LPS Test Ethics, Materials and Security

District - Test Ethics and Security
Standardized testing is an integral part of the education of all students. The purpose of assessment is to determine the achievement level of students and to measure improvement of programs and schools. Liberty Public Schools wants to ensure that its achievement test results are a valid reflection of how students are performing. Liberty Public Schools strives to ensure that all testing practices meet state and national standards for ethics in testing.

District - Test Preparation
Test preparation must not significantly detract from instruction of students. Test preparation activities are incorporated into the regular, ongoing instructional activities, whenever possible. Appropriate test preparation activities are those that contribute to students performing as near as possible to their true academic achievement levels. Also, these activities should be equal to or greater in value than if the time used were spent on content- related instructional activities. Appropriate activities include teaching general test- taking skills and providing practice, familiarizing students with the format of the test, and teaching students how to prepare for tests.

District – Test Scheduling
Tests are scheduled in a manner that ensures test security as well as valid and reliable test results. Teachers do not allow students to complete a testing session over more than one day rather than completing the testing in one sitting as indicated in the examiner’s manual, depending on the test and it’s administration protocol. Breaks for students during a testing session are not longer than the time indicated in the examiner’s manual.

District - Test Administration and Accommodations
All district-wide assessments are administered in a standardized manner that ensures that test results are valid and reliable; that the guidelines, directions, or time limits indicated in the examiner’s manual are being followed. Teachers ensure that students have the materials they need and are ready for the test session and ensure that students are provided with a positive atmosphere for testing. Accommodations during administration are in accordance with state and test publisher guidelines.

District - Make-up Tests
Make-up tests are administered in accordance with the guidelines, directions, and time limits as indicated in the examiner’s manual and the ethical guidelines of this assessment plan. The teacher provides direct supervision throughout the makeup session. The make-up test are not administered in the classroom during a regular class session.

District - Testing Materials
All materials needed by students during testing are either provided along with the test materials or specifically permitted in the examiner’s manual. In general, students are not be given any aids during standardized testing that they would not have had during the norming of the test. DESE says that if the tests are not administered with the same procedures used when the test was standardized, valid conclusions cannot be drawn from the test results. Anything else that could assist a student with a response during testing is not allowable. The teacher may not allow students to use testing aids or reference materials other than those specified in the examiner’s manual. If such materials are already on the wall, they must be covered or removed. Materials that are allowed by the examiner’s manual should be used in accordance with the limits given therein. If there is any doubt, teachers should contact the building test coordinator.

District - Test Security
The district test security policy is outlined in board regulation. Test security involves keeping the items of the test confidential and out of the hands of students who are taking the test. Items on a test are evaluated and developed to provide a measure of children's achievement. If test security is violated, then the measurement is no longer accurate or valid.
Violations of test security include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Removing test materials from the building

· Leaving test materials unattended and unlocked

· Reviewing test items before or after the test

· Giving information about the test items to another parent, teacher, or student

· Teaching items on the current test or items that have not been released

· Copying or otherwise keeping records of the test item content

· Using test items for practice

Test security is critical because it helps insure more accurate and appropriate measurement of student's achievement, and violations are harmful to both the district and our students.

District - Suspected Ethical Violations
Ethical assessment is a very serious matter. Any person who suspects a violation of assessment ethics should immediately report the information to the Director of Assessment, Evaluation and Testing. Allegations of ethical violations are reviewed by the Academic Services Department for possible recommendation of action.

District - Participation Requirements for Large Scale Assessments
The district accounts for all students enrolled at the time of state or district norm- referenced assessments. Students are determined to be in one of four categories:

1. Participated in state or district norm- referenced assessments under standard conditions.

2. Participated in state or district norm- referenced assessments with accommodations approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for the specific content area being assessed.

3. Participated in an alternate state assessment.

4. Did not participate in state or district norm-referenced assessments due to one of the following reasons: prolonged illness, extended absence from school, parental request, or physician recommendation. The reason must be documented. Every attempt must be made to have students make up tests missed