyone involved in test
administration in any way, i.e., with the handling of test materials, test
administration or proctoring, provision of a service during testing such as
interpreters, scribes, or readers, training testing staff, or monitoring, must
receive annual training on the Integrity Handbook for Test
Administration and all policies stated herein, including the test
administration manuals for each assessment. Testing staff must agree to abide
by each of the stipulations and provide their signature indicating an agreement
to comply. Failure to follow security procedures promulgated by the Alabama
State Board of Education and published in the AAC Rule
290-4-2-.03,
the Integrity Handbook for Test Administration, and the test
administrator's manuals may result in disciplinary action by the local board of
education and/or revocation or other sanctions of the certificate by the SDE.
The following list, although not exhaustive, has been provided to identify
specific actions which are inappropriate and violate, in spirit and intent, the
stated policy:
(a) To copy, take pictures of,
or in any way reproduce or disclose secure test items or student responses
before, during, or after administering the assessment.
(b) To review, read, or look at test items or
student responses before, during, or after administering the assessment, unless
specifically permitted in the test administrator's manuals.
(c) To give students answers to test
questions using verbal or nonverbal cues before, during, or after administering
the assessment.
(d) To alter
student responses.
(e) To alter the
test procedures stated in the test administrator's manuals.
(f) To allow students to use notes,
references, or other aids unless the test administrator's manual specifically
allows such use.
(g) To have in
one's personal possession secure test materials except during specified testing
dates and scheduled times.
(h) To
allow students to view or practice secure test items before or after the
scheduled testing times.
(i) To
make or have in one's possession answer keys for secure tests.
(j) To leave secure test materials in
nonsecure locations and/or unattended by trained testing staff.
(k) To fail to report a test security
violation.
(l) To violate the
state's digital device policy.
(m)
To discuss test content or student responses with anyone, including
students.
Previous Rule .04 was renumbered to Rule .03 was per
certification published November 30, 2021; effective January 14, 2022.
