Each year there are teachers who are disciplined for not following testing protocols. The school district recently put out the Plan for Test Administration and Test Security, hereinafter “Manual.” It is a 34-page manual which outlines the procedures that must be followed when administering certain tests. Staff is required to follow the procedures outlined in that manual, or risk being disciplined by the school district and/or the Nevada State Department of Education. The following will highlight sections that have been violated and have resulted in teachers being disciplined. Please note that this article should not be read in lieu of reading the Manual.

First, the Manual only applies to the following tests: Criterion-Referenced Tests, Iowa Tests, National Assessment of Educational Progress, Nevada High School Proficiency Examination, Nevada Proficiency Examination Program, Nevada Alternate Scales of Academic Achievement, and Writing Assessments. Administrators may require teachers to follow the protocols outlined in the Manual for other tests and that would be an appropriate directive. It is important to note that the Manual’s goal is to ensure consistency in test administration and protect the integrity of tests.

Classroom posters, decorations and/or materials posted that could assist students in computing, answering questions, or problem solving must be removed or covered up. Students cannot access materials in their desks, backpacks, etc. during testing. Prior to, or during the test, the test’s script must be followed, test administrator’s cannot provide any assistance or direct the student’s attention to any materials in the room. Student responses must not be altered.

Teachers are not allowed to read through the actual tests. All test materials, including test booklets, answer sheets, scratch paper must be returned before students are allowed to leave testing area. Students must never be left unsupervised with tests. Tests must be returned to the Testing Coordinator at the end of each day.

Teachers have been disciplined for reading the test to special education students, directing students to a dictionary, photocopying the test and placing on an overhead to review with students. While these seem like blatant disregard for the testing protocols, they are more common then one would think. The most common violation is leaving the test in the classroom overnight. It is easy to forget to return the tests at the end of the day due to some interruption. In some ways, teachers are being tested while giving the exams as there can be severe consequences for not following the protocols, teaching licenses can be suspended and/or revoked, let alone the discipline the school district can issue.