All students with disabilities must be included in statewide or district-wide assessments and if necessary, must have accommodations, or must participate in an alternate assessment.
Who determines how students with disabilities are included in statewide or district-wide assessments?
Decisions regarding the methods of assessing students with disabilities must be made on an individual basis by the student's IEP team or 504 accommodations plan team and documented in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Accommodations Plan.
What kind of accommodations may be used on statewide or district wide tests?
Accommodations that are used in statewide assessment must be the same ones as the student uses in typical classroom instruction and assessment. Although the IEP team has the authority to determine what, if any, accommodations are needed in order for a student with a disability to participate in statewide and district-wide assessments, state and local agencies have the authority to determine how test results are reported and used. Some instructional accommodations may not be appropriate for standardized assessments as they do change the construct assessed. The state or local agencies may limit the use of test scores if certain accommodations are included.
An alternate assessment is an assessment that is developed to meet the needs of students with significant disabilities who cannot participate in the regular assessment even with appropriate accommodations.
Analysis of Appropriateness and Effectiveness of Accommodations
The statewide use of accommodations and student performance are reviewed annually. These reviews include an examination of the trends of accommodations used since 2009.
The use of accommodations by each school district is reviewed and reported annually.
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