The Board of Education desires to protect the integrity of student assessment processes in order to obtain an accurate assessment of student achievement in the district and maintain accountability to the community and state. Students and staff are expected to maintain a high level of integrity in the completion and handling of student assessments.
\n\nTest Integrity
\n\nIn the administration of standardized tests, staff shall not:
\n\nPreparation for State Tests
\n\nStaff may prepare students for assessments by providing instruction in the content specified in state and district academic standards and teaching general test-taking strategies that are designed to improve their performance on tests included in the Standardized Testing and Reporting program, the California High School Exit Examination, or the California English Language Development Test. Such strategies may include, but not be limited to, using time efficiently, understanding directions, placing answers correctly on answer sheets, checking answers, problem-solving tactics, and exposing students to various test formats.
\n\nThe Superintendent or designee, principals, and teachers shall not implement any program of specific preparation for the statewide student assessment program or a particular test used within that program. (Education Code 60611)
\n\nPractice tests provided by the publisher of the state achievement test may be used for the limited purpose of familiarizing students with the use of scanable test booklets or answer sheets and the format of test items. No alternate or parallel form of the test shall be administered or used. (5 CCR 854)
\n\nStaff shall not use released test questions to develop practice tests that mimic or parallel state tests, or for teaching or drilling students only on the released items.
\n\nInvestigation and Consequences of Testing Irregularities
\n\nReports of student cheating on assessments shall be submitted to the principal or designee for investigation. Students found to have cheated on assessments shall be subject to disciplinary procedures in accordance with Board policy and administrative regulations.
\n\nA staff member found to have committed testing irregularities shall be subject to discipline in accordance with law, where applicable, collective bargaining agreements, Board policy, and administrative regulations.
\n\nThe Superintendent or designee shall immediately investigate with due diligence any reports of inappropriate test preparation or other testing irregularities.
\n\nIf the Superintendent or designee is made aware of a testing irregularity on state assessments, he/she shall report the irregularity to the California Department of Education.
\n\n\n", "contentText": "The Board of Education desires to protect the integrity of student assessment processes in order to obtain an accurate assessment of student achievement in the district and maintain accountability to the community and state. Students and staff are expected to maintain a high level of integrity in the completion and handling of student assessments.\n\nTest Integrity\n\nIn the administration of standardized tests, staff shall not:\n\n- Provide inappropriate test preparation\n\n- Modify test administration procedures, except as allowed by law\n\n- Provide inappropriate assistance to students during test administration\n\n- Change or fill in answers on student answer sheets\n\n- Provide inaccurate data on student header sheets\n\n- Discourage or exclude certain students from taking the test\n\n- Engage in any other practice to artificially raise student scores without actually improving underlying student achievement\n\nPreparation for State Tests\n\nStaff may prepare students for assessments by providing instruction in the content specified in state and district academic standards and teaching general test-taking strategies that are designed to improve their performance on tests included in the Standardized Testing and Reporting program, the California High School Exit Examination, or the California English Language Development Test. Such strategies may include, but not be limited to, using time efficiently, understanding directions, placing answers correctly on answer sheets, checking answers, problem-solving tactics, and exposing students to various test formats.\n\nThe Superintendent or designee, principals, and teachers shall not implement any program of specific preparation for the statewide student assessment program or a particular test used within that program. (Education Code 60611)\n\nPractice tests provided by the publisher of the state achievement test may be used for the limited purpose of familiarizing students with the use of scanable test booklets or answer sheets and the format of test items. No alternate or parallel form of the test shall be administered or used. (5 CCR 854)\n\nStaff shall not use released test questions to develop practice tests that mimic or parallel state tests, or for teaching or drilling students only on the released items.\n\nInvestigation and Consequences of Testing Irregularities\n\nReports of student cheating on assessments shall be submitted to the principal or designee for investigation. Students found to have cheated on assessments shall be subject to disciplinary procedures in accordance with Board policy and administrative regulations.\n\nA staff member found to have committed testing irregularities shall be subject to discipline in accordance with law, where applicable, collective bargaining agreements, Board policy, and administrative regulations.\n\nThe Superintendent or designee shall immediately investigate with due diligence any reports of inappropriate test preparation or other testing irregularities.\n\nIf the Superintendent or designee is made aware of a testing irregularity on state assessments, he/she shall report the irregularity to the California Department of Education.", "footnotes": [ { "type": "State", "references": [ { "code": "5 CCR 1200-1225", "description": "California High School Exit Examination", "url": "" }, { "code": "5 CCR 1220", "description": "Cheating on the high school exit examination", "url": "https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I2F973B034C6911EC93A8000D3A7C4BC3?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)" }, { "code": "5 CCR 850-876", "description": "California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress", "url": "" }, { "code": "Ed. Code 60611", "description": "Inappropriate test preparation", "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=60611." }, { "code": "Ed. Code 60640-60648.5", "description": "California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress", "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&division=4.&title=2.&part=33.&chapter=5.&article=4." }, { "code": "Gov. Code 54957", "description": "Complaints against employees; right to open session", "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=54957." } ] }, { "type": "Management Resources", "references": [ { "code": "California Department of Education Publication", "description": "Guidelines on Academic Preparation for State Assessments, December 2009", "url": "https://www.cde.ca.gov/" }, { "code": "Website", "description": "CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services", "url": "https://legalservices.csba.org/" }, { "code": "Website", "description": "Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium", "url": "http://www.smarterbalanced.org" }, { "code": "Website", "description": "California Department of Education", "url": "http://www.cde.ca.gov" }, { "code": "Website", "description": "CSBA", "url": "http://www.csba.org" } ] } ], "crossRefs": [ { "code": "0440", "title": "District Technology Plan", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "0440", "title": "District Technology Plan", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "4118", "title": "Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "4118", "title": "Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "4119.21", "title": "Professional Standards", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "4119.21-E PDF(1)", "title": "Professional Standards", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "4218", "title": "Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "4218", "title": "Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "4219.21", "title": "Professional Standards", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "4319.21", "title": "Professional Standards", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "5131", "title": "Conduct", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "5131.9", "title": "Academic Honesty", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "5144", "title": "Discipline", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "5144", "title": "Discipline", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "6011", "title": "Academic Standards", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "6162.5", "title": "Student Assessment", "type": "AR" }, { "code": "6162.51", "title": "State Academic Achievement Tests", "type": "AR" } ], "attachments": [] }