Griffin-Spalding County Schools Student Assessment Handbook
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Griffin-Spalding County Schools Student Assessment Handbook June 2018 Table of Contents Contents ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Griffin-Spalding Testing Policy ................................................................................................................. 3 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Ethics ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 Test Security ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Training ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 Irregularities................................................................................................................................................. 5 Communication ........................................................................................................................................... 5 State Mandated Assessment ................................................................................................................... 5 National Assessments ............................................................................................................................... 6 Local Assessments .................................................................................................................................... 6 Guidance Regarding “Opt‐Out” ............................................................................................................... 6 Possible Consequences for Students Not Testing .............................................................................. 7 Possible Consequences for Districts, Schools, and Teachers for Students Not Testing ................ 8 What Parents Can Do ................................................................................................................................ 8 Why State Tests Are Important ................................................................................................................ 8 Best Practices Checklist for Standardized Assessments .................................................................... 9 3 to 4 weeks before the Georgia Milestones Assessment ............................................................... 9 1 to 2 weeks before the Georgia Milestones Assessment ............................................................... 9 During Testing......................................................................................................................................... 9 After Testing .......................................................................................................................................... 10 2 Introduction The Griffin-Spalding Board of Education implements the assessment program in the Griffin- Spalding County Schools (GSCS) as specified by the State Board of Education and the State School Superintendent. Testing includes all state mandated tests as well as local assessments. Tests in GSCS are administered in accordance with the requirements of the governing agency for the assessment and with a high level of security to provide an appropriate testing environment, to ensure the integrity of the assessment and the validity of the data provided by the assessment. In accordance with the guidelines provided by the State Board of Education and the Professional Standards Commission each test in GSCS is administered in such a way that prevents, mitigates and reports any irregularities arising at any time before, during, or after testing. Employees of the district must comply with all of GSCS System policies and Georgia Professional Standards Commission rules with regard to Testing Code of Ethics. Employees who violate these provisions will be subject to disciplinary action. Griffin-Spalding Testing Policy Policy Descriptor Code: II Testing Program Policy The Griffin-Spalding County School System shall implement and maintain a district-wide testing program that incorporates standardized assessments required by the Georgia Department of Education, state or federal law, and any other assessments required by the district to assist teachers and administrators in providing appropriate instruction for students. Purpose: Testing should fulfill the following purposes: 1. To identify each school’s instructional strengths and weaknesses; 2. To serve as one source for the evaluation of the educational program; 3. To facilitate the planning of appropriate curriculum and instructional programs; 4. To facilitate in the selection of classroom instructional strategies; 5. To identify the level of achievement of district students as compared with that of other school districts locally and statewide; 6. To inform parents and the general public of the achievement of Griffin-Spalding County students. Please click on the link below for the full list of GSCS board policies. https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_ePolicy/SB_PolicyOverview.aspx?S=4079 Ethics (Excerpt from Georgia Professional Standards Commission Code of Ethics for Educators) An educator shall administer state-mandated assessments fairly and ethically. Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to: 1. Committing any act that breaches test security 2. Compromising the integrity of the assessment The Professional Standards Commission is authorized to suspend, revoke, or deny certificates, to issue a reprimand or warning, or to monitor the educator’s conduct and performance after an investigation is held and notice and opportunity for a hearing are provided to the certificate holder. 3 Test Security Testing security procedures and guidelines for GSCS are based on the training provided by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) Assessment Division. This plan includes information taken directly from the Georgia Department of Education Student Assessment Handbook. It is the intent of the Griffin-Spalding County School System to administer all assessments with integrity and validity. Care is taken to ensure that all assessments are protected from any ethic violations and to maintain high program standards. Prior to the beginning of testing, the system testing coordinator and the instructional technology director meet to review the assessment plans with regards to the technology infrastructure and technology support that each school will receive during that testing period. Schools are then notified of the technology support that they will have in their buildings during testing. Plans are also made to shut down the Audio Enhancement System located in every school throughout the school system for the entire assessment period. Each school will annually provide a written plan for test administration and security procedures. This plan must be submitted to the system testing coordinator for approval. Upon arrival, test materials are counted by the system testing coordinator and discrepancies are discussed with the disturbing vendor. Test materials will be stored in the Test Storage Room at Central Office in the Taylor Street Building Room 109. The system test coordinator will count out and package test materials for the schools. School test coordinators will come to the test storage room to sign, inventory, and pick up materials. School test coordinators will store materials in a locked, secure location at the school until needed for testing. On test days, test materials may only be distributed to test administrators; school test coordinators have a system in place to sign materials out and back in at the end of the testing period. These materials include: examiner manuals, Chromebook, large print student testing booklets and answer sheets (if needed), test tickets for online testing, scratch and graph paper (if permitted), stop watch, calculators (if permitted) and pencils. If test materials are lost or misplaced, immediate contact must be made with the system testing coordinator who will contact GaDOE. Upon the end of the testing period, the school test coordinator will pack up the examiner manuals, large print student test booklets and answer sheets (if used), test tickets, scratch and graph paper, classroom seating charts, Principal’s Certification Form and any Irregularity Reports and return these items to the Test Storage Room at Central Office. The system test coordinator will arrange for the return of any paper test materials in accordance to the guidelines and procedures outlined in the System Test Coordinators Manual. Training Prior to the administration of state-mandated assessments, the System Testing Coordinator provides training for School Coordinators who will then train their school level staff. Trainings are supported by agendas, power points and handouts. Trainings are based on the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) guidance from the Georgia Student Assessment Program. Training emphasizes the importance of security breaches, testing irregularities, prohibited use of cell phones on assessments,