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For more information on the Georgia Code of Ethics, visit www.gapsc.com

14 KNOW Volume 6. Issue 2.

As a professional in education, you already know that you are required to follow the set of rules for ethical conduct, theGeorgia Code of Ethics. Published, maintained, and enforced by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC), thiscode defines the professional behavior of educators in Georgia and serves as a guide to ethical conduct—on such topics ashealth and safety to general welfare of students and standardized testing.

You also know just how important maintaining ethical standards is when it comes to standardized testing. You, more thananyone, understand why collecting accurate, valid, and reliable information about the extent to which students are acquiringor having acquired knowledge and skills is vitally important to education in Georgia.

Still, knowing what is—and also what isn’t—ethical behavior when it comes to standardized testing can be complicated.Testing regulations can be tricky. There are a number of gray areas. While Georgia’s PSC sets out certain standards in itsCode of Ethics, the description is brief and broad. And trainings on the how-tos of standardized testing often vary fromschool district to school district.

That’s why, in 1999, the Georgia Association of Educators sought to clarify and better definewhat counts as ethical versus unethical behavior when it comes to standardized testing. Bydeveloping the Code of Ethics on Standardized Testing, the goal was to supplement and fur-ther clarify the standards set forth in the PSC’s original document. To that end, GAE devel-oped an easy-to-follow set of testing dos and don’ts.Please note: This code provides you with standards that demonstrate acceptable and praiseworthy conduct, as well as advance notice of spe-cific, unacceptable conduct for which they will be held accountable. While not in and of itself a binding code of conduct, the Code of Ethics onStandardized Testing serves as a timely guide for ethical behavior.

The Code of Ethics on StandardizedTesting applies to all certified educatorsin Georgia and educational employeeswith testing responsibilities.

Why do we have a Code of Ethics on Standardized Testing?Good question. The main objective of these principals on stan-dardized testing is to raise educators’ awareness, individuallyand collectively, maintain a high level of professional and ethicalconduct on testing and testing issues. It’s important to knowthese rules and to follow them. After all, no matter how stronglymotivated you are to do what is ethically right, you can do soonly if you know what the rules are.

What are the “Ethics”? Ethics has to do with widely shared prin-ciples generally accepted by the education profession. For thisreason, an unethical procedure or conduct in one area of thestate cannot be ethical under the same circumstances in anotherarea. For the same reason, the wide extent of an unethical prac-tice does not make it ethical or ethically acceptable. In light ofnew levels of education accountability at the federal, state, andlocal levels, practices that were acceptable 10 or 20 years agomay no longer be acceptable today.

The teaching profession requires that its members adhere to anethical code of professional behavior. The Georgia ProfessionalStandards Commission has adopted a Code of Ethics for Educators

that is binding upon all certified educators. Additionally, StateBoard of Education Rule 160-3-1-07 provides, in part, “Localschool systems shall adhere to all written regulations and pro-cedures relating to testing and test administration—includingthe distribution and collection of test materials, test security,use of test results, and department testing dates established inthe Student Assessment Handbook, System Coordinator’sManual, School Test Coordinator’s Manual, test administrationmanual(s), Examiner’s Manual, and assessment supplements andcorrespondence.” Thus, Georgia’s education community needs tocultivate and integrate ethical principals with high-stakes testingpractices.

As a certified educator, what should you be doing? Althoughspecific test items must not be taught, you should acquaint stu-dents with the format of tests so that students feel comfortablewhen taking them. In order to foster interest rather than anxiety,try using some of the following activities throughout the schoolyear to prepare students for testing and to establish a morerelaxed atmosphere.

• Be familiar with the curriculum to eennssuurree tthhaatt yyoouu tteeaacchh mmaannddaatteedd ccoonntteenntt ssttaannddaarrddss as part of your instructional program.

• Be familiar with the mmoosstt ccoommmmoonn sskkiillllss that students mustuse to pass standardized tests.

• FFaammiilliiaarriizzee yyoouurr ssttuuddeennttss aabboouutt tthhee ffoorrmmaatt ooff ssttaannddaarrddiizzeedd tteessttss..

• Encourage your students to ssttuuddyy ddaaiillyy..

The Code of Ethics on Standardized Testing

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• TTeeaacchh tteesstt--ttaakkiinngg ssttrraatteeggiieess such as the process of eliminationto your students.

