Miss. Code. tit. 7, pt. 109, ch. 1

Current through October 31, 2024

Chapter 1 - Fundamentals of Student Assessment

An introduction to student assessment policies and procedures in Mississippi

It is the policy of the Mississippi State Board of Education that all test procedures and results used in the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System and/or the Performance-Based Accreditation System be valid and accurate for making related decisions. In order to protect the security and integrity of all tests administered through the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System, as well as to ensure reporting of accurate assessment results, the State Board of Education establishes requirements and the consequences applied when a school district or school is found in violation of any requirement. These requirements are established under the authority granted in Sections 37-16-1, 37-16-3, and 37-16-4, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, Requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System, Appendix F, Standard 22.

This Student Assessment Handbook includes definitions, policies, and procedures for the regulation of all aspects of assessing students using the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System, including test security and exam administration. The Student Assessment Handbook provides guidance, documentation, and actionable objectives. It can serve as a resource for structuring and improving operational aspects of all state-wide assessment programs on the district and school levels.

The Student Assessment Handbook may be used to train district, school, and volunteer staff and as a reference to structure roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations. Among other things, the elements of this handbook are intended to provide a set of best practice guidelines in test administration, test security, greater protection of MDE intellectual property, reduce test fraud and theft, and to maintain high program standards and integrity. This Student Assessment Handbook has been approved by Mississippi State Board of Education and will be reviewed and revised as needed.

Organization of the Student Assessment Handbook

Each chapter of the Student Assessment Handbook will start with an introduction of the global themes related to that topic. Definitions pertinent to that subject matter will then be given. As applicable there will be sections titled "Additional Guidance from Appendix F on ..." . These sections will take language directly from Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, requirements of the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System, Appendix F, Standard 22, which guides all test security practices. The Student Assessment Handbook will conclude with an Appendix policies and documents related to test security in use by the Office of Student Assessment. This is done in an effort to combine all of the policies and procedures for test security into one central document.

Code of Ethics

In addition to the requirements put forth in Appendix F of the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, the Mississippi Educator Code of Ethics: Standards of Conduct addresses appropriate professional practices for district office personnel, school administrators, test coordinators, teachers, and proctors in the area of test security under Standard 9: Maintenance of Confidentiality.

Standard 9: Maintenance of Confidentiality An educator shall comply with state and federal laws and local school board policies relating to confidentiality of student and personnel records, standardized test material, and other information covered by confidentiality agreements. 9.1. Ethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following: a. Keeping in confidence information about students that has been obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves a legitimate purpose or is required by law. b. Maintaining diligently the security of standardized test supplies and resources. 9.2. Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following: a. Sharing confidential information concerning student academic and disciplinary records, health and medical information family status/income and assessment/testing results unless disclosure is required or permitted by law. b. Violating confidentiality agreements related to standardized testing including copying or teaching identified test items, publishing or distributing test items or answers, discussing test items, and violating local school board or state directions for the use of tests. c. Violating other confidentiality agreements required by state or local policy.

Conflict of Interest

Test Administrators may not use their knowledge of MDE Assessment Program content to violate the security and integrity of the MDE exams through acts of coaching (as defined in Chapter 4), or other prohibited actions.

Definitions

A. Secure test materials include certain test administrator manuals, test booklets, answer documents, and other materials as specified by the Office of Student Assessment.

B. Test Administrator Manuals (TAM) are published by the testing company and the Office of Student Assessment for each administration of each test in the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System. They are unique to each testing administration and must therefore be studied by each person responsible for giving the test. (ex. Biology I Subject Area Test Administrator Manual used in September will not necessarily be the same as the one used for the December administration.)

C. The District Test Coordinator (DTC) serves as the lead role in maintaining a secure testing environment throughout the district, and is responsible for developing the district test security plan, providing guidance to the STC in regards to developing a school test security plan, conducting training for district staff, and ensures that the school district follows Appendix F and the Student Assessment Handbook guidelines. An expanded list of the role and responsibilities of the DTC is provided in Chapter 3.

