Test Security
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Maintaining the security and confidentiality of the Texas state assessment program is crucial for ensuring valid test scores and providing standard and equal testing opportunities for all students.
Each person participating in the state assessment program is directly responsible for reporting immediately any violation or suspected violation of test security or confidentiality. Campus staff should notify their campus or district testing coordinator if they witness an irregularity or suspect one has occurred, and district testing coordinators should in turn notify the TEA. The district testing coordinator is directly responsible for reporting to TEA all violations or suspected violations that occur within his or her district. Any incidents involving alleged or suspected violations that fall under the category of a serious irregularity must be reported to the Student Assessment Division as soon as the district coordinator is made aware of the situation.
Failure to report to the appropriate authority that an individual has engaged in conduct that violates the security or confidentiality of a test violates 19 TAC §101.65(d)(7) and could result in sanctions. Further, 19 TAC §101.65 requires the superintendent and campus principals in each school district, the chief administrative officer of each charter school, and any private school administering tests as allowed under TEC §39.033, to ensure that TEA is notified of any conduct that violates the security or confidential integrity of a test. Failure to cooperate with TEA in an investigation or to properly report that an individual has engaged in conduct that violates the security or confidentiality of a test is itself a violation of 19 TAC §101.65 and §249.15 and could result in sanctions.
Districts are required to report any disciplinary action taken against a student for cheating on a state assessment. Use the Locally Determined Disciplinary Actions form located on the link provided below to report disciplinary action.
Reports
Contact the TEA Complaints Management Office complaintsmanagement@tea.state.tx.us to file a complaint pertaining to test security.
For additional information, contact:
Student Assessment Division
512/463-9536
testsecurity@tea.state.tx.us
Page last modified on 4/9/2012.