Accommodations Toolkit

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Accommodation ­– Students may be seated in a specific location in the testing environment. For example, a student may need to be seated away from a heating/cooling vent, near a window for natural light, or near the test administrator’s desk. While seating is a local decision, students must be positioned in a suitable manner for testing (i.e., lying on the floor during testing is not appropriate). Additionally, it is not appropriate to seat a student in a location that is not visible to the test administrator, such as behind a bookshelf separating the student from the rest of the room. The use of study carrels to separate students and minimize distractions is allowable as long as the test administrator is able to effectively monitor student testing.

Accommodation ­– Setting Accommodations:

These accommodations change the physical location or the conditions under which a student engages with classwork or assessments. Location choices may include a different room, a different seating location within the room, small group instruction, or a study carrel. Conditions may include the use of sound-blocking headphones or allowing “whisper reading” as long as others are not disturbed.

Who Benefits: Those students needing targeted instruction, those who find large group settings distracting, who are unable to effectively filter out background noise, and those who express a preference for small group or individual space to better focus will benefit from setting considerations. Students with specific visual or hearing needs may also benefit from special setting arrangements.

Designated Feature – Seating/Grouping Definition:

Specific seat location (e.g., sitting in the front to see sign-language interpreter), or testing in a small group or one-to-one

Type: Designated Support

Recommended Usage: Examinees with sensory concerns, examinees who are easily distracted, examinees with behaviors that may distract others

Personal Needs Profile Selection:

• Special Seating/Grouping
• Location for Movement
• Individual Administration

Designated Feature –  Administrative Consideration:

Seating students in specified locations in the testing environment during assessment is allowed, as determined at the local level. For example, a student may benefit from being seated away from the door or windows to minimize distractions or away from a heating/cooling vent. While seating is an administrative consideration, position students in a suitable manner for testing (i.e., lying on the floor during testing is not appropriate). Additionally, it is not appropriate to seat a student in a location that is not visible to the Test Administrator, such as behind a bookshelf separating the student from the rest of the room.

Designated Feature –  Separate Setting:

Students who are easily distracted, or who may distract others in environments such as in group testing, may need an alternate location to be able to take the assessment. The separate setting may be in a different room that allows them to work individually or among a smaller group, or in the same room, but in a specific location (for example, away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners, in a study carrel, with a whisper phone, near the teacher’s desk, or in the front of a classroom). Some students may benefit from being in an environment that allows for movement, such as being able to walk around.

Universal Feature –  Student is seated or placed in a location that is most beneficial for learning and assessment. Select this option to provide students with preferential seating or a specific area in the room for testing.

Designated Feature – Administrative Consideration:

Student is tested in a specialized area or setting (e.g., front of the classroom, seat near the door, etc.).

Designated Feature –  Separate Setting Designated Support:

The separate setting may be in the same room but in a specific location (for example, away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners, in a study carrel, near the teacher’s desk, or in the front of a classroom). Some students may benefit from being in an environment that allows for movement, such as being able to walk around.

Designated Feature – Separate Setting Designated Support:

The separate setting may be in the same room but in a specific location (for example, away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners, in a study carrel, near the teacher’s desk, or in the front of a classroom). Some students may benefit from being in an environment that allows for movement, such as being able to walk around.

Designated Feature – Administrative Consideration for Specified Area or Setting:

Student is tested in a specialized area or setting (e.g., front of the classroom, seat near the door, library, etc.).

Universal Feature – Preferential Seating:

Determined by the Test Administrator (TA). (Can be due to lighting conditions, seat arrangement, behaviors, etc.) The student can sit where the TA determines is the best seating arrangement for the student.

Designated Feature – Administrative Consideration for Specified Area or Setting:

Student is instructed or assessed in a specified area or setting (e.g., front of the classroom, seat near the door, library, etc.).

Designated Feature – Seating in a specified area of the testing room, including the use of a study carrel.

Universal Feature – Standard test administration practice includes: use of accommodated seating, special lighting, or furniture.

Designated Feature – Special settings: The assessment is administered in a special setting (e.g., certain lights, acoustics, seating arrangements).

Designated Feature – Administrative Consideration:

Specific Seating or Room

Designated Feature – Separate Setting Designated Support:

The separate setting may be in the same room but in a specific location (for example, away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners, in a study carrel, near the teacher’s desk, or in the front of a classroom). Some students may benefit from being in an environment that allows for movement, such as being able to walk around.

