Modifications for Special Needs Students

Inclusion StrategiesAssessment Accommodations

What are we testing?

• According to a study reported by Barbara Keough of UCLA, teaching young children testing skills totally devoid of content can lead to substantial score increases.

• Such findings raise issues regarding what being assessed, and how much of early screening is really testing a child’s aptitude and how much is an indication of taking tests.

What are we testing? (Con’t)

• Are you testing learned social studies content, or reading ability?

• Are you testing understood of the math process or the ability to memorize formulas?

• Are you testing a students writing ability or her understanding of the novel the class read?

What is an Assessment Accommodation?

– An assessment accommodation is an alteration in the way a test is administered, or the way a student takes a test.

– Assessment accommodations are designed to respond to a student’s need. Refer to changes that do not alter what the test measures.

– Not intended to give the student an unfair advantage.

What is an Assessment Accommodation? (Con’t)

– Students with disabilities may use assessment accommodations to show what they know without being impeded by their disabilities.

– IEP’s must include a statement of any individual modifications.

– In general, no accommodation should ever be recommended for a student unless that student also has an opportunity to use it during instructional activities.

Guiding Principles

• Do not assume that every student with disabilities needs assessment accommodations.

• Base the accommodations on student need.• Be respectful of the student’s cultural and

ethnic background.• Integrate assessment accommodations into

classroom instruction.

Guiding Principles (con’t)

• Request accommodations that are only truly needed.

• Include students in the decision making.– Remember input is critical. If a student does not

like an accommodation they will not use.• Remember that accommodations in the test

taking won’t necessarily eliminate frustration for the student.

Types of Accommodations

• Timing accommodations– Frequent breaks– Extended time

• Presentation Accommodations– Different editions– Read test directions– Prompts– Clarification– templates

Types (Con’t)

– Templates– Markers– Magnification/amplification devices– Word Processing systems– Reread directions