D. The Assistant District Test Coordinator (ADTC) serves as the DTC's assistant in maintaining a secure testing environment at the District level, attends training conducted by the DTC, assumes the DTC's duties and responsibilities in the event of the DTC's absence and ensures that the district follows Appendix F and the Student Assessment Handbook guidelines. An expanded list of the role and responsibilities of the ADTC is provided in Chapter 3.

E. The School Test Coordinator (STC) serves as the lead role in maintaining a secure testing environment at the school level, attends training conducted by the DTC, trains school level test administrators and proctors as directed by the DTC, and ensures that the school follows Appendix F and the Student Assessment Handbook guidelines. An expanded list of the role and responsibilities of the STC is provided in Chapter 3.

The principal should not serve as their School Test Coordinator. {MS Code 37-9 -7, 37-9 -15, and 37-19 -1(c)}

F. The Assistant School Test Coordinator (ASTC) serves as the STC's assistant in maintaining a secure testing environment at the school level, attends training conducted by the DTC, trains school level test administrators and proctors as directed by the STC, assumes the STC's duties and responsibilities in the event of the STC's absence and ensures that the school follows Appendix F and the Student Assessment Handbook guidelines. An expanded list of the role and responsibilities of the ASTC is provided in Chapter 3.

G. The Test Administrator is a licensed employee of the district who serves as the lead role in maintaining a secure testing environment during test administrations, attends training conducted by the DTC or STC, monitors the testing session, ensures testing procedures are followed before, during, and after testing sessions, and becomes very familiar with regulations and procedures set forth in the district and school test security plans and the Test Administrator Manual. An expanded list of the role and responsibilities of the Test Administrator is provided in Chapter 3.

H. The Proctor attends training conducted by the DTC or STC, assists the Test Administrator in the monitoring of the test session, and ensures testing procedures are followed before, during, and after testing sessions. An expanded list of the role and responsibilities of the proctor is provided in Chapter 3.

I. The Test-Taker is either a student currently enrolled in the district or a former student, who will participate in a test administration. For the purpose of this edition of the Student Assessment Handbook, test-taker will be used in place of student.

Resources from the Office of Student Assessment

The Office of Student Assessment strives to support districts, schools, and students in their efforts to participate in all areas of the Mississippi State Wide Assessment System. Below is a list of resources available:

A. Website-www.mde.k12.ms.us/osa [File Link Not Available] has pages for each of the assessments as well as other related links.

B. SharePoint- SharePoint is an online file sharing program. This is where OSA stores all of its documents and resources. Some, like the test administrator manuals and sample tests, are for public access. Others, like the DTC resources and the district files, require a log-in and password. These are given to the superintendent and the DTC by OSA.

C. iTunes U -The Mississippi Department of Education has training videos archived at iTunes U. This program is a free download and anyone may watch the videos.

D. Monthly Webinar- OSA conducts a webinar each month for DTCs to keep them up-to-date on all of the testing programs.

E. 2012-2013 SATP2 Resource Packet for Prospective Graduates-This information packet outlines many of the resources provided to senior students, and it includes several quick references which you should find helpful like the passing scores and proficiency level cut scores for all exams (old and new curriculums). It also provides answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding these tests and student options.

