The Director of Assessment will serve as the District coordinator for the State achievement and diagnostic tests. The District coordinator is responsible for all testing materials from the time they arrive in the District until they are distributed to the building coordinators. The building coordinator (a guidance counselor, an assistant principal, or an EIS appointed by the building principal) is responsible for distributing, collecting and securing (in a locked cabinet or closet) all testing materials while they are in the building. The building coordinator will appoint specific staff members to serve as test examiners. Examiners are responsible for distributing, administering, proctoring, collecting, and securing all test materials while they are in their possession. The District and building coordinators and other staff members specifically designated to administer the test are the only persons authorized to have access to the test materials or to be present in the testing room(s).

All testing coordinators and classroom teachers giving the test must follow the policies stated in this document as well as the policies of the Ohio Department of Education. Since all security or ethical breeches must be reported to the Ohio Department of Education within ten (10) days of any violation, everyone involved in the administration of the State achievement test must understand that it is unethical and illegal to alter a student’s responses or to assist a student to cheat in any way. Furthermore, except for the publication called "Practice Tests," the achievement tests, including any and all material developed for use in any test form, are secure. It is unethical and illegal to use any secure materials to prepare student for the test or to assist students who have failed the tests. It is also unethical and illegal to reproduce any of this material. No secure material from any test may be released to students, to the media, to parents or other community members, or to any other individual or group.

Any alleged test security violation will be investigated by the Assistant Superintendent. If it is determined that a violation occurred, any of several consequences may follow:

The basis for compliance with the procedures to protest the security of the proficiency tests is established in Ohio Administrative Code Rule of the Administrative Code 3301-13-05.

All coordinators and examiners are responsible for ensuring that all test security provisions, as established by building, District, or State policy, are followed while the test materials are in the District. All test coordinators and classroom teachers giving the test must read the Directions for Administration and Rules for Testing prior to the testing dates. These booklets, provided by the Ohio Department of Education, will answer many questions about the content and administration of the test. All test coordinators must keep these booklets on file. The tests will be serially numbered and wrapped in sealed packages when they arrive at the test sites. The building coordinators are to open the sealed packages at the appropriate time, check and verify in writing the accuracy and receipt of all test materials, and prepare the test booklets. Since building coordinators are required to account for and return all materials, they must carefully track the materials before, during, and after test administration. This responsibility includes the timely packing and shipping of all used materials and transporting any unused materials to the District coordinator for shipment. Careful written record keeping and thorough rechecking are essential throughout the testing process because building coordinators and examiners must be able to prove, upon request, that all testing materials were properly distributed, completed, and returned to the testing company.

All testing materials are computer scanned before they are shipped to the District and scanned again after they are returned to the testing company. Should any testing materials be unaccounted for after they are returned to the testing company, the building coordinator, along with the appropriate examiner(s), will conduct a thorough investigation. If after the investigation of all written records the materials are still unaccounted for, the building coordinator will report his/her findings to the District coordinator. The District coordinator will in turn report in writing to the Superintendent and the Ohio Department of Education to determine if proper procedures were followed and whether further investigation is warranted. If further investigation should occur, the individual(s) involved will be provided with an opportunity to respond to the charges and present a defense.

All children with disabilities are included in general State and Districtwide assessment programs, with appropriate accommodations, where necessary. Some children with disabilities will participate in the State’s Alternate Assessment program while others will participate in the assessment program designed for regular education. Students with disabilities may be exempted from the "high stakes" consequences of the State assessment program. All decisions about how a child with a disability will participate in any State or Districtwide assessment program must be made by the I.E.P. team and documented on the I.E.P.

Students on a Section 504 Plan may have modifications in administration procedures of the Ohio Achievement Tests. The modification(s) in curriculum must be documented on the Section 504 education plan. Section 504 students may not be exempted from participating in Ohio Achievement testing unless they are completing a curriculum that is significantly different from that completed by other students required to take such tests.

English as a Second Language (ESL) students or Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students participate in the State assessment program according to Ohio Department of Education guidelines. They may receive approved accommodations following consultation with the ESL instructor.