Accommodations Required Content for STC and TA Training

1. AccommodationsRequired Content for STC and TA Training Last updated: 08/20/09

2. Accommodations Big Picture Objectives • Identify and understand the purpose of Accommodations • Administer accommodations appropriately

3. Accommodations Definition • Established by the Oregon Accommodations Panel • Are practices and procedures in the areas of scheduling, setting, presentation and response that, when used in assessment, provide equitable access to all students. • They do not compromise the learning expectations, construct, grade-level standard, and/or measured outcome of the assessment. • Extended time and frequent breaks are now considered an allowable resource rather then an accommodation.

4. Accommodations Purpose and Eligibility • Provide a student equal access and equal opportunity to meet or exceed grade level achievement standards. • All students are eligible as appropriate, including students with and without disabilities and students who have Limited English Proficiency. • Accommodations are determined based on an individual student’s need and are not identified for groups of students.

5. Accommodations When to Identify Necessary accommodations should be identified and implemented during classroom instruction prior to the student’s participation in the state assessment. Accommodations used in state assessment must have been previously approved by the Accommodations Panel and listed in the Accommodations Tables.

6. Accommodations When to Code For students with disabilities who take the general education assessment, accommodations must be coded. OAKS Online tests allow for test administrators to pre-set the flag in the UMS or to set the flag at the time of approval for testing.

7. Accommodations Dos and Don’ts Dos • Refer to the accommodations tables and or manual as posted for accommodations implementation guidance. • Refer to student’s IEP or classroom practices to determine which accommodations should be provided • Note that although writing prompts may now be translated locally, they must be completed in advance by a trained translator endorsed by the district and must be stored securely. Translator also needs to be trained in Test Security and sign an Assurance of Test Security form.

8. Accommodations Dos and Don’ts (cont) Don’ts • TA may not instruct students to print reading passages. • TAs may not provide instruction or give suggestions regarding process. • TAs may not read Reading items or response choices aloud. • Do not choose to administer an accommodation for all students in a class or a grade. • If you can’t find it in the TAM, don’t do it.

9. Accommodations Dos and Don’ts (cont) Don’ts (cont) • TAs may not read numerals or math symbols aloud on the math test. • Example: “125 + 25 = ” may not be read aloud • Example: “Johnny has 3 apples and eats 1. How many does he have left?” “3” and “1” may not be read aloud • TAs may not read ELPA items or response choices aloud • Questions may not be translated.

10. Accommodations Promising Practices • TA’s should arrange with a student in advance a read aloud method for math. Pause speech and do one of the following: • point to numbers and symbols or • point to the student to indicate that the student is temporarily “responsible” for reading • Encourage students to “do their best” • Ask a student if he/she “needs a break” if they appear to lose focus

11. Accommodations In a Nutshell • Accommodations are determined and administered for individual students • Accommodations used during state assessments must be selected from the Accommodations Tables • Administration of accommodations for one student must not interfere with the testing conditions of another student

12. Accommodations Acorns for Storage • What are some common errors in the administration of accommodations and how can they be avoided? • Why should an accommodation be provided to a student? • Why is it that symbols and numbers must not be read aloud by a TA for the math test, but may be read aloud for the science test? • May decisions regarding accommodations be made for: • Individual students? • Groups of students?