ESE Accommodations

What are they?Who are they for?

Why do we need to consider them?

Ideas on Compliance in a Virtual Environment

Accommodations Defined

• Accommodations are changes that can be made in the way the student accesses information and demonstrates performance (Rule 6A-6.03411(1)(a), Florida Administrative Code [F.A.C.]).

• Accommodations Information Website: http://www.fldoe.org/ese/fcatasd.asp6

Example

What’s the accommodation?

The End Result

Does it matter if you are tall and can reach the apple or if you are short and need a ladder?

NO! The end result is the same, we both get an apple.

• That is how we need to look at ESE accommodations

– It is: How can I help this student get to the goal

– It is not: How can I make this easier for them

– It is: How can they overcome the obstacle(s) in their way

You help boost the student to reach the standard.

You don’t lower the standard to meet the student

Who Are They For?

• Any student with an IEP or a 504 Plan

– Individual Education Plan or 504 Plan• a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who

has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

Who Are They For?

• In Florida, all students with disabilities have the opportunity to work toward grade-level academic standards. Students with disabilities may use accommodations during instruction and assessment. Accommodations meet the individual student needs and ensure equal access to the academic content standards (Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services [BEESS], 2006, September).

NOT FOR A LACK OF TRYING BUT FOR A LACK OF ABILITY

• Possible reasons for accommodations (obstacles)

– Student can not see or hear– Student can not focus on visuals or auditory– Student can not process the information– Student can not read and fully comprehend– Student may be unable to use their body to it’s full

ability (unable to type or write)– Student may be very easily distracted– Student may not be able to organize thoughts into

written form

Accommodations Are…

• Accommodations should facilitate an accurate demonstration of what the student knows or can do. Accommodations should not provide the student with an unfair advantage or interfere with the validity of the test. They must not change the underlying skills the test measures.

• Accommodations must be necessary for the student to demonstrate knowledge, ability, or skill.

Why Now?

• Florida Senate - 2013 SB 598 By Senator Margolis

• An act relating to virtual instruction courses for students with disabilities; amending s. 1002.45, F.S.; requiring that each virtual instruction program provide virtual courses in accessible formats for students with disabilities which are compatible with assistive technology products and assistive listening systems; providing an effective date.

VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Each virtual instruction program under this section must:

Provide virtual courses in accessible formats for students with disabilities, including, but not limited to, students who are visually impaired, learning disabled, or physically disabled. Accessible formats include virtual courses that are compatible with assistive technology products and assistive listening systems.

This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.

4 Areas of Accommodations

• Presentation—how the student will access information (what we show)

• Response—how the student will demonstrate competence (how or what they do)

• Setting—where the student will be instructed and assessed (not really a virtual concern)

• Scheduling—when the student will be instructed and assessed (not really a virtual concern)

Not for Testing (FCAT)

Examples of accommodations that are not permitted on the FCAT include the following:

• use of calculator for basic computation in grades 3-6• use of spelling or grammar check on written responses• graphic organizer software to assist in preparing responses• text-to-speech software for the reading portion of the test• having a proctor read aloud items that test reading skills

Examples & Thoughts

• Need: Requiring less content, such as fewer objectives, shorter lessons, or a smaller number of vocabulary words

• What would this look like in the virtual world?– Setting up separate classes and pacing guides– Reducing the number of folders on similar topics– Ideas?????

Examples & Thoughts

• Need: Making assignments or assessments less complex, such as by crossing out one of the options on a multiple-choice question so that a student only has to pick from three options instead of four answers.

• What would this look like in the virtual world?– Copy and paste test questions into Word

documents?– Ideas?????

Testing Accommodations:

Testing Accommodations:

Testing Accommodations:

Testing Accommodations:

Other Accommodations: * Not allowed on FCAT

Other Accommodations: * Not allowed on FCAT