TYPES OF TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
(Adapted from Test Access & Accommodations for Students with Disabilities,
Tools to Guide Decision-Making)

 

            In preparing answer sheets for students taking State examinations, school personnel are often asked to indicate the types of testing accommodations that students with disabilities may be receiving. The following information should help school personnel to correctly record those accommodations on the answer sheets.

The types of testing accommodations that a student may receive are reproduced below
and are listed on pages 13-17 of Test Access & Accommodations for Students with Disabilities, Tools
to Guide Decision-Making, published by the Department’s Office of Vocational and
Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities. To access the complete publication, see http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/testaccess/guide.htm. Please note that not all accommodations defined in that publication and reproduced here are permitted on all parts of
the Grade 4 and 8 English Language Arts and Mathematics Tests. For these tests, testing accommodations that change the constructs measured by the test are not permitted. For further information, see http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/changeaccom.htm.

 

 

FLEXIBILITY IN SETTING

·        Separate location/room – administer test individually

·        Separate location/room – administer test in small group (3-5 students)

·        Provide adaptive or special equipment/furniture (specify type, e.g., study carrel)

·        Special lighting (specify type, e.g., 75 Watt incandescent light on desk)

·        Special acoustics (specify manner, e.g., minimal extraneous noises)

·        Location with minimal distraction (specify type, e.g., minimal visual distraction)

·        Preferential seating

 

 

FLEXIBILITY IN SCHEDULING/TIMING

·        Extended time (specify amount, as in “time and a half”)

·        Administer tests with frequent breaks (specify duration, e.g. sessions not to exceed 30 minutes with 10 minute breaks)

·        Administer State examinations over successive administrations (permitted for certain RCTs only)

·        Administer State examinations over multiple days (requires SED approval)

 

METHOD OF PRESENTATION

 

Revised Test Format [1]

 

·        Braille editions of tests

·        Large type editions of tests

·        Increased spacing between test items

·        Increase size of answer blocks/bubbles

·        Reduce number of test items per page

·        Multiple-choice items in vertical format with answer bubble to right of response choices

·        Reading passages with one complete sentence per line

 

Revised Test Directions2

 

·        Directions read to student

·        Directions reread for each page of questions

·        Language in directions simplified

·        Verbs in directions underlined or highlighted

·        Cues (e.g., arrows and stop signs) on answer form

·        Additional examples provided

 

Use of Aids/Assistive Technology

 

·        Audio tape

·        Tape recorder

·        Computer (including talking word processor)

·        Listening section repeated more than the standard number of times

·        Listening section signed more than the standard number of times

·        Masks or markers to maintain place

·        Papers secured to work area with tape/magnets

·        Test passages, questions, items and multiple-choice responses read to student

·        Test passages, questions, items and multiple-choice responses signed to student

·        Magnification devices (specify type)

·        Amplification devices (specify type)

 

METHOD OF RESPONSE

 

·        Allow marking of answers in booklet rather than answer sheet

·        Use of additional paper for math calculations

 

Use of Aids/Assistive Technology

 

·        Amanuensis (Scribe)

·        Tape Recorder

·        Word processor

 

 

OTHER

 

·        On-task focusing prompts

·        Waiving spelling requirements

·        Waiving paragraphing requirements

·        Waiving punctuation requirements

 

Use of Aids/Assistive Technology

 

·        Calculator

·        Abacus

·        Arithmetic tables

·        Spell-checking device

·        Grammar-checking device