Accommodation
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An accommodation changes how a student learns or shows learning, without changing what the student is expected to learn.
Topic: Accommodations, modifications and instruction
In plain terms
Accommodations remove barriers. Extended time, audiobooks, a quiet testing room, large print, a scribe, speech-to-text and breaks are common examples. The content and the standard stay the same: a student who takes a grade-level test with extra time is still measured on grade-level skills. Accommodations are usually grouped by presentation, response, setting, and timing and scheduling.
How it shows up in an IEP
The IEP lists accommodations for instruction and for tests, and they should match needs in the present levels. Too many accommodations can reduce independence, so teams should review which ones the student actually uses and whether any can be faded.
Example
A student with slow processing speed gets 1.5 times the standard time on tests and a copy of class notes. The math test and the grading standard stay the same.
Not the same as Modification
An accommodation keeps the learning expectation the same. A modification changes what the student is expected to learn or how work is graded. Read the definition of Modification.
The rule
Federal reference: 34 CFR §300.320(a)(6).
Related terms
- ModificationA modification changes what a student is expected to learn or produce, such as shorter or simpler assignments or different grading standards.
- Presentation accommodationA presentation accommodation changes how information is given to a student, such as reading aloud, large print, braille or visual supports.
- Response accommodationA response accommodation changes how a student shows what they know, such as answering orally, typing, using a scribe or pointing to choices.
- Setting accommodationA setting accommodation changes where or in what conditions a student works or tests, such as a quiet room, small group or special seating.
- Timing and scheduling accommodationA timing and scheduling accommodation changes how long a student has or when work happens, such as extended time, breaks or testing at a certain time of day.
- Testing accommodationsTesting accommodations are changes to how a test is given or answered that let a student show what they know without changing what the test measures.
On IEP Atlas
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