Another example is breaking a long testing session into several smaller periods for a health impaired student who suffers fatigue. Research has shown that accommodations generally do not give students with disabilities an unfair advantage. One example of an accommodation that does give an advantage is when a teacher actively assists a disabled student in answering test questions , such as reading test questions to a student. It may be appropriate, however, to read test directions to a student. Other accommodations to avoid are the use of computers or calculators when other students are not allowed to use them.
Modifications are changes to standardized testing procedures that invalidate student scores.
Only an IEP team may determine accommodations for a student in special education. For a student on a plan under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, the team that prepared the 504 Plan would decide what, if any, accommodations are necessary. Accommodations for special education and Section 504 students must be linked to accommodations provided in the classroom. In other words, an accommodation made in a student's regular or special education class is appropriate as an accommodation on a test. An accommodation not provided in a student's regular or special education, is not an appropriate accommodation on a test.