Change HOW a student receives information or demonstrates learning. Instructional Accommodations are data driven, planned and purposeful, disability related, and necessary for student access and progress in the curriculum.

Regulation 34 CFR §300.160 states that local and state policies may not allow accommodations that invalidate test scores on a test used for accountability purposes (such as orally administering a reading test to a student). Many districts use common assessments and benchmarks to help prepare a student for the appropriate state assessment. A test given in class (i.e. benchmarks, unit tests, summative assessments) that the school is not using for accountability purposes may utilize accommodations not allowable on the state assessment. This provides an equal opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and prevents bias.

It is important for ARD committees to distinguish between instructional accommodations and
accommodations needed for assessment. