How do we know if accommodations are working?

We know that accommodations work when the student is provided access to the general curriculum or test. Accommodations prevent disability or language-related barriers from affecting the student’s ability to demonstrate his or her knowledge, but accommodations do not necessarily raise test scores.

Test and classroom performance

Another way to make sure an accommodation is working is to collect data. Objective sources of information are important to consider. For example:

• What are the results of classroom assignments and assessments when accommodations are used versus when accommodations are not used?
• If a student did not meet the expected level of performance, is it due to not having access to the necessary instruction, not receiving the accommodations, or using ineffective accommodations?

Anecdotal reports

• Students often know whether accommodations are effective. Students should be asked to report on whether an accommodation is helping them to learn, or to demonstrate their knowledge during testing.
• Teachers also provide insight into whether accommodations are working. Teachers should be asked to report on whether an accommodation appears to be working for an individual student. For example, does the accommodation help the student to learn critical content, or to demonstrate his or her knowledge and skills?