DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Tel. (518) 474-2714
Fax (518) 474-8802

October 29, 2003

Dear School Personnel and Parents:

Many students with disabilities require testing accommodations in order to participate in testing programs on an equal basis with their nondisabled peers. Such accommodations provide students with the ability to demonstrate mastery of skills and attainment of knowledge without being limited or unfairly restricted due to the effects of a disability.

The purpose of this guidebook is to provide members of the Committee on Special Education/Section 504 Multidisciplinary Team, principals, teachers, parents and students with a variety of tools and suggestions for consideration when determining appropriate testing accommodations for individual students with disabilities. This document is intended to be used in conjunction with the following policy documents:

1. 1995 Test Access and Modifications for Individuals with Disabilities manual,

2. February 2002 field memorandum Changes in Allowable Testing Accommodations for the Elementary and Intermediate-level State tests, Effective September 2002,

3. School Administrator's Manuals distributed by the Office of State Assessment for:
•Elementary and Intermediate-Level Tests http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/elintgen.html
•Regents Examinations, Regents Competency Tests, and Proficiency Examinations

Please contact your Regional Office of Special Education Quality Assurance listed in the appendix or the Special Education Policy Unit at (518) 473-2878 if you have any questions regarding testing accommodations.

Sincerely,
Lawrence C. Gloeckler

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Regents of The University

ROBERT M. BENNETT, Chancellor, B.A., M.S. Tonawanda
ADELAIDE L. SANFORD, Vice Chancellor, B.A., M.A., P.D. Hollis
DIANE O'NEILL MCGIVERN, B.S.N., M.A., Ph.D. .Staten Island
SAUL B. COHEN, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. New Rochelle
JAMES C. DAWSON, A.A., B.A., M.S., Ph.D. Peru
ROBERT M. JOHNSON, B.S., J.D. Huntington
ANTHONY S. BOTTAR, B.A., J.D. North Syracuse
MERRYL H. TISCH, B.A., M.A. New York
GERALDINE D. CHAPEY, B.A., M.A., Ed.D. Belle Harbor
ARNOLD B. GARDNER, B.A., LL.B. Buffalo
HARRY PHILLIPS, 3rd, B.A., M.S.F.S. Hartsdale
JOSEPH E. BOWMAN, JR., B.A., M.L.S., M.A., M.Ed., Ed.D Albany
LORRAINE A. CORTÉS-VÁZQUEZ, B.A., M.P.A. Bronx
JUDITH O. RUBIN, A.B. New York
JAMES R. TALLON, JR., B.A., M.A. Binghamton
MILTON L. COFIELD, B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D. Rochester

President of The University and Commissioner of Education
RICHARD P. MILLS

Chief Operating Officer
RICHARD H. CATE

Deputy Commissioner for Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities
LAWRENCE C. GLOECKLER

Coordinator, Policy, Planning and Partnerships
DOUGLASS BAILEY

Supervisor, Special Education Policy
CANDACE SHYER

The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services and activities. Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including Braille, large print or audiotape, upon request. Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Department's Office for Diversity, Ethics, and Access, Room 530, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234. Requests for additional copies of this publication may be made by contacting VESID, Special Education Policy Unit, Publications, Room 1624 OCP, Albany, NY 12234 or your local Special Education Training and Resource Center (SETRC).

TEST ACCESS & ACCOMMODATIONS for Students With Disabilities (Updated August 2004) PDF

TEST ACCESS & ACCOMMODATIONS for Students With Disabilities, WORD