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FINDING 2022-012 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies - Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A190014, S010A200014, S010A190014SIG Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The School Corporation is required to implement policies and procedures regarding test security for assessments, which includes providing test administration and test security training to appropriate staff prior to testing. A sample of 25 staff members required to receive the training were selected for testing. Of the 25 selected, documentation was not provided for 8 staff members to verify they received the appropriate training. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.333 states in part: "Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient. . . ." 2 CFR 200.207(a) states in part: "The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may impose additional specific award conditions as needed, . . ." 511 IAC 5-5-5(b) states: "Any individual who administers, handles, or has access to secure test materials at the school or school corporation shall complete assessment training and sign a testing security and integrity agreement to remain on file in the appropriate building-level office each year." Indiana Assessment Program Manual, Section 9, Part D states in part: "Every school corporation or other test administration location that administers tests under the Indiana Assessment System must have a locally developed written test security policy. While IDOE does not require school board approval of this policy, corporations should follow local level practices to determine if this policy needs to be approved by the local school board. The test security policy developed must: ? Specify that secure test materials should not be delivered to school buildings more than one week (preferably less) in advance of test administration; ? Specify that teachers and other school staff members are not allowed access to secure materials (except for the TAM) more than 4 hours in advance of test administration; and . . . Locally developed written test security policies must include, but not be limited to, the following description regarding how the corporation will: . . . ? Ensure all appropriate staff receive test administration and test security training prior to testing. . . . ? Define and clearly communicate at least once annually for all appropriate staff how staff implementation of test administration and test security standards and procedures will be monitored by school administrators . . ." Cause Management had not established an effective system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance, or that supporting documentation would have been maintained and made available for audit, related to the Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective system of internal controls and retain and provide appropriate supporting documentation prevented the determination of the School Corporation's compliance with the Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security compliance requirement. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish an effective system of internal controls to ensure documentation be maintained and made available for audit related to the grant agreement and the Special Tests and Provisions - Assessment System Security compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.