Frequently Asked Questions on PSSA Test Security Procedure
What is the purpose of a test security procedure?
A test security procedure outlines the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s guidelines surrounding the security of its state administered tests. By outlining its expectations and rules of conduct, the Pennsylvania Department of Education can clarify the roles of all participants involved in the state assessment process. Furthermore, a test security procedure ensures transparency to the public and community members.
What is considered a breach in test security?
There are two major types of breaches in test security: student impropriety and educator misconduct. The following examples illustrate characteristics of possible breaches in the security of the PSSA:
STUDENT IMPROPRIETY
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Word-for-word duplication or partial duplication of a student response.
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Use of the same incorrect formula to come to the same incorrect answer from multiple students.
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Use of the same correct formula to come to the same incorrect answer from multiple students.
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Use of materials other than those provided during the administration of the assessment.
EDUCATOR MISCONDUCT
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School personnel transcribe student response(s) and/or student errors have been corrected.
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Two obviously different handwritings in the same response.
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Word-for-word duplication or partial duplication of responses with the same handwriting.
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Student states in answer that the teacher provided all or some of the answer.
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Student indicates bubbles were filled in when test was first handed out to the students.
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Student indicates that the teacher pointed out incorrect answers.
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Procedure for solving problem is written at top of response space in a different handwriting.
What happens if student misconduct is suspected?
The principal and assessment administrator should be notified immediately of student misconduct. If a test contractor suspects a breach in test security, they should “flag” the tests and have their scoring and project director review the flagged tests. As soon as a test security breach has been verified, the district will conduct an investigation and decide what action to take regarding the student.
What happens if educator misconduct is suspected?
Students should report the alleged incident to a teacher or administrator. Teachers, parents, assessment administrators, or school administrators should report the alleged incident in writing to the district’s superintendent or contact the Department of Education. As soon as a test security breach has been verified, the district will conduct an investigation and decide what action to take.
What happens in an investigation and how long does it take?
As soon as a suspected test security breach has been verified, the district superintendent, or designee of the investigation, will have 45 days to complete an investigation and report. The report will be sent to the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability indicating the following:
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The details of the investigation;
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The findings; and
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The action taken by the school, administrators, or district, if any.
If I am a student, what should I do if I suspect there has been a breach in test security (e.g., student impropriety or educator misconduct)?
You should notify a teacher or administrator immediately.
If I am a parent, what should I do if I suspect there has been a breach in test security (e.g., student impropriety or educator misconduct)?
You should report the alleged incident in writing to the district superintendent or the PA Department of Education, Bureau of Assessment and Accountability, 333 Market Street, 8th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333. You may also contact the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability at (717) 787-4234.
If I am a teacher, what should I do if I suspect there has been a breach in test security (e.g., student impropriety or educator misconduct)?
You should report the alleged incident in writing to the district superintendent or the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability, Department of Education, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333. You may also contact the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability at (717) 787-4234.
What if a principal, teacher, or assessment administrator is suspected of test misconduct?
The district should be contacted immediately and will take responsibility for conducting an investigation of the alleged incident.
What should the test contractor do if they suspect a breach in test security?
Test contractors who suspect a breach in test security should “flag” the suspected tests for review by the scoring and project director. If a test security breach has been verified, the test contractor should immediately notify the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability and send them a summary file of the flagged student work.
The test contractor’s readers will not have access to individual student identification information at any point throughout this process. Student identification is separated from the student response sheets prior to scoring and is not available to anyone other than the contractor’s project manager.
The test contractor will also send copies of the flagged papers to the appropriate school district’s superintendent along with two letters through registered mail. The first letter should indicate the procedure used in identifying the flagged work. The second letter will instruct the superintendent, or designee, to investigate the concerns and complete a report on the findings and the actions taken.
What should the district do if there is a breach in test security?
As soon as a suspected test security breach has been verified, the district superintendent, or designee of the investigation, will have 45 days to complete an investigation and report. The report will be sent to the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability indicating the following:
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The details of the investigation;
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The findings; and
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The action taken by the school, administrators, or district, if any.
School districts are responsible for conducting the investigation and taking appropriate actions in response to breaches in test security. The Pennsylvania Department of Education may initiate a formal educator misconduct investigation that may result in disciplinary action. In addition, the Department may invalidate any or all test scores involved in the investigation and/or retest the students. Invalidation will not impact a district’s participation rate for No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The district will receive credit as if a student had earned the lowest valid score.
