Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 43, Pages 5913-6056, October 27, 2017 Page: 5,978
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19 TAC 101.3031(b)(2). The 2018 Test Security Supplement
describes the security procedures and guidelines that school dis-
tricts and charter schools shall be required to follow to ensure the
security and validity of the Texas assessment system.
Proposed within the 2018 Test Security Supplement are five
substantive changes for the administration of the 2018 assess-
ments.
The first policy change applies to Texas English Language Pro-
ficiency Assessment System (TELPAS). TELPAS listening and
speaking domains for Grades 2-12 will be assessed online in-
stead of holistically rated. Districts will be required to issue head-
phones for the listening and speaking tests due to the new online
format. The listening and speaking domains are transitioning
from being holistically rated to being assessed online to stan-
dardize and improve the validity and reliability of these assess-
ments and lessen the burden on districts to train and task staff
to administer these assessments holistically. This policy change
can be found in the 2018 Test Security Supplement under Policy
and Procedure Highlights.
The second policy change also applies to TELPAS. A new se-
curity oath was introduced for use by individuals proctoring the
TELPAS Rater Training Calibration Activity. The security oath
will ensure proctors are appropriately trained, understand their
responsibilities, and are aware of any penalties that may result
from violating test security. This policy change can be found in
the 2018 Test Security Supplement under Policy and Procedure
Highlights.
The third change pertains to the dictionary and calculator
requirement for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic
Readiness (STAAR) program. The STAAR dictionary policy
will be extended to Grades 3-5 to include the Grades 3-5 reading
and Grade 4 writing assessments. Districts will now be required
to provide students access to a calculator with four-function, sci-
entific, or graphing capability for the STAAR Grade 8 science
assessment. These changes are based on educator input to
increase accessibility to these tools. This policy change can be
found in the 2018 Test Security Supplement under Policy and
Procedure Highlights.
Fourth, in response to requests from district personnel for
additional flexibility and based on changes to technology, the
Texas assessment program has updated its technology guide-
lines. The new guidelines are provided for districts to determine
whether software or a device is appropriate for use on a state
assessment. Districts are required to review any allowed or
approved technology, including technology-based accommoda-
tions (i.e., accessibility features, designated supports) prior to
its use during state testing to ensure it does not jeopardize the
security or validity of an assessment. This policy change can be
found in the 2018 Test Security Supplement under Policy and
Procedure Highlights.
Last, references to testing "accommodations" have been up-
dated to use the term "designated supports." As a result of in-
creased accessibility, the term "designated supports" has been
incorporated to cover a larger group of affected individuals ver-
sus certain populations of students with disabilities. This policy
change can be found throughout the 2018 Test Security Supple-
ment where appropriate.
The earlier versions of the security supplement will remain in
effect with respect to the year for which they were developed.The proposed amendment would also include a change in sub-
section (d) that would clarify the time frame for retaining records
related to the security of assessment instruments. Records are
required to be retained for five years rather than a minimum of
five years.
The proposed amendment would establish in rule the test secu-
rity procedures outlined in the 2018 Test Security Supplement.
Applicable procedures would be adopted each year as annual
versions of the test security supplement are published.
The proposed amendment would have no additional effect on
the paperwork required and maintained by school districts and
charter schools.
FISCAL NOTE. Penny Schwinn, deputy commissioner for aca-
demics, has determined that for the first five-year period the
amendment is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for
state or local government as a result of enforcing or administer-
ing the amendment. There is no effect on local economy for the
first five years that the proposed amendment is in effect; there-
fore, no local employment impact statement is required under
Texas Government Code, 2001.022. The proposed amend-
ment does not impose a cost on regulated persons and, there-
fore, is not subject to Texas Government Code, 2001.0045.
PUBLIC BENEFIT/COST NOTE. Ms. Schwinn has determined
that for each year of the first five years the amendment is in effect
the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the amend-
ment will be informing the public of the security procedures for
the 2018 test administrations. There is no anticipated economic
cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposed
amendment.
ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT AND REGULATORY FLEX-
IBILITY ANALYSIS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, MICROBUSI-
NESSES, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. There is no direct ad-
verse economic impact for small businesses, microbusinesses,
and rural communities; therefore, no regulatory flexibility anal-
ysis, specified in Texas Government Code, 2006.002, is re-
quired.
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. The public comment
period on the proposal begins October 27, 2017, and ends
November 27, 2017. Comments on the proposal may be sub-
mitted to Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez, Rulemaking, Texas
Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas
78701. Comments may also be submitted electronically to
rules@tea.texas.gov. A request for a public hearing on the
proposal submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act
must be received by the commissioner of education not more
than 14 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been
published in the Texas Register on October 27, 2017.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY. The amendment is proposed under
the Texas Education Code (TEC), 26.010, which prohibits a
student from being removed from a class or school by a par-
ent in order to avoid a test and prohibits a student from be-
ing exempted from satisfying grade-level or graduation require-
ments in a manner acceptable to both the school district and
the agency; TEC, 39.023(a), which requires school districts to
administer the Grades 3-8 state-developed assessments to all
eligible students; TEC, 39.025(a), which requires a student to
pass each end-of-course assessment listed in TEC, 39.023(c),
only for a course in which the student is enrolled and for which an
end-of-course assessment is administered in order to receive a
Texas diploma; TEC, 39.030(a), which requires school districts
to ensure the security of the state's assessment instruments and42 TexReg 5978 October 27, 2017 Texas Register
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Texas. Secretary of State. Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 43, Pages 5913-6056, October 27, 2017, periodical, October 27, 2017; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth897027/m1/66/?rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.