Universal Feature – Universal Feature for Setting:

The student is provided a distraction-free space or alternate, supervised location (e.g. study carrel, front of classroom, alternate room).

Designated Feature – Separate Setting Designated Support:

The separate setting may be in the same room but in a specific location (for example, away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners, in a study carrel, near the teacher’s desk, or in the front of a classroom). Some students may benefit from being in an environment that allows for movement, such as being able to walk around.

Designated Feature – Separate Setting Designated Support:

The separate setting may be in the same room but in a specific location (for example, away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners, in a study carrel, near the teacher’s desk, or in the front of a classroom). Some students may benefit from being in an environment that allows for movement, such as being able to walk around.

Accommodation – Setting Accommodations:

• Seating the student in the front of the room near the examiner or proctor
• Seating the student facing the examiner or proctor

Universal Feature –Administrative Consideration:

• Student is tested in a specialized area or setting (e.g., front of the classroom, seat near the door, library, etc.).

Designated Feature – Administrative considerations include preferential seating

Accommodation – Listed specifically for students who are deaf or hard of hearing

Designated Feature – Preferential Seating within the Regular Classroom

• Preferential seating within the regular classroom (i.e., not in a separate setting) may be used for students for the administration of all tests within the North Carolina Testing Program.
• Preferential seating may be appropriate for students who have difficulty maintaining attention in a group setting, students who use specialized equipment that may be distracting to others, or students with visual impairments who may need special lighting or a seat closer to the front of the room.
• Preferential seating must be used routinely during classroom instruction and similar classroom assessments.
• All preferential seating must be positioned in such a way that no student is able to see another student’s test documents.

Universal Feature – Administrative consideration (in accordance with principles of universal design for assessment, these administrative considerations are available to all students).

Specified area or seating: The student sits in a specific place in the test setting, such as by the window for natural light or beside the test administrator’s desk.

Accommodation – Students may need to sit close to the front of the room so they can see or hear more easily, increase physical access, or have access to special equipment.

Designated Feature: Preferential seating: Provided by the school.

• Seating to reduce distractions within the regular testing session.
• Front of the class, close to the test administrator, etc.

Accommodation – Support physical position of student: A student who needs physical support to access the computer monitor, keyboard or assessment materials may be supported either using appropriate devices as used in the classroom (preferential seating, special lighting, increase/decrease opportunity for movement, provide position assistance, provide adaptive equipment/furniture) or they may be provided supports by an aide/educational assistant.

Universal Feature – Preferential Seating: Student takes the test in a specific area of the testing room where they are most comfortable, including use of study carrel.

Universal Feature – Administrative consideration: Seat location/proximity

Designated Feature –Separate Setting Designated Support:

The separate setting may be in the same room but in a specific location (for example, away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners, in a study carrel, near the teacher’s desk, or in the front of a classroom). Some students may benefit from being in an environment that allows for movement, such as being able to walk around.

Universal Feature – Universal test administration conditions for any student includes:

• being seated in a specific location within the testing room or being seated at special furniture

Designated Feature – Alternate location:

In some circumstances, distractions for an individual student or a group of students can be reduced by altering the location in which an individual student interacts with instructional materials or test content. For students who are easily distracted by the presence of other students, an alternate location allows students to work individually or in small groups. Changes may also be made to a student’s location within a room, such as away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners. Sitting near the teacher’s desk or in the front of a classroom may be helpful for some students. Physically enclosed classrooms (classrooms with four walls) may be more appropriate than open classrooms, and study carrels might also be helpful. Some students may benefit from being in an environment that allows for movement, such as being able to walk around.

Designated Feature – Separate Setting Designated Support:

The separate setting may be in the same room but in a specific location (for example, away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners, in a study carrel, near the teacher’s desk, or in the front of a classroom). Some students may benefit from being in an environment that allows for movement, such as being able to walk around.

Accommodation – Student is given special seating arrangements. Placement of student where he/she is most comfortable or placement of student near proctor.

Instructional practice: Special seating arrangements for students who are easily distractible are provided within the classroom to improve focus.

When to select: Students who are easily distracted or may have a visual/auditory disability. The preferential seating may be in a specific location (for example, away from windows, doors, or pencil sharpeners, near the teacher’s desk, or in the front of a classroom).

Notes for implementation:

• Changes in instructional and assessment seating locations can benefit students who are easily distracted.
• Students with physical disabilities might need a more accessible location within the testing environment.

Designated Feature – Administrative consideration for specified area or seating:

The student sits in a specific place in the test setting, such as by the window for natural light or beside the test administrator’s desk.