Below are some clarification on accommodation.

This will be posted on the Accommodations webpage at www.ksde.org

Developing IEPs with accommodations Q & A

1. May I give an accommodation to my student only when he or she is taking the state assessment?

No, accommodations used on state assessments should be only those specified in the IEP for use during instruction, classroom assessments, and state or local assessments. It is improper to include an accommodation in an IEP and specify that it is to be used only on a state assessment. Accommodations provided for state assessments only could invalidate the state assessment scores.

 

2. Is it allowable to give my student an accommodation listed on his or her IEP only when I feel that he or she needed the extra support to do well on an assessment or classroom assignment?

No, it is not allowable for you to determine when a student receives an accommodation for instruction or assessment when it is listed on his or her IEP. The IEP must specify the frequency, duration, and location of the accommodation and the accommodation must be provided as specified.

The student may refuse to use an accommodation and that is acceptable.

 

3. May the IEP team write that my student would only use an accommodation in Communication Arts on his or her IEP?

Yes, the team may write that your student will use an accommodation only in Communication Arts as long as you include the frequency, location, and duration of the accommodation on his or her IEP. Accommodations are given so that students who receive special education services can have access to the general education curriculum.

 

4. What if the IEP team has not specified the frequency, location and duration of an accommodation that my student uses on his or her IEP?

The team will need to either conduct an IEP meeting or an administrator will need to complete an IEP amendment form to specify in the IEP, the frequency, location, and duration that your student needs the accommodation during instruction or when taking an assessment. If amending the IEP the amendment form must be signed by your student's parents or legal guardians . With either method, the parents must be given prior written notice and must give written consent for the changes.

 

5. Is it allowable to have my student read aloud his or her state assessment?

Yes, your student may read aloud the state assessment to you and/or his or her paraeducator if this accommodation is specified in the student's IEP. If your student reads it aloud, it should be read in an isolated setting so he or she does not bother other students who are taking the assessment. You and/or your paraeducator may not provide any additional assistance to your student, unless it is specified in the student's IEP. However, you can verbally redirect your student to stay on task.

 

6. What if I want to give a practice test to a student with disabilities without an accommodation that is listed in his or her IEP to decide whether my student continues to need the identified accommodation?

A practice test to determine if the student continues to need an accommodation listed on his or her IEP would be an evaluation of whether or not a student needs an accommodation. The term “evaluation” is defined as using evaluation procedures for the purpose of determining whether a child has a disability and the nature and extent of the special education and related services that the child needs. Therefore, such a practice session would constitute an evaluation and would require prior written notice to the parent and parent consent . However, a practice session for some other purpose, such as to help the student to learn test taking strategies or to serve as a study aid is allowable providing that the practice session is not used for his or her grade.