2017 2018 Test Security Training Checklist and Assurance f Test Security and Nn-Disclsure Every year, any staff invlved in testing are required t view infrmatin n test security. Mst staff will view the nline Test Security Training; staff wh d nt access the Training Management System will use this checklist. Check ff each tpic after reading t cnfirm yur review. Once the checklist is cmpleted, read and sign the Assurance f Test Security and Nn-Disclsure. Return bth the checklist and assurance t yur District r Schl Assessment Crdinatr. What Is Test Security? TEST SECURITY TRAINING CHECKLIST In everyday terms, test security invlves the actins yu take t ensure that test cntent and student respnses are prtected s that test scres are valid. When we talk abut valid test scres r maintaining the integrity f test results, this means that the results are accurate and meaningful. What Is Cnsidered Secure? All test cntent, test materials, and student respnses are cnsidered secure. Test cntent includes all parts f a test item, reading passages, and science scenaris. Test cntent and student respnses appear in bth nline tests and n paper test materials, and they may als be written n ther student materials, like scratch paper and student testing tickets. Why Is Test Security Imprtant? Equal Opprtunity Test security must be maintained t give an equal pprtunity fr all students t demnstrate what they have learned and t ensure that their test scres are valid. Why Is Test Security Imprtant? Accurate Results Students, families, and educatrs rely n valid test scres t help make decisins abut whether r nt students are n track fr academic success. Fr example, if students achieve a scre that indicates they Meet the Standards, it is reasnable t cnclude that students have mastered sufficient grade-level cntent and skills withut any unfair advantages. Test Security Checklist 1 2017 2018 Schl Year
Why Is Test Security Imprtant? Investment Als, it takes a lt f wrk by a lt f peple ver a lng perid f time, up t three years, t develp a standardized test. Educatin prfessinals, including many teachers, wrk tgether t develp test questins. If there is a security breach where test cntent is expsed, that test cntent may n lnger be used n any test, and in sme cases, may affect whether test scres are valid. Cnsequences fr Vilating Test Security If statewide tests are nt administered securely, ne student r thusands f students may be affected. If required plicies and prcedures are nt fllwed and a security breach ccurs, student tests may be invalidated and staff may face disciplinary actin up t and including terminatin f emplyment, lss f license, r bth. Why Is Training n Test Security Imprtant? Test security breaches can happen anywhere, at any time. Understanding test security and knwing what a security breach is can help prevent security breaches frm ccurring. This awareness happens thrugh training, including this training checklist, and any ther trainings r resurces required fr yur rle in testing. Assurance f Test Security and Nn-Disclsure In additin t training, yu are als required t cmplete the Assurance f Test Security and Nn-Disclsure every year. It s imprtant t understand what yu are agreeing t by cmpleting this assurance. Next, we will review the infrmatin in the assurance and yur respnsibilities fr maintaining test security. Yu will cmplete the assurance fr this year after this checklist. Fllwing Educatinal Data Privacy Laws Depending n yur rle, yu may see student infrmatin n testing tickets r test results. All student data is strictly gverned by federal and state privacy laws. Whatever yur rle in testing, yu must fllw yur district s plicies fr the use f student data and test results in a cnfidential and secure manner. Fllwing Test Security Plicies and Prcedures Yu are required t fllw all state and district testing plicies and prcedures. In additin, yu must nt persuade r encurage thers t vilate any plicies r prcedures r take any actins that jepardize test security. Test Security Checklist 2 2017 2018 Schl Year
Maintaining Security f Test Cntent Limited Access Yu have an imprtant rle in making sure that test cntent and test materials stay secure. Make sure that yu are nt accessing r viewing, r allwing thers t access r view, secure test cntent r test materials when nt required fr a rle in testing. Having access may be as simple as having keys t rms r cabinets used t stre secure test materials r having electrnic access t test cntent, student respnses, r ther testing data. As yu carry ut yur rle in testing, be aware f test security and make sure yu are ding yur part t maintain it. Maintaining Security f Test Cntent Tracking Materials If yu will be handling any secure test materials, ensure that yu knw the plan fr keeping track f the materials and the secure, lcked lcatin where they will be stred when nt used fr testing. Maintaining Security f Test Cntent Test Preparatin Yu cannt use an actual test t prepare fr testing. Use the resurces prvided by MDE t prepare technlgy fr test administratin. Yu will prepare students by ensuring that yur curriculum and instructin are aligned t the Minnesta Academic Standards. Maintaining Security f Test Cntent Prviding Infrmatin During testing, there may be cases where infrmatin abut the test needs t be shared with yur district r schl assessment staff, but yu need t make sure that the test cntent is kept secure. Fr example, if a student pints ut a test item that appears t have an errr, write dwn the student s name and the test item number t prvide later rather than taking a picture f it, as test cntent culd be seen in the backgrund. Als, d nt email specific test cntent; if yu need t share infrmatin via email, nly prvide the basic student and test infrmatin yu wrte dwn during testing. Maintaining Security f Test Cntent After Testing After testing, make sure that yu d nt keep any materials with secure test cntent, including student scratch paper, fr curriculum planning, fr use in creating classrm assessments, r as an instructinal resurce. Using test cntent in this manner is a breach f security and is nt useful in preparing students fr testing. Maintaining Security f Test Cntent With Students Even after testing is cmplete, the test cntent must remain secure. Students are nt allwed t tell yu abut r discuss test cntent after testing is ver. Yu cannt ask students abut specific test questins r ther test cntent. Test Security Checklist 3 2017 2018 Schl Year
