PSSA Accommodations Guidelines for Students with IEPs and

Standard
Ethics/
Security
Invalidates
score
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Accommodations Guidelines for Students with IEPs and Students with 504 Plans
TABLE 3: SETTING ACCOMMODATIONS
DESCRIPTION OF SETTING ACCOMMODATIONS
Not allowable
for PSSA,
PSSA-M &
Keystone
(paper/pencil)
Reduce Distractions to the Student
A setting accommodation to reduce distractions would allow a student to do
individual work or take tests in a different location, usually in a place with few or no
other students. Changes may also be made to a student’s location within a room.
For example, a student who is easily distracted may not want to sit near windows,
doors, or pencil sharpeners.
Sitting near the teacher’s desk or in the front of a classroom may be helpful for
some students.
Physically enclosed classrooms (classrooms with four walls) may be more
appropriate than open classrooms,
Study carrels might be helpful for students who are easily distracted.
Students with low vision may prefer to sit in the part of a room that has the best
light.
Some students concentrate best while wearing noise buffers such as earphones,
earplugs, or headphones.
Reduce Distractions to Other Students
Some students use accommodations that may distract other students.
For example, some students need a reader or scribe.
In addition, some students might perform better when they can read and think out
loud or make noises that distract other students.
Distractions to other students are reduced by using these accommodations in
individual settings.
Small Group
A small group setting allows a student to take the test in a different location usually in
a place with few or no other students.
No more than 5 in a group for students who need the entire test read aloud.
Approximately 8-12 in a group is typical for reasons such as distractibility and
partial read alouds.
The Keystone Exams will not be administered 2011-2012 44 1/24/2012