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Depending on the request, a student who meets the eligibility criteria for this TEA-approved designated support may use it on:

• STAAR, including STAAR Spanish

• TELPAS

Designated supports that fall into the Other category are for students with unique needs not addressed explicitly with any accessibility features or another designated support. Other designated supports are not intended to provide additional supplemental aids not listed as allowed or for students who fail to meet established eligibility criteria for designated supports.

Submit an Accommodation Request Form to Texas Education Agency (TEA) if the student:

• routinely, independently, and effectively (if applicable) receives this designated support during classroom instruction and classroom testing, and

• is unable to effectively use any accessibility features or designated supports to address this need.

• The STAAR Non-Embedded Supports field should be updated under the Non-Embedded Supports panel in Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE) prior to testing to indicate that a support was approved and made available to the student. Special instructions sent with an approval may indicate additional information that should be recorded.

• For a student not receiving special education or Section 504 services, the decision is made by the appropriate team of people at the campus level (e.g., Response to Intervention [RtI] team, student assistance team) and documented according to district policies. The decision should be based on the eligibility criteria and aimed at addressing a student's consistent academic struggle in a specific area, even after intensive instruction and remediation.

• For an emergent bilingual (EB) student, the decision is made by the language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC) based on the eligibility criteria and is documented in the student's permanent record file.

• For a student receiving Section 504 services, the decision is made by the Section 504 committee based on the eligibility criteria and is documented in the student's individual accommodation plan (IAP).

• For a student receiving special education services, the decision is made by the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee based on the eligibility criteria and is documented in the student's individualized education program (IEP).

• For an EB student with a disability, the appropriate committee makes the decision in conjunction with the student's LPAC. The decision is documented in the student's permanent record file and IAP or IEP.

• Accommodation Request Forms must be received by TEA according to the posted deadlines. Late requests MAY NOT be processed unless circumstances involving the student change after the deadline (e.g., newly enrolled student, medical emergency, updated ARD committee decision). In these circumstances, the district testing coordinator should contact their district's Accommodations Task Force representative.

• Depending on the designated support, a student may need to complete the test in a separate setting to eliminate distractions to other students and to ensure the confidentiality of the test.

• TEA may provide additional procedures specific to the requested designated support if approved.

• For students who require test materials in a font size larger than the state-supplied large-print test materials, refer to the test administration instructions and the Font and Point Size Matrices for STAAR, STAAR Alternate 2, and TELPAS. Some students may need double-sided test materials photocopied into single-sided sheets:

  • because they have a physical disability that prevents them from effectively manipulating test materials printed on both sides of the paper or turning the pages in a test booklet;

  • because they have a disability that necessitates test materials be presented in a printed format other than a test booklet; or

  • to prevent behavioral outbursts or other severe behaviors that could interfere with completion of the test.

In these rare cases, an Accommodation Request Form for Other should be submitted to TEA.

• Any Other accommodation must be submitted using an Accommodation Request Form. The Other accommodation must have a detailed rationale that explains the need, reason, and effectiveness of the requested accommodation. All Other requests are categorized as "Pending TEA approval" upon submission.

• For situations when a student experiences an unexpected or emergency situation immediately before an assessment and all locally approved designated supports do not meet the student's needs, refer to the Accommodations in Unexpected or Emergency Situations policy.

For questions about this or any other designated support requiring TEA approval, contact the Student Assessment Division at (512) 463-9536 and ask to speak with your district's Accommodations Task Force representative. You may also contact the Student Assessment Division Help Desk.