Special Education Testing Accommodations
What is an Accommodation?
An accommodation is a change in the administration of an assessment, such as presentation format, response mode, setting, timing/scheduling, or any combination of these that does not change the construct intended to be measured by the assessment or the meaning of the resulting scores. Accommodations provided to a student during state assessments must also be provided during classroom instruction, classroom assessments, and district assessments; however, some instructional accommodations are not appropriate for use on statewide assessments, for example, calculators may not be used on all sections of an assessment even if they are used consistently in the classroom.
General Classroom Accommodations
Accommodations should be based on individual student need. It is the IEP Team’s responsibility to determine how each student who receives special education services will participate in the general education classroom.
Guidelines for Accommodations
Must align with state standards or adopted alternative state standards for disabilities.
May use same accommodations as the child uses in classroom tests and instruction.
Must be written in the IEP
Setting
Smaller group
Individual
Lighting or seating options
Timing
Lengthen test time
Movement breaks
Hospital, home, other (Dr. Permission Req.)
Presentations
Larger print (Special Ed. Only)
Highlighter
Oral presentation (Math,
Science, Writing)
Assistive technology
Repeat directions
Additional Accommodations
Written transcription transfer
Template to reduce vision field
Segmented test booklet
Auditory assist
Tape recorder/CD/Scripted
Presentation Continued
Calculator or abacus
-Limited (Restrictions on State Tests)
Read writing prompt aloud
Change response format
-Write directly in book
-Transfer student answers into answer booklet
Sign language
Braille note taking device
Braille exam
Read aloud to students (Not available on reading Tests)

The IEP Team can recommend additional Accommodations.
Minnesota Assessments
The purpose of the statewide assessments is to understand how well Minnesota students have met the Minnesota Academic Standards that educators have determined to be essential for all students.
Most students can show what they know and can do under standard testing conditions, but for some students with disabilities or special language needs, it is both fair and appropriate to make adjustments, or accommodations, to the test. Accommodations for students with IEPs or 504
Plans reduce or even eliminate the effect of a disability on their test performance without lowering our expectations for their learning.
Making effective decisions about accommodations begins with making sound instructional decisions. These decisions are facilitated by gathering and reviewing information about the student’s specific needs and current levels of performance in relation to the Minnesota Academic
Standards. Careful consideration should be given to each accommodation selected rather than assuming that “more is better” and selecting accommodations that may actually be counterproductive. It is the IEP Team’s responsibility to determine how each student who receives special education services will participate in the Minnesota Assessments.
Adapted with permission from Procedures Manual for the Minnesota
Assessments 2007-2008, Minnesota Department of Education

ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE
TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS
Presentation
Assistive Technology (for computer-delivered tests)
Bilingual word-to-word dictionary
Braille edition of assessment
Large print test book
Mathematics & Science scripts presented in English to student via CD
Mathematics & Science scripts presented to student in sign language
Mathematics & Science scripts read in English to student
Mathematics script read to student/on CD in student’s first language (BST only)
Segmented test book (BST only)
Templates to reduce visual print, magnification, low vision aids
Timing/Scheduling
Extended testing time (considered an accommodation for TEAE only)
Response Format
Answer orally or point to answer*
Assistive Technology (for computer-delivered tests)
Braille writers
Large print answer book (grade 4 and above)
Made tape (w/ transcription into test book)
Scratch paper or graph paper (allowed for MTELL & Science MCA-II)
Scribes (w/ transcription into test book)*
Voice-activated computer
Word processor or similar assistive device*
Other Accommodations
If an IEP or 504 Team decides to use an accommodation not on this list, contact
MDE at mde.testing@state.mn.us
.
IEP or 504 Plan
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