1. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes State Variations in Accommodations Policy and Practice Martha L. Thurlow University of Minnesota

2. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes Questions 1.What terminology is used by states, and are terms clearly defined? 2.What groups of students are eligible to use assessment accommodations? 3.What decision-making criteria are provided in states’ policies? 4.What are the most controversial accommodations and what are policies like for these?

3. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes Study Procedures NCEO Update of previous analyses 1.Requested newest policy from all 50 states 2.Completed grids for all states and all accommodations (with notations) 3.Sent data to state for verification 4.Made changes only with written documentation [Collected policies through Sept 2001]

4. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes Terminology

5. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes Decision Making Criteria

6. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes Groups Eligible 05101520253035404550 Number of States IEP Students 504 Plan Students Special Circumstances All Students

7. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes Decision-Making Criteria

8. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes 15 Most Controversial Accommodations Number of States Allowing:WithoutWith Braille3514 Read Aloud*541 Sign Language Interpretation378 Read/Re-read/Clarify Directions*2910 Calculator*1423 *One state prohibits use

9. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes 15 Most Controversial Accommodations Number of States Allowing:WithoutWith Audio/Video Cassette**169 Abacus*136 Proctor/Scribe3117 Computer or Machine*309 Tape Recorder218 *One state prohibits use ** Two states prohibit use

10. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes 15 Most Controversial Accommodations Number of States Allowing:WithoutWith Communication Device278 Spell Checker/Assistance***79 Extended Time**2616 With Breaks3310 Over Multiple Days*196 *2 states prohibit use **3 states prohibit use ***11 states prohibit use

11. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes Accommodation practice is evident in: Perceptions (use is increasing) Available Data (only as good as people recording the data) Legal Activity (challenges in court, out-of-court settlements, and threatened court cases)

12. N C E O National Center on Educational Outcomes Significant changes since the early 1990s in policies Great variability in accommodation policies and practices exists, but trend toward more consistency is evident Disconnect continues between policy, practice, and research Conclusions