Special Test Accommodations

1. Special Test Accommodations Virginia Association of Test Directors 2008 Assessment Conference October 2008

2. Presentation Topics • Accommodations Overview • Local Review of Testing Accommodation Requests • State Review of Testing Accommodation Requests • Important Considerations • Questions

3. 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)

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. Accommodation Overview Testing Accommodations relate to: • Timing/Scheduling • Setting • Presentation • Response

7. 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 Timing/Scheduling Accommodations

8. 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. Setting Accommodations

9. 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 Presentation Accommodations

10. 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 Response Accommodations

11. READING Assistance with directions (simplify or clarify Flexible scheduling (time of day, breaks) Mark answers in test booklet MATHEMATICS Assistance with directions (simplify or clarify) Read-aloud Flexible scheduling (time of day, breaks) Top 3 -Test Accommodations by low performing students with disabilities

12. Local Review of Testing Accommodation Requests

13. 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.

14. Local Review of Testing Accommodation Requests • Step 1: Receive accommodation requests from: • school test coordinators • administrators • teachers • parents • advocates

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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)

18. 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

19. 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)

20. State Review of Testing Accommodation Requests

21. 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

22. 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 State Review of Testing Accommodation Requests

23. 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.

24. Multiplication Chart Cuisenaire Rods DDOT Page: Examples of Allowed Manipulatives and Math Aids

25. Place Value Chart Clocks DDOT Page: Examples of Not Allowed Manipulatives and Math Aids

26. 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.

27. Important Considerations

28. Questions Virginia Department of Education Office of Test Administration, Scoring and Reporting (804) 225-2107