The Words We Use: A Glossary of Terms for
Early Childhood Education Standards and Assessment
Definition
Adaptations in assessment tools and standards to permit children with disabilities or English language learners to show what they know and can do. Adjustments may be made, for example, in the way a test is administered or presented, in the timing, in the language, or in how the child responds. The nature of the adjustment determines whether or not what is being measured or the comparability of scores is affected.
Related Terms (Not Synonyms)
Alternative assessment; Authentic assessment; Developmental assessment; Evaluation; Formal Assessment; Inclusion; Informal assessment; Modification; Observational assessment; Performance-based assessment; Portfolio assessment; Standards-based assessment; Test
Explanatory Comments
- Changes typically are made in presentation format, response format, test setting, timing, or scheduling, but not in what the test measures.
- Concern about the effect of accommodations on test score comparability is most commonly associated with high stakes testing of older elementary students.
- Modifications and accommodations are closely related terms; however, accommodation is accepted as encompassing the entire range of changes that can be made.
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires appropriate accommodations in assessing children with disabilities.
Web Sources
California Department of Education. Special Education Division. (2003). New statewide assessment terminology. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.cde.ca.gov/spbranch/sed/acc-mod.htm
Council for Exceptional Children. Policy on assessment and accountability. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.cec.sped.org/gov/assessment_acctountability.html
National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST). Assessment glossary. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.cse.ucla.edu/CRESST/pages/glossary.htm
State Preschool Accountability Research Collaborative. SPARC glossary. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.ihdi.uky.edu/Sparc/survey/sparcglossary.htm
TeacherVision.com and the Council for Exceptional Children. Assessment and accommodation glossary. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-4132.html
United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. (2001). Memorandum. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.dssc.org/frc/fed/OSEP01-06.FFAssessment.pdf
Other Resources
Thurlow, M.L., House, A.L.,Scott, D.L., & Ysseldyke, J.E. (2000). Students with disabilities in large-scale assessments: State participation and accommodation policies. Journal of Special Education, 34 (3), 154-163.
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