Accommodations for Students with Disabilities taking STAAR, STAAR Spanish, STAAR Modified, STAAR L, and TELPAS

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Accommodations for students with disabilities are intended to provide students effective and equitable access to grade-level or course curriculum and assessments. For the purposes of the statewide assessments, students needing accommodations due to a disability include:

  • A student with an identified disability who receives special education services and meets established eligibility criteria for certain accommodations
  • A student with an identified disability who receives Section 504 services and meets established eligibility criteria for certain accommodations
  • A student with a disabling condition who does not receive special education or Section 504 services but meets established eligibility criteria for certain accommodations

For students who receive special education or Section 504 services, the decision for a student to use accommodations during the statewide assessments is made by the ARD committee or Section 504 placement committee. In those rare instances where a student does not receive services but meets the eligibility criteria because of a disabling condition, the decision about using accommodations on the statewide assessments is made by the appropriate team of people at the campus level, such as the Response to Intervention (RTI) team or student assistance team.

NoteThis webpage takes the place of TEA's annually published accommodations manual. As policies and documents are finalized, they will be posted as separate links. The date shown on each document will indicate when the document was last revised.

Training and Presentations

Presentations about accommodations for students with disabilities taking STAAR and TELPAS will be posted in this area as they become available.

Accommodation Policies and Procedures for 2011-2012

Critical Information about Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (PDF posted 12/27/11)

This document describes the purpose and appropriate use of testing accommodations for students with disabilities who take STAAR, STAAR Spanish, STAAR Modified, STAAR L, and TELPAS. Educators must read and understand this information prior to making accommodation decisions.

Optional Test Administration Procedures and Materials (PDF posted 01/02/12)

This document describes some procedures and materials that may be used during the statewide assessments by any student who needs them. These optional test administration procedures and materials are not considered testing accommodations and are not recorded on the student's answer document.

The Accommodation Triangle (PDF posted 12/27/11)

This triangle organizes accommodations for students with disabilities by type in accordance with the specificity of the eligibility criteria and the need for TEA approval. Links to specific information about each accommodation are provided in the triangle below.

Accommodation Triangle
newAccommodation Request Process For Type 3 Accommodations (PDF posted 01/31/12)

This information guides district and campus personnel in the process for requesting Type 3 accommodations. A link to the online Accommodation Request Form is included.

Online Accommodation Request Form (external link)
new2012 Online Accommodation Request Submission Deadlines (PDF posted 02/08/12)

This document lists the deadlines for submitting online accommodation request forms for each test administration through July 2012 testing.

Guidelines for Recording Accommodation Use on the Student's Answer Document (coming soon)

This document directs test administrators and coordinators how to record the accommodation type on the answer document. Specific examples are provided.

Related Resources

For additional information, contact:

Student Assessment Division
512/463-9536
test.accommodations@tea.state.tx.us
ell.tests@tea.state.tx.us

Page last modified on 2/10/2012.