NCEO Policy Directions: Considerations When Including Students with Disabilities in Test Security Policies (#23)

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Part of the NCEO Policy Directions series.
Author(s)
Martha L Thurlow, Sheryl Lazarus
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Pages:
1

Description

A report concluding that assessments better measure what students know and can do when states and consortia thoughtfully consider how to balance test security and accessibility. Many states are concerned that their test security policies may not adequately address accommodated tests, alternate assessments, and other related issues. For example, a survey conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (2013) found that 45 states believed that their state test was vulnerable to cheating when testing students in need of accommodations. Test security policies and procedures need to address test administration procedures, accommodations, and other issues related to students with disabilities to help ensure the integrity and validity of a test. A fundamental consideration when evaluating the validity of an assessment is the "fairness" of the test.

Details

Date
February 2015 
Type
Report 
Edition
Number 23
Publisher
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)

Topics

  • Educational accountability and assessment
    • Accessibility & Accommodations
    • Alternate Assessments
    • Students with Disabilities
    • Test Security
  • Specific life stage
    • Adolescents and young adults
    • Children