Maintaining Security f Test Cntent With Staff In additin, yu are nt allwed t discuss secure test cntent r items with ther staff members r in team meetings. By cmpleting the assurance, yu agree t maintain the cnfidentiality f any test cntent yu may be aware f. Mnitring Students In additin t safeguarding the security f test cntent, yu must als actively mnitr students wh are testing. Active mnitring means carefully bserving student behavir thrughut testing t prevent security breaches. If applicable fr yur rle in testing, yu must actively mnitr students thrughut the entire test administratin. Never leave students unmnitred r unattended during testing. Ensure yu knw yur district s prcedures fr making sure that students are mnitred if an unexpected situatin arises. Maintaining Integrity f Test Results Actins During Testing N matter yur rle in test administratin, yu must ensure that students are prvided the pprtunity t independently demnstrate what they knw s their test results reflect their achievement. While sme actins are clearly nt allwed, thers may fall int gray areas. Yu cannt directly r indirectly prvide an answer t a student r prmpt a student t recnsider a specific answer. Similarly, yu can t prvide extra assistance t students by reminding them f strategies used in instructin r giving them access t ther classrm materials. Make sure yu understand what is allwed s that student tests d nt need t be invalidated. Maintaining Integrity f Test Results Student Scres Reviewing and scring student respnses yurself is nt allwed. Tests are scred by the test vendr, and infrmatin n student perfrmance is available t districts and schls thrugh reprts prvided by the service prvider r MDE after testing. Maintaining Integrity f Test Results Respecting Student Effrt Changing student respnses is a security breach and will result in the invalidatin f the student s test and pssible disciplinary actin. Test Security Checklist 4 2017 2018 Schl Year
Reprting Misadministratins r Security Breaches Yur District Assessment Crdinatr will let yu knw hw t reprt any misadministratins r security breaches. If yu bserve r becme aware f student r staff actins that vilate test security, it is yur respnsibility t talk with yur District r Schl Assessment Crdinatr r anther administratr. Even if a security breach seems unintentinal, it is imprtant that the situatin is reprted s that prcedures and plicies can be clarified and updated s that everyne understands hw t maintain test security. While we recmmend that yu wrk within yur district t reprt any pssible issues, there may be circumstances where yu need t reprt smething directly t MDE. The MDE website has a tip line where test security cncerns can be reprted annymusly. Cperating with MDE Finally, MDE has the respnsibility t versee all statewide testing. As part f yur rle in testing, yu may be part f a site mnitring visit, audit, r be asked t prvide infrmatin related t a test security breach and yu are agreeing t cperate when yu sign the assurance. If MDE makes a site visit t yur schl, yu will fllw yur regular prcedures fr testing. Summary In this checklist, we have reviewed: What test security is Why test security is imprtant What yu must d t maintain test security Be sure t cntact yur District r Schl Assessment Crdinatr if yu have any questins abut test security r the Assurance f Test Security and Nn-Disclsure. Name (printed) Signature Date District and Schl Names Test Security Checklist 5 2017 2018 Schl Year
ASSURANCE OF TEST SECURITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE Effective fr schl year 2017-2018 The Minnesta Department f Educatin (MDE) is required by state statute t implement statewide testing prgrams. Test security must be maintained t prvide an equal pprtunity t all students t demnstrate their academic achievement and t ensure the validity f test scres and the integrity f state assessments. Failure t maintain test security jepardizes district and state accuntability requirements and the accuracy f student, schl, district, and state data. Test scres are included in imprtant decisins abut students future success; it is essential that they reflect the truth abut what students knw and can d. This frm must be signed prir t being invlved in any aspect f test administratin. All test cntent, secure test materials, and student respnses, whether in draft r final frm, are cnsidered secure, and nly authrized persns are permitted t have access t them. Authrized persns: Are administratrs, educatrs, staff, r ther persns designated by the district wh have a rle in string, distributing, crdinating, r administering tests. Have received apprpriate training t fulfill their assigned rles. Have signed this agreement. Respnsibilities f authrized persns wh may ptentially interact with secure test cntent, student respnses, and data are