Sec. 13a.03.04.04. Local School System Testing Designates

A. All personnel involved in testing shall be employees of the local school system, be trained for their role, meet the requirements of their role as described herein, and sign a Department approved Test Administration and Certification of Training Form.

B. Personnel may not serve as a Test Administrator, Proctor, or Accommodator in the same testing room as a student who is a family member or who resides within the same dwelling.

C. Testing Personnel.

(1) Local Accountability Coordinators (LACs).

(a) A local superintendent of schools shall designate annually one individual per school system to serve as the Local Accountability Coordinator (LAC).

(b) The LAC shall have oversight of the:

(i) Procurement of test instruments that are used in testing programs administered by or through the State Board of Education;

(ii) Organization, implementation, orientation, and verification of the Maryland educational assessment programs in the school system; and

(iii) Administration and security of state-mandated assessments.

(c) The name of the LAC shall be provided in writing to the Department within 10 days of the designation.

(2) School Test Coordinators (STCs).

(a) Each school system shall designate one individual per school to serve as the Primary School Test Coordinator (STC).

(b) A Principal may not serve as the STC unless permission has been granted by the Department.

(c) STCs shall possess a valid Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) certificate for professional school staff.

(d) Eligible STCs include the following:

(i) State-certified teachers; and

(ii) State-certified guidance counselors, library media specialists, school psychologists, pupil personnel workers, and school administrators (other than the Principal).

(e) The Primary STC shall:

(i) Have responsibility for training and supervising school personnel in test administration policy and procedures; and

(ii) Be the primary point of contact with the LAC and the Department during the administration of all state assessments.

(f) The school system may further designate, one or both, an:

(i) Alternate STC per school.

(ii) Assistant STC per state-mandated assessment.

(3) Test Administrators (TAs).

(a) TAs are selected by each public school’s principal subject to review and approval by the local Superintendent.

(b) For any multi-state assessment consortium testing, TAs shall possess a valid Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) certificate for professional school staff.

(4) Proctors.

(a) A local school system may use Proctors.

(b) A Proctor shall be under the direct supervision of an eligible TA.

(c) TAs may serve as Proctors.

(d) Proctors may include:

(i) Instructional assistants and aides; or

(ii) Substitutes or other staff members who are employees of the school system.

(5) Accommodators.

(a) Accommodators may provide accommodations to students during testing.

(b) Accommodators shall be under the direct supervision of an eligible TA.

(c) Accommodators may include:

(i) Test Administrators;

(ii) Instructional assistants and aides; or

(iii) Substitutes or other staff members who are employees of the school system.