STAAR Alternate 2 Accommodations
TEA defines accommodations as changes to materials or procedures that enable students to participate meaningfully in learning and testing. It is critical that students with disabilities are provided access to the assessment through careful use of accommodations wherever appropriate. Accommodations may be used only if they meet the criteria below and are listed in the student’s individualized education program (IEP). The accommodations must:
maintain the integrity of the assessment,
avoid leading to or providing the student with a direct answer,
be used routinely in instruction,
reflect the student’s learning styles, and
allow a student to respond using a mode that is appropriate for the student.
The table below shows allowable accommodations for STAAR Alternate 2 and the code that should be entered in the STAAR Alternate 2 Non-Embedded Supports field in TIDE after the administration if the accommodation is used by a student.
Allowable Accommodations | TIDE Code |
Color or highlight images or text. | Color Or Highlight Images |
Place color overlays on images or text. | Color Overlays |
Pair images or text with photographs, picture representations, or real objects of the same content. Photographs, pictures, or real objects must be as close to the original as possible. | Photographs Or Objects Paired With Text |
Attach textured materials to images or text. | Textured Materials |
Demonstrate concepts or relationships in images or text. | Demonstrate Concepts |
Raise or darken the outline in images or text. | Raise Or Darken Outline |
Enlarge images or text. Magnification devices, photocopying, or computer magnification programs may be used. | Enlarge Images Or Text |
Add braille labels to images or provide text in braille. | Braille |
Describe images for students with visual impairments. Descriptions of images may include only details of what can be seen in the images without comments about the overall impression of the image. | Describe Images |
Provide images or text on separate paper presented one at a time. Images must be presented in the same order or configuration as they appear in the test booklet. | Provide Images Or Text Separately |
Cover or isolate images or text until addressed. | Cover Or Isolate Images |
Use routine picture representations for key words in verbal directions to the student. Only what is visually presented, stated in text, or supplied in the secure test instructions may be provided. | Picture Representations |
Use calculator, manipulatives, or math tools to arrive at a response. These include fraction pieces, geometric shapes, number lines, number charts, money, base-ten blocks, and counters. | Calculator, Manipulatives, Math Tools |
Reread sections of the text. Follow the guidelines in the Presentations Instructions section of the STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manual for guidance on repeating presentation instructions and rereading sections of the text. | Reread Text (Prior To “Find” Statement) |
Provide structured reminders. These include personal timers, token systems, color-coded or handwritten reminders, or visual schedules. | Provide Structured Reminders |
Translate presentation instructions. Note that only presentation instructions may be translated. Test content must not be translated. | Translated Student Material |
During a STAAR Alternate 2 administration, a student may respond using the communication mode appropriate for the student at the time of testing. Whether a student responds verbally, physically, or visually, it is important that the test administrator clearly understands the student’s preferred answer choice. For examples of verbal, physical, and visual responses, refer to the STAAR Alternate 2 Educator Guide on the STAAR Alternate 2 Resources web page.
Prior to the opening of the STAAR Alternate 2 testing window, there is a two-week preview window during which test administrators may preview the assessment. A test administrator may also preview the assessment during the testing window as long as testing has not begun for a particular student. Test administrators may NOT administer the assessment during the preview window.