Transcript Slide 1

Special
Test Accommodations
Virginia Association of Test Directors
2008 Assessment Conference
October 2008
Presentation Topics
 Accommodations Overview
 Local Review of Testing Accommodation
Requests
 State Review of Testing Accommodation
Requests
 Important Considerations
 Questions
Accommodations Overview
Instructional Accommodations
 A service or support provided to help
students fully access the content and
instruction as well as demonstrate what
they know
 Instructional accommodations do not change
the content of instruction or expectations for
performance (Nolet & McLaughlin, 2000)
Accommodation Overview
Testing Accommodations
 Changes in assessment materials or procedures that
address aspects of students’ disabilities that may
interfere with the demonstration of their knowledge and
skills on standardized tests. Accommodations attempt to
eliminate barriers to meaningful testing, thereby
allowing for the participation of students with disabilities
in state and district assessments. (Thurlow and Bolt,
2001)
 Testing accommodations do not change the content,
comparability of test scores or the reliability and validity
of the assessment.
Accommodations are based on...
 An interaction hypothesis – an
interaction should occur between the
disability and the accommodation
such that only students who need the
accommodation benefit from it (Sireci,
Li, Scarpati, 2005)
Accommodation Overview
Testing Accommodations relate to:
 Timing/Scheduling
 Setting
 Presentation
 Response
Timing/Scheduling
Accommodations
 Typically used for
students who are
unable to
concentrate,
maintain attention,
or work over a long
period of time.
 Examples
 Breaks during the
tests
 Multiple test
sessions
 Order of test
administration
Setting Accommodations
 Typically used for
students who
require minimal
distractions in
order to
demonstrate their
knowledge or who
must be testing in
a non-school
setting.
 Examples
 Individual testing
 Noise buffers
 Small group testing
 Students served at
home or in hospital
settings.
Presentation Accommodations
 Typically used by
students who
require an
alternate format of
the test due to a
sensory, physical
or processing
disability.
 Examples
 Braille tests
 Large Print tests
 Interpreting of test
items using sign
language
 Read-aloud/Audio
Response Accommodations
 Typically used by
students with
disabilities who
need support in
order to record
test items or to
solve an item using
some kind of
material or device.
 Examples
 Dictation to a scribe
 Verbal responses or
pointing to indicate
answers
 Assistive
Technology
 Calculators
Top 3 -Test Accommodations by low
performing students with disabilities
 READING
 MATHEMATICS
 Assistance with
directions (simplify
or clarify
 Assistance with
directions (simplify
or clarify)
 Flexible scheduling
(time of day,
breaks)
 Read-aloud
 Mark answers in
test booklet
 Flexible scheduling
(time of day,
breaks)
Local Review of
Testing Accommodation Requests
General Requirements
 Accommodations must be documented in
the IEP or 504 plan.
 Accommodations must be used during
classroom instruction and assessments.
 Accommodations based solely on the
potential to enhance performance beyond
providing equal access are not appropriate.
Local Review of
Testing Accommodation Requests
 Step 1: Receive accommodation
requests from:





school test coordinators
administrators
teachers
parents
advocates
Local Review of
Testing Accommodation Requests
 Step 2: Make sure you understand
the accommodation being
requested and the student’s
disability
 Request pictures of accommodations
 Ask for web-sites
 Request information about the disability
and how it impacts performance
Local Review of
Testing Accommodation Requests
 Step 3: Ask questions regarding
documentation of
accommodations in IEP/504
Plan and use in instruction and
on classroom assessments.
Local Review of
Testing Accommodation Requests
 Step 4: Consider whether the accommodation
has special eligibility requirements and
whether requirements have been met.
 Read-Aloud/Audio Accommodation on
Reading
(Supt. Memo #235)
 Calculator Accommodation Criteria
(Testing Memo #720)
Local Review of
Testing Accommodation Requests
 Step 5: Review resources to determine if
the accommodation is allowed
 Examiners manuals
 Procedures for the Participation of Students with
Disabilities in Virginia Accountability System
 Testing Memos
 Superintendent’s Memos
 DDOT Page
Local Review of
Testing Accommodation Requests
 Step 6: Communicate Approval or
Denial and any special
administration conditions
(See:
Procedures for the Participation of
Students with Disabilities in Virginia’s
Accountability System)
State Review of Testing
Accommodation Requests
State Review of Testing
Accommodation Requests
 Step 1: Receive
test
accommodation
requests from:
 DDOTs
 Assessment
Specialists
 Step 2: Gather
information about
the accommodation
and student’s
disability
State Review of Testing
Accommodation Requests
 Step 3: Review the
accommodation
request in light of:
 Potential to enhance
performance beyond
access
 Test Security
 Historical practice
 Step 4: Make initial
determination followed
by 2nd level review
 Fax written response
to DDOT
 Post frequently
requested
accommodations on
DDOT page
Important Considerations

All instructional accommodations are not allowable
testing accommodations.

All accommodations documented on the IEP/504 Plan
are not allowable testing accommodations.

Students given non-standard accommodations are
considered non-participants for AYP.
DDOT Page: Examples of Allowed
Manipulatives and Math Aids
Multiplication Chart
x
1
2
3
4
1
1
2
3
4
2
2
4
6
8
3
3
6
9
12
4
4
8
12
16
Cuisenaire Rods
DDOT Page: Examples of Not Allowed
Manipulatives and Math Aids
Place Value Chart
Clocks
Important Considerations
 Accommodation Pitfalls

Providing more accommodations than the
student can handle.

Selecting every accommodation hoping that
something will work.

Providing accommodations based on a student’s
disability classification or placement.
Important Considerations
Testing Memo #
Date
Accommodations
737
10/29/08
Application of calculator criteria
to arithmetic tables
720
7/31/08
Calculator Accommodation
Criteria
691
2/28/08
Spell Checker
611
2/9/07
587
10/27/06
Impact of Non-Standard Readaloud/Audio on AYP
Guidelines for Read-Aloud/Audio
Accommodation
Questions
Virginia Department of Education
Office of Test Administration, Scoring and
Reporting
(804) 225-2107