Finding 12203 (2022-001)

-
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2022-12-14
Audit: 16336

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The School lacks proper documentation for required internal controls over Assessment System Security.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with TEA and Texas Department of Education regulations is not being met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish a procedure for timely review and centralized storage of all required documentation.

Finding Text

2022-001 Special Tests ? Assessment System Security: Internal Controls over required documentation and approval for state testing ALN# 84.010A Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies. Criteria: Internal controls over the Assessment System Security required documentation and approval for state testing should be designed and implemented to ensure that the teacher oath, testing materials checklist and seating chart approval is properly documented to reflect school compliance with the TEA and the Texas Department of Education. Condition: During testing of Assessment System Security management was unable to provide support for required documentation for 2 of the 7 items selected for testing. Cause: The School does not have a procedure in place to timely identify if Assessment System Security required documentation has been completed. Effect: The School?s required documentation is not fully documented in accordance with TEA and the Texas Department of Education. Questioned costs: None. Recommendation: We recommend the School implement a procedure to timely review submitted documentation and a central location to store all required documentation. Management?s response: See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Summary Description: During the summer the Campus Testing Coordinator (Instructional Coach) for the campus resigned. Although the testing coordinators received testing security training that included the required storage of documentation, there was not a set of internal controls to ensure that the documentation would be secured for the district. Points of Contact: ? Superintendent, Dr. Mechiel Rozas, mechiel.rozas@legacytraditional.org ? District STAAR Testing Coordinator, Valarie Walker, valarie.walker@legacytraditional.org ? Campus STAAR Campus Coordinator 2002-2023: Kehinde Stevenson, Evonne Murillo, Kim Wood, Molly Stumpo Resources Requirements: ? Campus Testing Coordinators have trained each semester using slides prepared by TEA with an overview of documentations requirements and storage. ? Testing Security training for Campus Testing Coordinators using the Learning Management System (LMS) in the Testing Information Distribution Engine (T.I.D.E.) Planned Milestones: ? Fall Campus Testing Coordinator Training (October 27, 2022) ? Training and signed documentation to verify understanding of the security requirements for the year and the steps to ensure securing protocols are followed if there is an early departure from duties. ? Campus Testing Coordinators meet with the District Testing Coordinator monthly to review expectations and confirm compliance. This information is shared with the district Superintendent on the first Monday in each month. ? Spring Campus Testing Coordinator Training (January 11, 2023) ? Training and signed documentation to verify understanding of the security requirements for the year and the steps to ensure securing protocols are followed if there is an early departure from duties. ? Original copies of documents submitted to the District Testing Coordinator at the end of each testing session and copies filed for the campus and maintained at the campus level (December 16, 2022 EOC; April 3, 2023 TELPAS; May 15, 2023 Spring STAAR and EOC; June 30, 2023 Summer EOC). Scheduled Completion Date: The campus Testing Coordinator will secure the Campus Principal signage page completed with final submission to the District Testing Coordinator along with Principal oaths by May 15, 2023 for elementary campuses and June 30,2023 for the high school campus. Change in Procedure: The District Testing Coordinator has enhanced the training for testing procedures and systems of accountability have been created. Campus Testing Coordinator training now includes testing security responsibilities if there is a departure from the position or the district. The district will continue to train Campus Testing Coordinators twice a year, but the internal controls now include the collection of original documents on specific dates at the end of each testing session, rather than at the end of the school year, along with monthly checks for compliance. The Principal of each campus must review the testing binder and secure storage of materials after completing the signage document in the testing binder and ensure submission of the testing binder to the District Testing Coordinator by the scheduled completion dates.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $311,509
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $142,251
10.555 National School Lunch Program $25,016
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $23,146
10.565 Commodity Supplemental Food Program $20,083
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $14,329
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $11,896
10.553 School Breakfast Program $8,230
84.369 Grants for State Assessments and Related Activities $1,475
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $1,178