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Testing Code of Ethics Training 2014 - 2015 In North Carolina, standardized testing is an integral part of the educational experience of all students, and the Testing Code of Ethics applies to everyone involved.

When properly administered and interpreted, test results provide an independent, uniform source of reliable and valid information… What goes wrong on the school level… • Tests are not always administered properly. • Wrong students • Inconsistent procedures • Rule violations • Mishandling materials The results… • The test results fail to provide an independent, uniform source of reliable and valid information. Our effort to combat this problem. . . Being trained on and following the North Carolina Testing Code of Ethics

• Students • Parents • Teachers • Community leaders and lawmakers • Citizens On the school level, it is our job to make sure ”testing is conducted in a fair and ethical manner. . . ”

The Breakdown SECURITY 1 Assuring adequate security of testing materials & student confidentiality PREPARATION 2 Teaching the curriculum, training staff, and providing appropriate environment ADMINISTRATION 3 Implementing fair & ethical testing practices SCORING, ANALYSIS, & REPORTING 4 Properly interpreting test results & confidentially reporting scores

SECURITY TESTING COORDINATOR ALL STAFF MEMBERS • Securely storing test materials with minimum access • Counting and distributing materials • Tracking and locating missing materials/accounting for all materials (Sign-Out/In sheets) • Not reviewing or analyzing test items • Not using test materials for personal gain • Not copying or reproducing test materials • Reporting any breach of security or loss of materials • Properly monitoring students during tests EXAMPLES OF VIOLATION • Making copies of the test booklets to use for tutorial/re-test purposes • Anyone besides the testing coordinator (or whoever Mr. Jones appoints) counting and distributing test materials • Allowing students to work on the wrong section of a test • Allowing students to carry their test materials *Items highlighted in yellow areas in need of improvement for the 2014 -2015 school year. *Items highlighted in blue areas of achievement for the 2014 -2015 school year.

PREPARATION TESTING COORDINATOR ALL STAFF MEMBERS • Securing necessary materials • Planning and implementing training for test administrators and proctors • Encouraging a positive atmosphere for testing • Documenting test modifications • Having professional training in education (throughout the year, every school year) • Providing instruction that meets or exceeds the curriculum standards • Helping students improve test-taking skills (conducting practice sessions, using resource materials, etc. ) EXAMPLES OF VIOLATION • Providing a student a testing accommodation that is not documented • Not allowing students to use testing accommodations • Testing a student who is not required to take a test • Administering a student the wrong test • Administering tests without having appropriate training *Items highlighted in yellow areas in need of improvement for the 2014 -2015 school year. *Items highlighted in blue areas of achievement for the 2014 -2015 school year.

ADMINISTRATION TESTING COORDINATOR ALL STAFF MEMBERS EXAMPLES OF VIOLATION • Failing to keep accurate time during test administrations • Not taking down content-related posters • Failing to properly monitor the room • Causing distractions and interruptions • Allowing proctors to read the test directions • Paraphrasing test directions or answer choices • Having prohibited items *Items highlighted in yellow areas in need of improvement for the 2014 -2015 school year. *Items highlighted in blue areas of achievement for the 2014 -2015 school year. • Establishing schoolwide procedures for test administrations • Informing The Office of Accountability about testing violations • Training test administrators and proctors • Administering tests to all eligible students • Reporting all test irregularities to the testing coordinator • Providing a positive test-taking climate • Following test directions and administrator’s manuals carefully

SCORING, ANALYSIS, & REPORTING TESTING COORDINATOR • Maintaining test security of answer keys, rubrics, and test results • Protecting students’ confidentiality at all times ALL STAFF MEMBERS • Using test data to understand educational patterns • Maintaining confidentiality of individual students’ results • Using test data for proper decisionmaking purposes EXAMPLES OF VIOLATION • Announcing individual students’ scores for the class or passing around personally identifiable information • Failing a student solely because of his exam score • Sending scores via email • No one waiting at the fax machine to receive scores *Items highlighted in orange are both achievements and areas for improvement for the 2014 -2015 year. *Items highlighted in blue areas of achievement for the 2014 -2015 school year.

DO NOT DO ANY OF THESE!!! 1. 2. Encouraging students to be absent the day of testing Encouraging students not to do their best because of the purposes of the test 3. Using secure items or modified secure test items for instruction 4. Changing student responses at any time 5. Interpreting, explaining, or paraphrasing the test directions or the test items 6. Reclassifying students solely for the purpose of avoiding state testing 7. Not testing all eligible students 8. Failing to provide needed modifications during testing 9. Modifying scoring programs 10. Modifying student records solely for the purpose of raising test scores

WHEN DO YOU REPORT? ? ? The Steps for Reporting a Problem Issues or Concerns? Immediately call the main office using the white phone (#) Ms. Raynor must report any allegation of a testing violation to the Accountability Office. Only the Office of Accountability has the authority to declare misadministrations. When a misadministration is declared… • Affected students must be administered another secure form of the test • Only scores from a valid test administration will be included in students’ records • An account of the teacher’s actions will go into his/her professional file

Sanctions Withhold incentives or recognition from individuals or from all eligible staff in a school Employee Letter written by principal and placed in employee’s file at school and at Employee Relations File a civil action against person(s) responsible for the violation Seek criminal prosecution Testing violations have consequences Suspend or revoke professional license Dismissal

At this time, please sign your Testing Code of Ethics Affidavit. Be sure to leave it in the bin for Ms. Raynor before you leave. Look under your seat! If you have a sticker, you are the winner of a poster for your classroom! Let’s Check Out the Site! www. westmecktesting. weebly. com