• Incorporate timed and ““wwiissee uussee ooff ttiimmee”” activities for your students.

• Design practice classroom tests to parallel standardized tests toffaammiilliiaarriizzee ssttuuddeennttss wwiitthh tthhee ffoorrmmaatt and to prepare them incompleting their writing assignments.

• GGiivvee ssttuuddeennttss pprraaccttiiccee iinn ffoolllloowwiinngg vvaarriioouuss ttyyppeess ooffddiirreeccttiioonnss—including reading and listening to directions careful-ly; identifying key words and phrases (for example, “opposite”and “the same meaning as”) and base words spelled correctlyand incorrectly; and encouraging students to ask their questionsimmediately for clarification. Repeat directions verbatim as theyare written in the Examiners Manual or in the Directions forAdministration.

• NNoottiiffyy ssttuuddeennttss aanndd ppaarreenntt((ss))//gguuaarrddiiaann((ss)) aass eeaarrllyy aass ppoossssiibblleefor the test dates and times, the purpose of the test, the useful-ness of the test results to the child’s progress, and how the testis relevant to each child personally.

• Make sure all test questions, answers, and/or answer sheets aresecured pprrooppeerrllyy..

• EEnnlliisstt tthhee eenntthhuussiiaassttiicc ssuuppppoorrtt ooff eeaacchh ppaarreenntt//gguuaarrddiiaann forpeak test performance by ensuring that their child gets plenty ofrest, eats breakfast, gets to school on time, and feels theirencouragement. The school should also be informed of anystressful family events such as death or illness prior to the test.

AAss aa cceerrttiiffiieedd eedduuccaattoorr,, wwhhaatt sshhoouullddnn’’tt yyoouu bbee ddooiinngg?? Beforeadministering a standardized test to students, you need to knowwhat defines unethical conduct. If a testing violation occurs, youare required to report the breach of testing ethics as soon aspossible according to local policies and procedures.

• NNeevveerr tteeaacchh tthhee tteesstt oorr ccooaacchh ssttuuddeennttss oonn aa tteesstt iitteemm iinn aannyymmaannnneerr pprriioorr ttoo tthhee tteesstt.. This violation includes teaching orcoaching during the school day or through homework assign-ments, relaying a memorized test item, making a list of mostitems used on a test, or copying manually or mechanically theactual test items.

• NNeevveerr uussee oorr ggiivvee yyoouurr ssttuuddeennttss aa tteesstt iitteemm ffrroomm aannyy ppaarrtt oofftthhee tteesstt iinn wwhhiicchh oonnllyy aa wwoorrdd,, pphhrraassee,, oorr ddiissttrraacctteerr hhaass bbeeeenncchhaannggeedd.. Constructing or using any practice form that is similarto the actual test items to reflect the situations, options, or conditions of the original question can destroy item security aanndd vvaalliiddiittyy..

• DDoonn’’tt ccooppyy oorr ddiissttrriibbuuttee tthhee tteesstt.. Standardized tests mandatedby the Georgia Department of Education are secure. Copyingtest items by hand or by photocopying machine or by distribut-ing items vviioollaattee tteesstt sseeccuurriittyy and render test results useless.

• OOlldd oorr uusseedd tteesstt ffoorrmmss ffrroomm tthhee mmaannddaatteedd tteessttiinngg pprrooggrraammccaannnnoott bbee uusseedd aass pprraaccttiiccee mmaatteerriiaallss,, unless the practice mate-rials are authorized by the State Department of Education.

• Don’t use or allow your students to use false records, identifica-tion papers, unauthorized identification cards, or computeraccess to official school documents.

• YYoouu sshhoouulldd nnoott aacccceepptt aannyy ggrraattuuiittyy,, ggiifftt,, oorr ffaavvoorr that mightimpair or appear to influence professional decisions or actionsaround student testing and scores.

• BBee ccaarreeffuull nnoott ttoo ggrraanntt aannyy aaddvvaannttaaggee ttoo oonnee ssttuuddeenntt oovveerraannootthheerr except as prescribed in his/her IEP or 504 accommoda-tions. Modifications may be granted per IEP or 504 plan. This isdesigned to “level the playing field” and does not constitute anadvantage.

• NNeevveerr ddiisscclloossee iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn aabboouutt yyoouurr ssttuuddeennttss obtained inthe course of testing unless disclosure serves a compelling pro-fessional purpose or is required by law.

Terms you need to know:

EDUCATOR: An educator is a teacher, school or school sys-tem administrator, or other education personnel who holds acertificate issued by the Professional Standards Commissionincluding—paraprofessionals. For purposes of this Code, theterm educator includes teacher aides and substitute teachers.

STUDENT: A student is any individual enrolled in the state’spublic or private schools from preschool through grade 12 orany individual between and including the ages of 3 and 17.

COLLEAGUE: A colleague is any person with whom the educator has a professional relationship—including fellowworkers and employees—regardless of their rank or status as educators.

SUPERVISOR: A supervisor is any person with authority toevaluate or direct the performance of a colleague.

“The Georgia Association of Educators

felt the need to align practices with

current standards on standardized

testing. We want educators to have

user-friendly, easy to understand

information that is as specific as possi-

ble on what is and isn’t appropriate

conduct when it comes to standardized

testing. That’s why we worked to devel-

op this list of helpful dos and don’ts.”

—Michael McGonigle, Director of GAE Legal Services

The Code of Ethics on Standardized Testing

16 KNOW Volume 6. Issue 2.

The Code of Ethics on Standardized Testing

GAE of fers trainings on the Code ofEthics on Standardized Testing.

We can bring a training directly to your school. For moreinformation, contact your GAE UniServ Director (UD). To find your UD, visit www.gae.org.

Have a specific question about the Code ofEthics on Standardized Testing? Let us know.GAE members can always email their questionsto know@gae.org.

Did you KNOW? Standard 4 and Standard 7 of theGeorgia Professional Standards Commission’s Code ofEthics for Educators directly relate to testing and evaluationprograms. (Effective September 15, 2004)

Standard 4: Misrepresentation orFalsification—An educator should exemplify honestyand integrity in the course of professional practice. Unethicalconduct includes but is not limited to:

1. falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting or erroneously report-ing professional qualifications, criminal history, college orstaff development credit and/or degrees, academic award,and employment history, when applying for employmentand/or certification or when recommending an individualfor employment, promotion, or certification;

2. falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting erroneously reportinginformation submitted to federal, state, and other govern-mental agencies;

3. falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting or erroneously report-ing information regarding the evaluation of studentsand/or personnel;

4. falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting or erroneously report-ing reasons for absences or leaves; and

5. falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting or erroneously report-ing information submitted in the course of an officialinquiry/investigation.

Standard 7: Confidential Information—Aneducator should comply with state and federal laws andlocal school board/governing board policies relating to theconfidentiality of student and personnel records, standard-ized test material and other information covered by confi-dentiality agreements. Unethical conduct includes but is notlimited to:

1. sharing of confidential information concerning studentacademic and disciplinary records, personal confidences,health and medical information, family status and/orincome, and assessment/testing results unless disclosure isrequired or permitted by law;

2. sharing of confidential information restricted by state orfederal law;

3. violation of confidentiality agreements related to standard-ized testing including copying or teaching identified testitems, publishing or distributing test items or answers, dis-cussing test items, violating local school system or statedirections for the use of tests or test items, etc.;

4. violation of other confidentiality agreements required bystate or local policy.

A Quick Guide to Standardized Testing “Dos.”

• Teach skills and concepts which are listed in the objectives or on test profiles.

• Teach the curriculum standards as part of your instructional program.

• Practice test-taking skills, such as the process of elimination.

• Acquaint your class with the format of standardized tests.

• Incorporate “wise use of time” for your students.

• Encourage students to study daily.

• Work on listening, reading, and following direction skills.

• Notify parents as early as possible of upcoming test dates.

• Properly secure all testing-related materials.

• Communicate with your administrator about any concerns youmight have.

A Quick Guide to Standardized Testing “Don’ts.”

• Never teach the test or coach students on a test item or content to be known on the test.

• Don’t use or give to students a test item from any part of thetest in which only a work, phrase, or distracter has beenchanged.

• Don’t copy or distribute the test.

• Don’t use old or formerly used test forms from the mandatedtesting program as practice material.

• Don’t use or allow students to use false records, identificationpapers, unauthorized identification cards, or computer accessto official school documents.

• Don’t accept any gratuity, gift, or favor that might impair orappear to influence professional decisions or actions aroundstudent testing or test scores.