Test Security
Online Testing
Paper / Pencil Tests
Handling of Irregularities and Consequences
Procedures for Addressing Data Quality & Security Breaches
Any action that compromises test security or leads to the invalidation of an individual student’s or a group of students’ test scores will be viewed by the Georgia Department of Education (GADOE) as inappropriate use or handling of tests and will be treated as such.
Any concern regarding test security must be reported to the STC who will report the incident to the GA DOE. The System Superintendent is notified of any situation involving an employee and the decision is made to report to Human Resources, if necessary. If there is a need to report to the Professional Standards Commission (PSC), the STC will submit in writing an exact account of the events(s) as she knows them to Human Resources who will then submit to the PSC for investigation. Failure to safeguard test materials or to comply with test administration procedures could adversely affect an employee’s certification status Examples of common events that would lead to such reporting are listed below as outlined by the GADOE Student Assessment Handbook (2022-2023):
It is a breach of test security if anyone:
- coaches examinees during testing or alters and/or interfere with examinees’ responses in any way
- gives examinees access to test questions or prompts prior to testing
- copies, reproduces, or uses in any manner inconsistent with test security regulations all or any portion of secure test booklets
- makes answers available to examinees
- reads or reviews test questions before, during (unless specified in the IEP, IAP, or ELL/TPC), or after testing
- questions students about test content after the test administration
- fails to follow security regulations for distribution and return of secure test materials as directed, or fails to account for all secure test materials before, during, and after testing (NOTE: lost test booklets constitute a breach of test security and will result in a referral to PSC)
- uses or handles secure materials including test tickets, test booklets and answer documents for any purpose other than examination
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- fails to follow administration directions for the test
- participates in, directs, aids, counsels, assists, encourages, or fails to report any prohibited act
- erases, marks answers, or alters responses on an answer document