utlined in the Prcedures Manual f the Minnesta Assessments (hereafter Prcedures Manual). By signing this frm, yu agree t the fllwing assurances: As required fr my rle in the administratin f the statewide testing prgram, I am respnsible fr understanding relevant infrmatin cntained in the current year s Prcedures Manual and directins fr test administratin. I will abide by plicies and prcedures detailed in the resurces fr statewide test administratin. As required fr my rle, I am r will be trained in the administratin plicies and prcedures fr statewide tests befre participating in any part f statewide test administratin. As required fr my rle, I will instruct staff n state and district prcedures fr maintaining test security and will nt allw unauthrized persns t distribute, crdinate r administer tests, r have access t secure test cntent and materials. As required fr my rle, I will fllw the prcedures in the Prcedures Manual t investigate and ntify the apprpriate schl and district staff r the Minnesta Department f Educatin immediately upn learning f ptential miscnduct r irregularities, whether intentinal r unintentinal. I understand that MDE has the respnsibility t versee the administratin f the statewide tests. I will cperate fully with MDE representatives, and schl fficials when applicable, in all aspects f test security cmpliance including but nt limited t mnitring visits, desk audits, and investigatins. I understand that test data and dcuments that cntain student-level infrmatin are cnsidered cnfidential and secure. I will fllw all applicable federal and state data privacy laws related t student educatinal data, including data within reprts and data accessible in electrnic systems prvided by MDE r its service prvider(s). I understand my respnsibility t enfrce prper testing prcedures and t ensure the security and cnfidential integrity f the test(s). I will apply and fllw prcedures designed t keep test cntent secure and t ensure the validity f test results, including but nt limited t: Recgnizing the rights f students and families t accurate test results that reflect students individual, unassisted achievement. 2017 2018 Assurance f Test Security and Nn-Disclsure 6 Nvember 2017
Prtecting the cnfidentiality f statewide assessments and ensuring the validity f students results by safeguarding secure test cntent, keeping test materials in a secure area, and adhering t chain f custdy requirements. Never retaining secure test materials in my custdy beynd the allwed times t prcess, distribute, crdinate, administer, and return them, as apprpriate fr my rle. Ensuring that n part f the paper r nline tests are utlined, summarized, paraphrased, discussed, released, distributed t unauthrized persnnel, printed, reprduced, cpied, phtgraphed, recrded, r retained in riginal r duplicated frmat, withut the explicit permissin f MDE r as authrized in the Prcedures Manual. Never permitting r engaging in the unauthrized use f a student s MARSS r Secure Student Identificatin Number (SSID) t lg in t the nline testing system r access an nline test. Never engaging in, r allwing thers t engage in, unauthrized viewing, discussin, r analysis f test cntent befre, during, r after testing. Actively mnitring students during test administratin fr prhibited behavir. Never leaving students unattended during test administratin r under the supervisin f unauthrized staff r vlunteers. Never influence test results by prviding students with answers t secure test items, suggesting hw t respnd t secure test items, r influencing student respnses t secure test items. Prhibited actins include but are nt limited t prviding clues r hints; prviding reminders f cntent r testing strategies; prmpting students t crrect r check/recheck specific respnses; permitting access t curricular materials (e.g., textbks, ntes, review materials, bulletin bards, psters, charts, maps, timelines, etc.); r using vice inflectin, facial gestures, pinting, gesturing, tapping, r ther actins t indicate a respnse r accuracy f a student s respnse. Never frmally r infrmally scring secure tests r individual test items except as required by the test-specific manuals and directins. Prhibited actins include but are nt limited t creating an answer key; reviewing r scring a student s item respnse r respnses unless items are designed t be scred by the test administratr using a rubric r script; retaining, reviewing, r scring student scratch paper r accmmdated test materials; r tracking student perfrmance n test items. Never altering r engaging in ther prhibited invlvement with student respnses. Never inducing r encuraging thers t vilate the prcedures utlined abve r t engage in any cnduct that jepardizes test security r the validity f test scres. By accepting the terms f this agreement, yu name yurself as an emplyee f the Schl District r as an authrized persn selected by the District, and affirm that yu are authrized by the District during the current academic schl year t have access t secure test materials r student data related t statewide test administratins and hereby agree t be bund by the terms f this agreement. Failure t fllw prcedures can lead t the invalidatin f students tests. Cnsequences fr vilating the terms f this agreement may result in a cmplaint filed with the lcal Schl Bard, the Bard f Teaching, r the Bard f Schl Administratrs fr evaluatin and investigatin. The findings f the apprpriate Bard may result in disciplinary actin up t and including terminatin and/r lss f license. Signature Name (printed) District and Schl Names Date Wrk telephne Email Address 2017 2018 Assurance f Test Security and Nn-Disclsure 7 Nvember 2017