Special Education

Instructional Accommodations

How Does the Use of Accommodations Impact Student Performance?

Accommodations can help students overcome or minimize the barriers presented by their disabilities—which is why federal law requires their use when necessary. (Elliott, Kratochwill, & Schulte, 1999; McDonnell, McLaughlin, & Morison, 1997; Pitoniak & Royer, 2001)

In their article, “Assessment & Accommodations”, published by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY), Dr. Stephen Luke and Dr. Amanda Schwartz discuss the potential impact accommodations have when used by students with a disability. (Evidence for Education Vol. II Issue I 2007 http://nichcy.org/).

Accommodations play an important role in educational settings….particularly for students whose disabilities interfere with performing learning task (such as reading a book, taking notes in class, or writing an essay) or testing tasks (such as getting through the items within the time limit or filling in the circles on a multiple-choice test). A critical part of teaching and assessing students with disabilities, then, is providing them with accommodations that support learning and that support their ability to show what they know and can do.”

It is the goal of this office to provide educators and administrators current information and resources in the areas of instructional accommodations and assessment for students with a disability. Please visit this webpage frequently to take advantage of state guidance documents, professional development training opportunities and other resources designed to support all students with a documented need, including students with a disability.

 

2012-2013 Colorado Accommodations Manual

Printable Version (182 pages) Part 1: Instructional Accommodations Section 1    Guidance Section II     Five-Step Process Section III    Tools Consideration When Making Decisions for Instructional Accommodations Student Characteristics Tables A-N: Instructional Accommodations Linked to Student Characteristics Alternate Academic Achievement Standard and Alternate Assessment Eligibility Criteria Worksheet Flow Chart to Determine Eligibility for Alternate Academic Achievement Standards and Alternate Assessment Based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards Glossary of Instructional Accommodations Parent Input for Accommodations Accommodations from the Student's Perspective Do's and Don'ts when Selecting Accommodation Use of Scribe: Example (from Cherry Creek ISD) Decision-Making Guide Accommodation Use in the Classroom Evaluation of Accommodation Use Data Collection Sheet Infused Skills Grid (PEAK Resource) After-Test Accommodations Questions School/District Logistics Planning Checklist for Classroom/State Assessment Accommodations Part 2:  Accommodations for Use on State Summative Assessments Section IV   Policy for Statewide Assessment Accommodations Section V   Accommodations for TCAP Section VI  Accommodations for CoAlt Section VII Accommodations for ACCESS for ELLs Appendices

Click on the picture above for the entire manual

• Instructional Accommodations Training PowerPoint

 

Professional Development Related to Accommodations
Name of Training	Date	Location	Registration	Handouts
Courage to Risk Conference	January 25-26, 2013	Colorado Springs		Session 1 Standards for All: Using Foldables© for Differentiated Instruction

 

Related Links

• Assessing Students with a Disability
• Instructional Standards

 

For more information, please contact:

Linda Lamirande
Phone: (303) 866-6863

 

If you have problems with broken links on this page, please contact our Web Coordinator and be sure to copy the URL into the email to reference the page with the problem.

---