What Are Testing Accommodations in Special Education?

Testing accommodations play a crucial role in ensuring students with special needs have equal opportunities to showcase their knowledge and skills.

These adjustments remove barriers that might interfere with your child’s ability to perform during tests. As a parent, understanding what accommodations are and how they are implemented is essential in advocating for your child’s success.

Defining Testing Accommodations

Testing accommodations are any accommodations made to any local, state, or federally mandated assessments that allow students with disabilities to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in a testing situation.

Testing accommodations refer to changes made to how a student participates in assessments. These adjustments ensure the focus is on the student’s content knowledge rather than their disability’s impact on performance.

Simply put, testing accommodations allow your child to take assessments in the way they understand best.

Accommodations are part of a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. They are based on a child’s individual needs and are carefully selected during meetings with the educational team.

The Difference Between Testing Accommodations and Classroom Modifications

While testing accommodations adjust how a child participates in an exam, classroom modifications change what a child is expected to learn. For example, accommodations might give a child extra time to complete a test, while modifications might reduce the number of test questions. These differences are key when developing an IEP or 504 plan.

Types of Assessments That Allow Accommodations

Testing accommodations can be applied to a wide variety of assessments, including:

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– End-of-Grade (EOG) Tests for Grades 3-8:

This includes reading, math, and science for 5th and 8th grade only.

– End-of-Course (EOC) Exams for Grades 9-12:

Math 1
English II
Math III
Biology

Final Exams (FE) for Grades 6-12:

Earth/Environmental Science
Physical Science
English I, III, and IV
Math II
Discrete Math
World and American History
Civics (in high school)
Social Studies
Science in middle school

– Career and Technical Education (CTE) Assessments:

Food I and II
Apparel
Core and Sustainable Construction
Health Sciences
Personal Finance
Microsoft Excel
Word
Publisher
Robotics (Grades 9-12)

– Pre-ACT (10th Grade)

Local accommodations apply.

– ACT (11th Grade)

Local accommodations apply unless you apply for ACT-approved accommodations.

Tests that receive local accommodations are not sent to colleges for review.

Local accommodations apply to ACT WorkKeys as well.

For a deeper look into strategies that can help your child during state testing, check out State Testing: 7 Ways to Help Your Special Needs Child Prepare.

Types of Testing Accommodations

Accommodations are often grouped into the following categories:

– Test Presentation

These accommodations modify how test material is presented to the student. Examples include:

Braille or large print editions
Test questions read aloud by a teacher or computer
Larger bubble answer sheets
Enhanced visuals, such as tinted screens or magnifiers

– Timing and Scheduling of Assessments

Timing accommodations allow more flexibility for students who need test duration or timing adjustments. These might include:

Extra time to complete tests.
Breaks between sections.
The ability to take tests over multiple sessions.

– Test Responses

This category involves alterations to how a student responds to test questions, such as:

Marking answers within the test book instead of a separate sheet.
Using assistive technology to record answers.

– Test Setting

Setting accommodations focuses on the environment where testing happens. Adjustments may include:

Providing a separate room
Allowing small group settings
Adjusting lighting or furniture

Read more about What Are Accommodations and Modifications in Special Education for additional insights into accommodations tailored to different needs.

Examples of Specific Test Accommodations

Here’s a breakdown of accommodations tailored to specific disabilities:

Test Accommodations for Students Who Are Blind

Braille edition
Braille writer/slate and stylus and braille paper
Talking graphing calculator
Test read aloud by teacher or computer
Extended time
Multiple testing sessions or breaks
Testing in a one-on-one setting

Test Accommodations for Students With Low or Poor Vision

Large print edition
One test item per page
Magnification devices.
Tests read aloud by teacher or computer
Assistive technology devices such as:
- Colored overlays
- Screen magnified
- Mark in book

Test Accommodations for Students With Limited Mobility

Dictation to a scribe
Test read aloud
Testing in a separate room
Extended time.
Testing in settings with physical accessibility

Test Accommodations for Deaf Students

Sign language interpreters
Extended test time
Separate room

Test Accommodations for Students With Limited English

Access to bilingual dictionaries
Use of an electronic translator
Adjusted test language where applicable

Read-aloud options are not available for reading or English assessments in any grade.

These are just a few examples. Each specific accommodation is based on the individual student’s needs and what works best for that particular student during assessments.

How do you Know Your Child’s Accommodations Are Being Followed?

Ensuring that accommodations outlined in the IEP or 504 Plan are consistently applied is essential. Parents should review their child’s (ROA) Review of Accommodations form.

What is an ROA?

This is the form that shows the required accommodation documents on the IEP plan. These forms help you confirm:

Accommodations were provided on specific assessments
Details on how the accommodation was provided
Explains how the accommodation was used

How and When is an ROA Used?

A ROA is used after every assessment and discussed during an IEP meeting. Parents should review the ROA form at that time, but most importantly, they should discuss the information in detail with the IEP team.

You should also take a look at it after your child takes any local, state, or federally mandated assessments. You can call the school and schedule a meeting to review the ROA form.

What to Look for When Reviewing an ROA?

Are the accommodations being followed? If not, are they needed? If not, why not?

If your child is in high school, just ask them if they receive accommodations. This is the perfect time to discuss self-advocacy with them.

The 7 Steps of the IEP Process can guide you in navigating documentation and updates to ensure compliance.

What To Do if Accommodations Are Not Followed

As a parent, your role is vital in speaking up if testing accommodations aren’t being honored. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

Classroom Level: Begin by discussing concerns with the special education teacher.
School Level: Escalate your concerns to the principal if necessary.
District Level: Contact your district’s director of exceptional children services for support.
Request Mediation: This is a voluntary process in which both you and the district must agree to participate. It’s an informal meeting led by a neutral third-party mediator who helps parents and schools resolve disagreements.
File a State Complaint: As a last resort, contact your state for guidance on filing complaints. This signed written statement alleges a school is not following special education laws and regulations found in IDEA.

Documenting all conversations, emails, and steps taken is critical. Maintaining detailed records ensures your concerns are taken seriously.

Guiding Questions for Selecting Accommodations

During IEP or 504 meetings, ask the following:

What are your child’s strengths and challenges?
How do their learning needs affect their ability to achieve grade-level content standards?
What, if any, specialized instruction is needed for your child to attain grade-level content standards?
Which accommodations are being used regularly in the classroom and during tests?
What’s your child’s perception of how well their accommodations are working?
Is your child willing to use the accommodations, or are they refusing?
How well do you, the parents, think the accommodations are working?
Are there any difficulties in administering the accommodations?

Your involvement helps tailor support to your child’s unique learning path.

Tips for Adding a New Testing Accommodation

Ensure the new accommodation is put in place in a timely manner.
Practice the new accommodation with your child BEFORE it’s used on an assessment.
Engage them in decisions about accommodations, especially as they grow older.

If you’re looking for strategies to support your child’s unique learning style, explore how to Find the Right Fit for Special Education Accommodations.

Your Child’s Path to Success

Testing accommodations ensure every child has a fair shot at success by breaking down barriers created by disabilities. Understanding the process, monitoring their implementation, and advocating when needed all positively impact your child’s education.

Together, we can make a difference!

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