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Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Department of Education OIG
Other Participating OIGs
Department of Education OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Department of Education
Components
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Report Number
A07M0007
Report Description

We performed our audit work at the Michigan Department of Education, Detroit Public Schools (Detroit), Cesar Chavez Academy, and the School District of the City of Inkster. We found that although the Michigan Department of Education performed some internal control activities and on-site monitoring related to administering statewide tests, it could improve controls over preventing, detecting, and taking corrective actions if it finds indicators of inaccurate, unreliable, or incomplete test results. Specifically, we found that Michigan Department of Education did not always monitor schools that it identified as high-risk, did not effectively use contractor-provided reviews of test results and forensic analysis to identify schools with possible administration irregularities, and did not ensure that its contractor provided timely reports on missing test materials. We recommended that Michigan (1) place schools that it identifies as high-risk for possible violations of test administration procedures on the next year’s targeted monitoring list, (2) use test results and erasure analyses to identify schools with possible test administration irregularities, and (3) ensure that its contracts are amended to include specific requirements for contractors to report missing test materials. At Detroit, we found that its building security allowed unauthorized access to test materials, that it did not retain records of its onsite monitoring visits to schools, and did not test all students in a continuous manner, which may render the tests invalid. We recommended that Detroit correct these weaknesses by (1) adequately securing test materials, (2) retaining monitoring visit reports, and (3) testing students in a continuous session and reporting any deviations from required test administration procedures.

Report Type
Audit
Location

MI
United States

Number of Recommendations
8
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
External Entity
Michigan Department of Education

Department of Education OIG

United States