What's happening
This bill adds new ID, registration, and reporting requirements for SAT and ACT test-takers and testing sites in New York.
Why it matters
Increased transparency and accountability for students and schools. The bill requires students to report both their test site and scores to their home high school, ensuring schools have accurate records and can potentially identify patterns of unusual testing behavior.
Stricter anti-cheating measures. By mandating pre-registration, prohibiting walk-ins, and requiring both a photo ID and a photo admission ticket at test sites, the bill aims to reduce impersonation and other forms of test fraud.
Enhanced oversight and public reporting. Test agencies must regularly report security procedures, suspected irregularities, and personnel training to legislative committees, creating ongoing governmental oversight of standardized testing integrity.
Standardization of identification requirements. Clearly defining what constitutes acceptable photo ID and admission credentials ensures consistency across all testing sites, potentially reducing confusion or loopholes in test-day protocols.
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Who cares
SAT and ACT test takers
They would have to report their testing location and scores to their home high school, preregister, and present acceptable photo identification and a photo admission ticket at their assigned testing site.
High schools
They would receive testing location and score reports from students who identify them as their home high school.
Testing site personnel
They would oversee sign-in requirements requiring photo identification and admission tickets and barring walk-ins registered at another site.
SAT and ACT testing agencies
They would have to report to the Senate and Assembly higher education committees on security procedures, suspected score irregularities, canceled scores, referrals to authorities and personnel training.
Headline styles
Toughen Test Security Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4131
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to pre and post test reporting requirements and test site registration and sign in
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 340 of the education law, as amended by chapter 813 of the laws of 1980, is amended and five new subdivisions 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are added to read as follows:
3. "Test subject" means an individual to whom a test is administered or an individual who has registered to take a test.
10. "Home high school" means the high school at which a test subject is or was a matriculated student at the time of testing.
11. "Testing site" means any location where a standardized test is administered to a test subject.
12. "Test site personnel" means a person present at a testing site who signs in test subjects who are registered to take the test at that site and who oversees the administration of a standardized test. For purposes of this definition, testing site personnel may include, but not be limited to, a proctor, test center supervisor, assistant supervisor or a room proctor. Each may have a different role in test administration oversight.
13. "Acceptable photo identification" means a school identification card, a school identification form prepared by the home high school, a state-issued driver's license, a state-issued non-driver's license, a passport, a military identification card or a government issued identification card. The photograph on any such identification card must be a current representation of the test taker's image.
14. "Photo admission ticket" means a ticket assigned to a test registrant, upon registering to take the ACT Assessment (ACT) or the SAT
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09645-01-7
S. 4131 2
which is produced by the test agency according to such agency's rules, regulations or protocols.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 344-d to read as follows:
§ 344-d. Pre and post test reporting requirements and testing site registration and sign in requirements. 1. This section shall only apply to undergraduate college admission exams such as the SAT or the ACT Assessment (ACT).
2. (a) Upon registering to sit for the SAT or ACT a test subject shall report to their home high school the testing site at which they are registered to take the exam;
(b) Upon completion of the exam and receipt of their score, the test subject must report such score to their home high school.
3. In order for a test subject to sit for SAT or ACT the test subject upon sign in, must provide to the appropriate test site personnel at the testing site, the following:
(a) If a test subject is registered to take and is taking the test at their home high school or if the test subject is registered to take the exam and is taking the exam at a site that is not the test subject's home high school, the test subject must provide one form of acceptable photo identification and a photo admission ticket.
(b) A test subject must pre-register to take the exam and must take the exam at the testing site at which they are registered. Walk-ins to a different site shall not be allowed to sit for the exam.
4. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any other test day or post test day policies and procedures required by the test agency.
§ 3. Reporting. The test agencies administering the SAT and ACT shall report to the higher education committees in the senate and the assembly one year from the effective date of this act. Any further reports shall be given upon request of either committee chair, after a reasonable time has been given for such test agencies to compile such report. Such report shall include but not be limited to:
(a) a review of current security procedures;
(b) the number of cases of suspected test score irregularity;
(c) the number of canceled test scores per year and the number of cases referred to the proper authorities; and
(d) a review of test site personnel training procedures.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to pre and post test reporting requirements and test site registration and sign in
Purpose
To codify newly created security procedures for the administration of undergraduate college admission tests.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends section 340 of the education law to add five new definitions.
Section 2. Amends the education law to add a new section 344-d in relation to pre and post test reporting requirements and testing site registration and sign in requirements.
Section 3. Requires testing agencies to report to the higher education committees one year after the effective date.
Section 4. Sets for the effective date.
Justification
This bill is necessary to create deterrents from cheating on post secondary standardized tests and to improve identification verification of those who take such exams in this state.
In recent months, an SAT cheating scandal was discovered on Long Island. It was found that high school students were paying large sums of money to college students who falsified identifications and took the SATs for them. This scandal included up to 50 students, some of who were middle men who connected the impersonating test takers with the high schools students who had the ability to pay up to $3,600 for another to take the exam for them.
The Senate Standing Committee on Higher Education held hearings on this issue in October of 2011. It was discovered that lax test site identification procedures and no test take reporting requirements allowed such egregious conduct to occur.
With the increasing number of college applicants fighting for limited spots, getting into the college of your choice has become more and more competitive. Therefore, there has been increased importance placed a student's SAT or ACT score. When a student cheats, such behavior has the potential to displace honest, hard working students from the most competitive colleges. Students who didn't earn and don't deserve such coveted placements should not have this unfair advantage.
Legislative history
2015-16 S.13; 2013-14 S.1658/A.6809; 2012 S.7719
Fiscal implications
None to the State
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 1st of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.