Finding 537623 (2024-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-27

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Academy lacks documented policies and procedures for test security, failing to meet state and federal requirements for valid and reliable assessments.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 20 USC 6311 and Ohio Admin. Code §3301-13-05 regarding assessment integrity and security procedures.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Academy should adopt and review necessary written procedures by October 1st, ensuring all staff and students are informed of test security measures.

Finding Text

20 USC 6311(b)(2)(A) requires, in part, each State plan shall demonstrate that the State educational agency, in consultation with local educational agencies, has implemented a set of high-quality student academic assessments in mathematics, reading or language arts, and science. 20 USC 6311(b)(2)(B)(iii) requires the assessments under subparagraph (A) shall…be used for purposes for which such assessments are valid and reliable, consistent with relevant, nationally recognized professional and technical testing standards, objectively measure academic achievement, knowledge, and skills, and be tests that do not evaluate or assess personal or family beliefs and attitudes, or publicly disclose personally identifiable information. Ohio Admin. Code §3301-13-05 (G) states, each participating school will establish written procedures to protect the security of the online and paper tests that include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Identification of each person by name with a designated title as being either a test coordinator, test administrator, monitor, translator, or scribe who is authorized to be present in a test room during a test administration session, including a makeup session, and/or who is authorized to have access to the test materials; 2. Specification of a procedure for investigating any alleged violation of a test security provision or any alleged unethical testing practice, including ensuring due process for any individual accused; 3. Specifications of a procedure for determining an action or actions to be taken in response to any confirmed violation of section 3319.151 of the Revised Code, rule 3301-7-01 of the Administrative Code, this rule, or the school's test security procedures, including, but not limited to, cheating by a student, anyone assisting a student to cheat, and/or anyone compromising a student's test; 4. Specification of a procedure for determining whether to invalidate a student's test in response to a test security violation caused either by a student and/or by any other person; and 5. Specification of how the written procedures will be communicated in writing and discussed each school year with employees who have access to secure test materials, students enrolled in the participating school who are being tested, and with any other person authorized to be present in a test room and/or have access to any secure test materials. Further, Ohio Admin. Code §3301-13-05 (I) provides, by the first of October of each school year, each participating school will communicate in writing to and discuss with all employees who have access to the secure test materials and students who are being tested the applicable written security procedures and the actions to be taken in response to any violations established pursuant to this rule. The Academy was unable to provide any policies or procedures to indicate the Academy implemented test security measures to ensure the assessment system is valid, reliable, and consistent with relevant professional and technical standards. The Academy should review Ohio Admin. Code §3301-13-05 and ensure the required written procedures are adopted and reviewed with employees and students by October 1st.

Corrective Action Plan

The Academy will adopt the required policies regarding test security.

Categories

No categories assigned yet.

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1114065 2024-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $448,026
10.555 National School Lunch Program $245,012
10.553 School Breakfast Program $135,896
84.027 Special Education Grants to States $105,132
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $74,144
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $52,104
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $5,182