Region 7
Assistive Technology Center

 

FAQS ABOUT AT ON STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT

1. A student has an AT device on his IEP, but has not used it all year. It is indicated as an accommodation for LEAP. Should he use it on LEAP even though he's not familiar at all with the device or take it off the IEP?
   
   
2. This student uses a calculator for all of his math assignments and on classroom tests. He has the accommodation Assistive Technology on his IEP. May the student use a calculator on the entire Mathematics test?
   
   
3. What type of calculator may a student use on the Mathematics test? May talking calculators be used?
   
   
4. This student requires many breaks during testing due to health issues and difficulty concentrating. What if the student cannot finish the test during the scheduled day?
   
   
5. May Section 504 students, special education and LEP students test in the same small group setting if they have the same accommodations?
   
   
6. Is the WhisperPhone device allowable to any student having individual testing, or, is this a device that needs to be included in the IEP/IAP as a testing accommodation? If so, how should it be classified?
   
   
7. May students highlight in the test booklets?
   
   
8. May students use cover overlays on tests if they use them regularly in classroom instruction and assessment?
   
   
9. May the questions and answer choices in the Reading and Responding Session be read aloud to students with the accommodation Tests Read Aloud?
   
   
10. May a student use an electronic reader like Kurzweil for taking LEAP?
    
    
11. If students type their responses, may we just attach the typed papers to the scorable answer document and sent them in?
    
    
12. May students use an electronic Franklin word-speller or an electronic dictionary on the Writing Session?
    
    
13. What if a student can write the short answers but not the longer Writing Session?
    
    
14. This student can read but often skips lines or loses his place. Another student can read, but takes a long time. Should we just put them in a small group where the accommodation Tests Read Aloud is provided?
    
    
15. The teacher has prepared a glossary for his students. May the students use this teacher made glossary in place of the dictionary and thesaurus for the Writing Session?
    
    
16. May 9 or more students be tested in a small group?
    
    
17. May two small groups be tested in the same room?
    
    
18. May a paraprofessional administer LAA 1?
    
    
19. May a student use word prediction if they have this accommodation listed on their IEP and use it throughout the year?
    
    
20. If the student uses an augmentative communication device with direct selection, how can we set up the device to use for testing?
    
    
21. Where can I get more information about accommodations to statewide testing?
    

? A student has an AT device on his IEP, but has not used it all year. It is indicated as an accommodation for LEAP. Should he use it on LEAP even though he's not familiar at all with the device or take it off the IEP?
It's recommended that the student not use it for LEAP since he has not used it all year and is not familiar with the device. If the student does not need the device it should be removed from his IEP.

? This student uses a calculator for all of his math assignments and on classroom tests. He has the accommodation Assistive Technology on his IEP. May the student use a calculator on the entire Mathematics test?
Yes. The student is allowed to use a calculator as an accommodation on all sessions of the Mathematics tests including the non-calculator sessions. On LAA 2, all students may use a calculator for the entire Mathematics test.

? What type of calculator may a student use on the Mathematics test? May talking calculators be used?
Lists of acceptable calculators are included in the Assessment Guides for each testing program. These assessment guides are posted under each assessment on the state web site http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/saa/2273.html. Talking calculators may only be used by students who have them indicated as an accommodation on their lEPs or lAPs.

? This student requires many breaks during testing due to health issues and difficulty concentrating. What if the student cannot finish the test during the scheduled day?
For special education, Section 504, or LEP students who are eligible for the accommodation Extended/Adjusted Time, the test may be continued after the testing day. However, testing must be completed within the allotted test dates, including the makeup days. The test administrator must put a nonpermanent place marker, such as a sticky note, on the answer document where the student stopped testing and monitor the testing that follows to ensure that the student does not return to previously attempted items.

? May Section 504 students, special education and LEP students test in the same small group setting if they have the same accommodations?
Yes.

