Accommodations and TIERED Success for ALL
LEVEL THE FIELD
Dr. Sarieta Holmes-Pollard
EmpowerED Learning Special Education Headquarters
Training Expectations
Analyze topic and documents
Ask and answer questions
Be respectful of perspectives and be solutions-oriented
“Level the Field” Workbook and Additional Resources
Agenda
Learning Objectives
Access Granted
What’s one strategy you’ve used (or seen) to help a struggling learner during test prep?
PART
SIGNS OF STRUGGLE AND TIERED SUPPORTS
Academic | Behavior |
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Tier 2 for Struggling Students
TARGETED/ SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORTS
Meet Malcom |
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Academic | Behavior |
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Tier 3 for Struggling Students
INTENSIVE SUPPORTS
Meet Ariana |
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Wrapping- Up TIER Support
Tiered interventions help identify and respond to students’ specific academic or behavioral needs early, before they are referred to special education (and while receiving special education services).
Students like Malcolm and Ariana can thrive when matched with targeted supports that reduce barriers to learning and behavior.
Use MTSS data (grades, discipline, screenings) to identify needs. Implement strategies consistently, monitor progress weekly, and adjust supports as needed, with collaboration from intervention teams, academic and behavior coaches, and sometimes special education staff.
PART
ADAPTATIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS
“Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way.
Embracing diverse learning methods ensures that all students achieve their potential regardless of their unique challenges.”
– GEORGE EVANS
AFA 2.0
Documentation
UNDERSTANDING ACCOMMODATIONS-
WHAT, WHY, HOW
What are Accommodations for Students with a Disability?
...changes made to the way instruction and assessment are provided, without altering the grade-level content or expectations for learning, to ensure students with disabilities can access and demonstrate their learning.
IDEA
Why Are They Important
Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA)
+
Section 504 Rehabilitation Act
____________________________________
= FAPE
IDEA
requires a student to have a disability that adversely affects their education and requires special education services.
Section 504
has a broader definition of disability, including individuals with impairments that substantially limit major life activities.
DIFFERENCES
SIMILARITIES
Types of Special Education Accommodations
Classroom Accommodations
Adjustments to class environment and teaching methods
Ex. response, setting, presentation, and timing accommodations
Assessment Accommodations
Changes in testing conditions ensures that test scores reflect a student's aptitude not the limitations of their disability.
Ex. large print test, quiet area, extended time, scribes
Assistive Technology
Tools and devices that provide students with disabilities an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.
Ex. text-to-speech, screen readers, calculators
Additional Accommodations to Consider
Hands-On Learning Environment Accommodations
Safety-Based Accommodations
Clarified Step-by-Step Procedures Accommodations
Alternative Formats for Instructions
visual/video
How to Implement Accommodations
Accommodations must be documented in a student’s IEP or 504 plan
Consistently used during regular instruction, classroom assessments, and state/national assessments to ensure familiarity and effectiveness
Effective Strategies for Implementing Accommodations
Collaborate with:
RECAP
PART
SUPPORTS, ALIGNMENT & REFLECTION
MISSISSIPPI TESTING ACCOMMODATION MANUAL
NATIONAL
TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
Meet the Students |
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PREPARING STUDENTS BEFORE TEST DAY
Teach Students to
Use Accommodations Effectively
Provide
Self-Advocacy tips
Align Accommodations with Daily Instruction/ Daily Practice Strategies
Provide Instructional Scaffolding
Build Test
Readiness Skills
Use simulation or shop floor practice to model accommodations
(e.g., extra time for tasks, peer walkthroughs)
Build in mock performance-based assessments with accommodations
(e.g., oral prompts, visual reminders
Use tools such as Edgenuity to align instrutional content with student support
Classroom Prep & Test Readiness Examples
What can you do to embed
test-readiness into your class?
ONGOING EDUCATOR SUPPORTS
COLLABORATE
COLLABORATE
AND OH, YEAH...
COLLABORATE!
MISSISSIPPI AND NATIONAL TRENDS ALIGNMENT
MS Educational Priorities | National Academic Trends |
Enhancing College and Career Readiness focus on accommodations for assessments like the ACT supports the goal of ensuring that ALL students can demonstrate their competencies and readiness for post-secondary success | Literacy and Numeracy Proficiency include strategies for accommodating reading and math assessments |
Implementing Data-Informed Practices promotes a culture of continuous improvement and responsiveness to student needs by interpreting assessment data and monitor the effectiveness of accommodations. | Multi-Tiered System of Supports guides educators in integrating accommodations within this framework, ensuring that interventions are tailored to individual student needs |
Supporting Students with Disabilities equips educators with the knowledge and tools to implement plans effectively, ensuring that students with disabilities receive the necessary accommodations to succeed academically | Career and Technical Integration discuss how to provide accommodations in CTE settings, enabling all students to pursue career pathways. |
How Does All of This Align with MS and National Trends?
Final Takeaways
CTE Initiatives for Students with Disabilities
Reflect
and
Act
Reflection
What questions do you have?
Feel free to reach out anytime with your thoughts!
Evaluation/Feedback
Thank You!