TRAIN-THE-TRAINER FORMAT Minnesota Assessments Test Security Training for Districts and Schools

Objectives of This Training Understand MDE policies and procedures related to test security. Identify test security issues through examples of test security breaches. Recognize how test security issues may be avoided.

Why Is Test Security Important? Maintain the confidentiality and validity of: – state assessments – student test results Ensure that every student has been provided the opportunity to independently demonstrate his or her knowledge. Protect the state’s financial investment. – Test items are expensive to create and maintain.

Why Is Training on Test Security Important? Situations that can jeopardize the confidentiality of a state assessment or the validity of a student's test can occur: anywhere in a very short amount of time

Training and Resources for Staff Administering Statewide Assessments Participate in district training and any MDE-required trainings annually. Be familiar with the applicable Assessment Manual for OLPA, MCA, MTAS, and GRAD. Review the applicable Test Monitor and Student Directions for OLPA, MCA, and GRAD before the day of testing. Know the district’s testing schedule and assigned testing days.

Non-Disclosure Agreement Any district staff who may come into contact with or see test items must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement each year. Available in two formats: – hard copy – electronically in PearsonAccess (by January 2015)

MAINTAINING THE SECURITY OF TEST MATERIALS

MDE Policy – Securing Test Materials Understand the procedures for securing test materials What is considered a secure location? Which test materials are secure?

MDE Policy – Returning Test Materials Between Administrations Follow your district’s policy for returning test materials between administrations. Return the test materials to the District or School Assessment Coordinator between test administrations, OR Keep secure test materials in locked storage when not in use by students.

Video Example: Leaving Test Materials Unsecured Play Video 1

MDE Policy – Accounting for Secure Test Materials Verify that all secure test materials are accounted for by counting the materials when checking out and checking back in. Use the Test Monitor Test Material Security Checklist to document to which student each secure test material is assigned to. Verify that student login information, scratch paper, and mathematics formula sheets (if used) from online administrations are accounted for.

Examples: Misplacing or Losing Test Materials A math script used with students is found at the end of the school year inside of the Assessment Manual. A student’s responses in a large print test book are not entered online because the used large print test book is returned to the service provider before data entry occurred.

MDE Policy – Maintaining Chain of Custody Ensure that the proper chain of custody is maintained. The Test Monitor or Test Administrator is responsible for the materials that have been assigned to them from the time they are checked out to the time they are returned.

MDE Policy – Maintaining Chain of Custody (continued) Return and check in the secure test materials that have been assigned to you directly to the District or School Assessment Coordinator. Do not let students take their own or other students' test materials to another location to be turned in. Do not let another staff member return test materials.

Play Video Video Example: Not Maintaining the Proper Chain of Custody for Secure Test Materials 2

MDE Policy – Maintaining Security of Student Tests Online assessments: verify that students are provided with their correct login information or sit at the correct computer if already logged in ensure that student answers in paper accommodated test materials are not left unsecured

Examples: Students Test Results Are Not Credited to the Appropriate Student and Student Data Privacy Is Compromised The Test Monitor allowed a student to sit at a computer that was already logged into for different student. The Test Administrator enters MTAS scores for the wrong student into PearsonAccess.

MAINTAINING SECURITY DURING TESTING

MDE Policy – Verifying Student Accommodations Be familiar with the following: – general test-taking practices available for all students – allowable accommodations based on the Procedures Manual – accommodated test materials that must be provided to students during test administration Verify that you have the most up-to-date information regarding which students are to be administered accommodations with their test.

Video Example: Misadministering an Assessment Play Video 3

Examples: Not Following the Documented Accommodation in the Student’s IEP or 504 Plan and Providing a Prohibited Accommodation The Test Monitor does not verify that the test session is set up correctly for a student who should receive accommodated text-to-speech, even though an accommodation for text-to-speech is written in the student’s IEP. The Test Monitor reads the Reading MCA test aloud to a student, even though this is not allowed.

MDE Policy – Verifying Students Are Taking the Correct Tests Verify what test and form group type will be administered in the test session. Ensure students are assigned to the correct form group type and test, and provided with the correct login information.

Example: Including Students in a Test Session Created for a Different Test The Test Monitor instructs all students in the group to log into the test session without verifying the tests that each student should take.

MDE Policy – Verifying Materials Allowed during Test Administration Know which materials are allowed during test administration, including materials displayed on the testing room walls and student desks. Ensure that only allowable materials are provided to or used by students.

MDE Policy – Verifying Materials Allowed during Test Administration (continued) Know when a calculator may be used for math assessments: – MCA online administrations: know which tests allow handheld calculators – MCA paper accommodations: know the segments where calculators are allowed Memory-enabled graphing calculators must have memory cleared before and after testing.