? Is the WhisperPhone device allowable to any student having individual testing, or, is this a device that needs to be included in the IEP/IAP as a testing accommodation? If so, how should it be classified?

A WhisperPhone (or similar device) must be indicated as an accommodation, Assistive Technology, for the student to use it during standardized testing. Also, the student must test individually so other students cannot hear the student.

? May students highlight in the test booklets?
All students may use highlighters in test booklets. However, the test administrator must instruct the students to not highlight in the answer documents. If students mark the answer document with a highlighter, the responses may not be scanned correctly. The document is considered damaged and all responses must be transferred to an unused answer document.

? May students use cover overlays on tests if they use them regularly in classroom instruction and assessment?
Yes, if it is listed as an accommodation on their lEPs or lAPs.

? May the questions and answer choices in the Reading and Responding Session be read aloud to students with the accommodation Tests Read Aloud?
No. Only the directions at the beginning of the session may be read aloud to students. If any other part is read aloud, it is considered an administrative error and the test must be voided.

? May a student use an electronic reader like Kurzweil for taking LEAP?
Yes. However, the district must submit procedures for preparing for testing and ensuring test security prior to the beginning of testing to LDE, Division of Standards and Assessments. All individuals involved must sign an Oath of Security and Confidentiality Statement which the district test coordinator keeps on file for 3 years.

? If students type their responses, may we just attach the typed papers to the scorable answer document and sent them in?
No. All responses must be transferred to the scorable answer document for the student to receive a score. In addition, there are specific directions in the test administration manuals and in the Test Accommodations Guidelines posted on the web for each test on security procedures for the school test coordinator and test administrator to follow.

? May students use an electronic Franklin word-speller or an electronic dictionary on the Writing Session?
Yes. However, any dictionaries or word-spellers may not be used on any other sessions or tests.

? What if a student can write the short answers but not the longer Writing Session?
Document on the IEP or IAP and in the testing documentation which parts of the test the student is able to write, and which parts will be recorded by the test administrator.

? This student can read but often skips lines or loses his place. Another student can read, but takes a long time. Should we just put them in a small group where the accommodation Tests Read Aloud is provided?
No, If the students can read independently they should not be provided the accommodation Tests Read Aloud. For the student who loses his place, he may test individually with a test administrator who assists him in tracking. The test administrator needs to be very careful to not provide cues to the student except to where he needs to be focusing his attention. The second student should be provided extended/adjusted rime to provide him sufficient time to complete his test.

? The teacher has prepared a glossary for his students. May the students use this teacher made glossary in place of the dictionary and thesaurus for the Writing Session?
No, only published dictionaries and thesaurus may be used for testing.

? May 9 or more students be tested in a small group?
No, 8 is the maximum number in a small group.

? May two small groups be tested in the same room?
No, That would be a large group.

? May a paraprofessional administer LAA 1?
No.

? May a student use word prediction if they have this accommodation listed on their IEP and use it throughout the year?
Yes, word predictionis an allowable assistive technology accommodation. The test administrator must turn off the "predict - ahead" feature. (This is a feature that displays what the student's next word may be before the student presses a letter for that word.)

? If the student uses an augmentative communication device with direct selection, how can we set up the device to use for testing?
For LAA 2 and above, most teachers have found that setting up pages with multiple choice responses (A, B, C, D, E, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and a yes/no page are adequate to answer questions. For written responses, the student may utilize the device to write and the teacher can transfer those answers to the answer document. The accommodation, transferred answers, must be indicated.
For LAA 1, most students are able to directly select items in the testing booklet. If the graphics are needed for students who use scanning to select, the graphics may be downloaded from LDE website (http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/saa/787.html) or the CDs may be requested by the District Test Coordinator from the testing company. These graphics may be kept after testing to be used in classroom instruction.
? Where can I get more information about accommodations to statewide testing?
There are two sites for information on assistive technology accommodations tor statewide testing on the LDE web: