BOP Program Statement 5312.01 § 5

The SOE or ASOE will have oversight of standardized tests used for placement, achievement,

and the certification of program completion. In the event both the SOE and ASOE positions are

vacant or there are other extenuating circumstances, the institution will contact Central Office

ESB for further guidance.

The SOE will designate authorized Education staff as Examiners who will maintain

responsibility for coordinating the administration of standardized tests in accordance with the

guidance provided on the ESB page of the Bureau’s intranet site. Each institution must have at

least one additional Examiner in addition to the Chief Examiner. If this requirement cannot be

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met, the SOE will consult with the ESB for additional guidance.

The SOE will ensure all Examiners pass the annual certification test, if applicable, and attend the

initial and annual training, as well as any subsequent trainings or information sessions provided

by ESB.

To ensure program accountability, fidelity, and to prevent test irregularities and compromises,

the SOE will develop a plan outlining testing procedures and security measures with elements

designed to safeguard testing materials, including policy and procedure references, oversight

responsibilities, Examiner appointment/training/revocation procedures, test handling and

administration guidelines, document retention, contingency plans for test irregularities and

compromises, testing schedules, and score reporting procedures. This plan must be reviewed and

acknowledged annually by the Chief Examiner, Examiners, Education staff, Captain, Associate

Warden with oversight of Education, and Warden.

Education staff involved in literacy or ESL instruction will not conduct certification test

inventories or administer literacy or ESL certification tests. Only appointed Examiners are

authorized to conduct certification test inventories and administer certification testing materials.

After consultation with the REA and ESB, contractors may be authorized to administer

certification tests. Special Education Teachers, school counselors, and volunteers are not

permitted to be appointed as Examiners at any time. However, where applicable, authorized

Education staff will administer other aptitude, interest, and job readiness tests to inmates.

The Chief Examiner or designee will conduct and document a monthly inventory of all testing

materials in the HSE and ESL safe. A list of these materials can be found on the ESB page of the

Bureau’s intranet site.

Education staff will not allow inmates to administer, score, record, or interpret tests outlined in

this program statement. Inmates are also not allowed to enter test scores in individual progress

charts or other tracking forms, reports, and systems.

The SOE will establish the criteria for referring inmates for certification tests. Additionally, the

SOE will post HSE and ESL test schedules and ensure they are visible to literacy and ESL

program students.

At the discretion of the Warden and the SOE, institutions will provide education testing services

to inmates housed in restrictive and Special Housing Units (SHU). For any test events scheduled

outside of the approved test center, institutions must contact ESB for consultation.

The Special Education Teacher will follow guidance for the handling, administration, scoring,

interpreting, and reporting of scores provided on the ESB page of the Bureau’s intranet site to

administer assessments to students who exhibit traits of learning disabilities or dyslexia or have

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been identified by documentation as having traits of learning disabilities or dyslexia. In the event

of a vacant Special Education Teacher position, guidance is provided on the ESB page of the

Bureau’s intranet site.

Additional guidance regarding tests for inmates with learning support needs is available in the

Program Statement Management of Inmates with Disabilities.

The SOE or designee must maintain all HSE testing accommodations request materials and

accompanying reports for three years. All documentation must be stored in a secure, fireproof

storage container or safe, and only authorized Education staff, as determined by the SOE or

designee, will have access. Additional requirements are outlined on the ESB page of the

Bureau’s intranet site.