Assessment News in Brief

States, Ed. Dept. Faulted on Test-Integrity Protection

By Michele McNeil — April 15, 2014 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The U.S. Department of Education’s inspector general released a report last week that faults state and federal officials for not doing more to protect the integrity of K-12 testing systems. It follows a report last year that drew similar conclusions about Michigan’s system.

The new report examines the testing systems in Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Texas as part of a nationwide audit.

Auditors found weaknesses in test security, monitoring, and risk analysis. They also found that state testing systems did not always require corrective action if questionable test results were found.

Auditors flagged federal officials for not doing more to improve test integrity.

Department officials say the agency is working to improve its protocols.

A version of this article appeared in the April 16, 2014 edition of Education Week as States, Ed. Dept. Faulted On Test-Integrity Protection

Events

Student Well-Being & Movement K-12 Essentials Forum How Schools Are Teaching Students Life Skills
Join this free virtual event to explore creative ways schools have found to seamlessly integrate teaching life skills into the school day.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Special Education Webinar
Bridging the Math Gap: What’s New in Dyscalculia Identification, Instruction & State Action
Discover the latest dyscalculia research insights, state-level policy trends, and classroom strategies to make math more accessible for all.
Content provided by TouchMath
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Too Many Initiatives, Not Enough Alignment: A Change Management Playbook for Leaders
Learn how leadership teams can increase alignment and evaluate every program, practice, and purchase against a clear strategic plan.
Content provided by Otus

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Assessment Opinion I Don’t Offer My Students Extra Credit. Here’s What I Do Instead
There isn’t anything "extra," but there is plenty my students can do to improve their grade.
Joshua Palsky
4 min read
A student standing on a letter A mountain peak with other letter grades are scattered in the vast landscape.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + DigitalVision Vectors
Assessment Download How Digital Portfolios Help Students Showcase Skills and Growth
Electronic folders showcase student learning and growth over time, and can form a platform for post-high school endeavors.
1 min read
Vector illustration image with icons of digital portfolio concepts: e-portfolios; goals; ideas; feedback; projects, etc.
iStock/Getty
Assessment Here's What Teachers Really Think About Equitable Grading Policies
A new study examines the prevalence of policies like no zeroes or unlimited retakes in classrooms.
4 min read
A classroom is seen at Woodmore Elementary @ Meadowbrook on August 15, 2025 in Bowie, Maryland. In a so-called ‘swing move,’ Woodmore Elementary has relocated to Meadowbrook Elementary school until Summer 2027.
A classroom is seen at Woodmore Elementary @ Meadowbrook on August 15, 2025 in Bowie, Md. A new survey shows most teachers have begun to use some elements of what's known as equitable grading.
Pete Kiehart for Education Week
Assessment What Teachers Really Think About State Testing
State testing remains a complicated debate amongst educators as the end-of-year assessments take place.
1 min read
A teacher points to a board as students listen in a fourth grade classroom at William Jefferson Clinton Elementary in Compton, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2025.
A teacher points to a board as students listen in a fourth grade classroom at William Jefferson Clinton Elementary in Compton, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2025. State testing happens every spring and educators share their thoughts on whether these assessments accurately reflect student learning.
Eric Thayer/AP