1. MDE
  2. Student Assessment
  3. Assessment Integrity and Security

  • Assessment Integirty and Security

    Contact OEAA button

    The primary goal of assessment security is to protect the integrity of the assessment and to ensure that results are accurate and meaningful.  The Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability has developed Assessment Security Goals for the State of Michigan Assessment System:

    • To provide secure assessments that result in valid and reliable scores
    • To adhere to high professional test administration and security standards
    • To maintain consistency across all testing occasions and sites (i.e., students and schools)
    • To protect the investments of resources, time, and energy 


Assessment Integrity and Security Supports

Based upon the Assessment Security Goals listed above, the OEAA has developed an assessment security system that focuses on the following areas:

Prevention - standards and best practices for the test integrity and security aspects of the design, development, operation, and administration of state assessments, both paper/pencil and online test administrations, to prevent irregularities from occurring
Detection - guidelines for assessment monitoring, reporting, and working with the OEAA when irregularities are found 
Investigations - guidelines for the state and local educational agency working together to investigate irregularities
Remediation - guidelines for working with the OEAA to resolve irregularities and to ensure valid results for all students

Assessment Security Documents

  • Assessment Integrity Guide - guidelines to be followed to assist school staff to securely administer state assessments and have a common understanding of appropriate practices
  • Security Compliance Form - required to be signed each year by all staff participating in test administration of any and all state assessments.The completed forms must be retained by the building/district for 3 years

Assessment Security Planning Documents

Assessment Security Training

All staff members who participate in the administration of a state assessment must be fully trained in assessment security each year.

District/Building Assessment Coordinator Training Requirements:

  • complete the MDE Assessment Security online course through Michigan Virtual (http://bit.ly/ MDEAssessmentSecurity). After completion of the training course a refresher course is available for subsequent years' training.
  • ​read the Assessment Integrity Guide

Test Administrators/Room Supervisors/ Proctors/ Training Requirements:

  • read the Assessment Integrity Guide and/or complete the MDE Assessment Security online course through Michigan Virtual.  After completion of the training course a refresher course is available for subsequent years' training.

Technology Coordinators and Other Staff (anyone who will handle or have access to secure materials) Training Requirements:

  • read the Keeping Assessment Materials Secure training document (refer to Appendix E in the Assessment Integrity Guide for the document)

Allegation Reporting Resources

  • Report cheating and unethical behavior by a district or school regarding state assessments call 877-560-8378, select option 1 or complete the online Complaint or Allegation of Misadministration form
  •  Districts or schools wishing to report a testing irregularity or misadministration involving M-STEP, WIDA Access for ELLs, MI-Access, and Early Literacy and Mathematics (K-2) must complete the Incident Report on the OEAA Secure Site