F. Mississippi Statewide Assessment System Table 1

Table 1 Mississippi Statewide Assessment System

Test Name	Given	Type of Administrations	About
Mississippi CurriculumTest-2nd Edition(MCT2)	Grades 3-8	CDl Paper/Pencil	Assesses all students in grades 3-8 in Reading, Language Arts, and Math.
Mississippi Science Test- 2nd Edition (MST2)	Grade 5 and Grade 8	B Computer	Assesses students in grades 5 and 8 in the area of science.
Mississippi Alternate Assessment of Extended Curriculum Frameworks (MAAECF)	Grades 3-8 and Grade 12	EQ Paper/Pencil a Computer	Serves as an alternate assessment of the MCT2, MST2, and the SATP2 for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Subject Area TestProgram-2nd Edition(SATP2)	End of Course	CDl Paper/Pencil B Computer	Is a collection of end of course assessments that include Algebra I, English II, Biology I, and U.S. History. Passage of these assessments is a graduation requirement.
National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP)	Grades 4, 8, & 12 for selected schools	CDl Paper/Pencil	NAEP assessments are conducted periodically in mathematics, reading, science, writing, the arts, civics, economics, geography, U.S. History, and beginning in 2014, in Technology and Engineering Literacy (TEL).
English Language Proficiency Test (WIDA)	Kindergarte n Grade 12	EQ Paper/Pencil	English language proficiency assessment given to Kindergarten through 12th graders who have been identified as English language learners (ELLs).
Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System (MS-CPAS)	Grades 9-12 for students entering vocational programs.	B Computer	It is a vocational assessment used to provide a fair means of establishing accountability for both the secondary and postsecondary vocational programs.
Mississippi Writing Assessment Program - 3 rd Edition (MWAP3)	English II Re-Tests	EQ Paper/Pencil	Serves as a re-test option for students who were enrolled in English II prior to the 2012-2013 school year who must pass in order to fulfill graduation requirements.
Subject Area Alternative Test Program (SAATP)	End of Course	EQ Paper/Pencil	Serves as an alternate assessment of the SATP for students who are pursuing a regular high school diploma and who meet the qualifications.

Eligible Students

All eligible students must be tested. (SB Policies 3600, 3800, 7220, and 7601) {MS Code 37-16-3(2)} Eligible students refers to the total number of students in membership who are required to take the specified test as outlined in the Mississippi Statewide Assessment System, including students with disabilities and students who are English Language Learners. This includes assessing students through

* the standard test administration,

* the standard test administration with accommodations, and

* the state-designated alternate assessment such as the Mississippi Assessment of Alternate Assessment of Extended Curriculum Frameworks (MAAECF) and the Subject Area Alternative Assessment

Accommodations must be provided as stated in the student's current IEP, Section 504 Plan, or the student's Language Services Plan and in accordance with the Mississippi Testing Accommodations Manual, located atwww.mde.k12.ms.us/osa. [File Link Not Available]

Additional Guidelines from Appendix F for Identifying Eligible Students

1) Accurate exclusions, absences, and other required data are compiled for each test for each school.

2) Exclusions and absences data for each test for each school are maintained on file in the district.

3) Students who drop a course for which an end-of-course Subject Area Test is required after the dates noted below shall still take the appropriate end-of-course Subject Area Test.

a) Traditional Schedule

i) Students enrolled in a course at the end of January (5th month) must be tested.

b) Fall Block

i) Students enrolled in a course at the end of October (2nd month) must be tested.

c) Spring Block

i) Students enrolled in a course at the end of March (7th month) must be tested.

4) Students enrolled in and taking courses for the first time for which end-of-course Subject Area Tests are required shall take the appropriate Subject Area Tests. These students shall take the appropriate end-of-course Subject Area Test, even if the course title in Approved Courses for the Secondary Schools of Mississippi includes the words Accelerated, Enrichment, or Advanced Placement.

5) Each student enrolled in and re-taking courses for which end-of-course Subject Area Tests are required shall take the appropriate Subject Area Test only if the student has not previously passed the Subject Area Test.

6) Each student shall take the appropriate end-of-course Subject Area Test at the end of the course regardless of the grade level in which the course is offered.

7) Students enrolled in a Mississippi public school will be required to pass end-of-course Subject Area Test in a course for which the school accepts Carnegie units earned by the student through enrollment in summer school, virtual school, or any other non-standard school as defined by the Office of Accreditation. (Appendix F, Section IV, 10)

Reporting and Use of Test Data

Test score reports will generated after each test administration, including each re-test of a Subject Area Test. These reports must be shared with appropriate school staff and the parent or guardian of each test-taker. Reports should be distributed no later than the end of the first nine weeks of school for the results of the MCT2, the MST2, and the initial administration of an SATP2 exam. Score reports for SATP2 re-tests should be distributed no later than 2 weeks from the district's receipt of the report.

Additional Guidance from Appendix F on Reporting and Use of Test Data

The school district will release student test score information to parents, legal representatives, and students in a timely manner and provide access to the MDE-published interpretive guides as necessary. (Appendix F, Section III)

Miss. Code. tit. 7, pt. 109, ch. 1