Examples: Prohibited Materials During Testing The Test Monitor allows the students to use a dictionary on a reading test. The Test Monitor allows the students to use handheld calculators on the grade 5 Mathematics MCA.

MDE Policy – Actively Monitoring the Test Session Ensure that you are actively engaged in observing student behavior from multiple vantage points at all times during testing. – Amount of movement needed will depend on the testing location and environment. Stay engaged even when interrupted by another test- related activity.

Video Example: Leaving the Room Unmonitored During Testing Play Video 4

MDE Policy – Actively Monitoring the Test Session (continued) Only participate in test monitoring activities while students are testing. – Do not text, , read, work on the computer or on lesson plans, or grade papers once the students have started testing. Know your district's policy for ensuring that cell phones or other electronic devices are not accessible during test administration.

Video Example: Not Actively Monitoring a Test Session Play Video 5

MDE Policy – Preparing for Breaks or Interruptions During Testing Prepare in advance for planned and unplanned breaks or emergencies. Know your district's policy regarding these potential breaks. Monitor students during breaks and location changes in order to be aware of conversations and behavior.

Example: Not Monitoring Students During a Break The Test Monitor does not actively monitor students during a lunch break, and a group of students discuss the test they are in the middle of taking.

CHEATING

MDE Policy – Understanding What Help Test Monitors Can Give to Students Understand how to address students who request assistance and what kind of help can be provided. Be familiar with the instructions in the Test Monitor and Student Directions and follow scripted instructions exactly during test administration.

Video Example: Providing Assistance During Test Administration Play Video 6

MDE Policy – Assisting Students with Responses (Directly or Indirectly) Ensure that students understand how to indicate responses prior to test administration. – Item samplers are available for online assessments and accommodated test materials. – Online student tutorials are available for online assessments. Test Monitors cannot provide assistance with answering test items during administration.

Video Example: Assisting Students Directly with Responses Play Video 7

MDE Policy – Recognizing Unauthorized Viewing of Secure Test Content Know the difference between active monitoring and unauthorized viewing of test content. – Viewing the test content long enough to determine the essence of a secure test item is considered unauthorized viewing.

MDE Policy – Recognizing Unauthorized Viewing of Secure Test Content (continued) Understand your responsibility in ensuring the validity of each student’s test results. Do not review, score, or change student responses: – on an answer document – in an online assessment – through online data entry

Video Example: Unauthorized Viewing of Secure Test Items Play Video 8

Example: Changing Student Responses The Test Monitor changes student responses to improve performance.

MDE Policy – Discussing Secure Test Content and Test Items Understand that secure test content and test items should not be discussed: in the classroom with students with other staff or as part of a team meeting

Video Example: Discussing Secure Test Content or Student Responses Play Video 9

MDE Policy – Sharing, Copying, or Capturing Secure Test Content and Test Items Ensure that secure test content or test items are not captured or shared electronically. – Know how to report a test item that a student believes has an error. Use the academic standards (not secure test content) to instruct students, align curricula, and prepare students for testing.

Video Example: Copying, Recording, or Capturing Electronically Secure Test Content 10 Play Video

REPORTING SECURITY BREACHES

MDE Policy – Reporting Security Breaches Understand your role in: – protecting the confidentiality of state assessments – ensuring the validity of students' tests and test results Share the responsibility of enforcing proper test administration policies and procedures.

Examples: Participating in, Assisting, Encouraging, or Failing to Report Security Issues A staff member observes a Test Monitor erasing student responses following test administration. A Test Monitor does not inform the School or District Assessment Coordinator that another Test Monitor had secure test materials out in the classroom when testing was not in session. A staff member walking past the computer lab where testing is taking place notices that students appear to be working together on the test.

How to Report a Test Security Breach or Misadministration Be aware of your district policy for reporting misadministrations and security breaches to the School or District Assessment Coordinator. There is a formal process in place for District Assessment Coordinators to report misadministrations and security breaches to MDE.

Possible Consequences of Security Issues invalidation of test scores for a student, class, school, or district requirement for additional staff training recommendation that staff involved do not participate in future test administrations withholding of state educational aids referral to the Board of Teaching for possible licensure sanctions referral to the Minnesota Department of Administration for violations of data practices

Conclusion When testing is over, a Test Monitor or Test Administrator should be able to say “Yes” to: Were the test materials secure at all times? Did I carefully read and follow all of the Test Monitor and Student Directions? Did my students arrive at their answers independently? Did I account for and return all the secure test materials?