Standardized Testing Accommodation Policy Released

Smarter Balanced, the standardized testing consortium of which Connecticut is a member, has officially approved testing support guidelines.  OLReporter first noted that Smarter Balanced was in the process of developing these guidelines back in September.  They have now been released online and will be field tested in spring 2014 to prepare for a full exam rollout during the 2014-15 school year.

A governing board of representatives from the consortium’s 25 member states unanimously approved three categories of testing supports for the new, computer-based exam:

1. “universal tools,” (available to all students as built-in test technology) such as break periods, calculators, English dictionaries, highlighters and spell check;
2. “designated supports,” (available to students identified in advance by educators) such as altered screen color or font, magnified screen font, or read-aloud test questions; and
3. “documented accommodations,” (available only to students with documented learning disabilities) such as read-aloud test passages, Braille, American Sign Language, and alternate response options for students who cannot use, or need assistance to use, a computer keyboard.

The guidelines also provide accommodations for students who are English Language Learners (ELL).  For the mathematics test, ELLs may encounter translated test directions, glossaries, or “stacked” translations of test items that appear above the original item in English.  For the English/language arts test, ELLs may have access to a bilingual dictionary for the extended writing portions. 

All the translation supports will be available in Spanish.  Smarter Balanced will also offer translation in other languages, as determined by states’ needs.  Consortium states that have laws and regulations restricting the use of languages other than English to teach or assess ELLs do not have to offer translation options for test takers.

For more information, read an Education Week blog post about them.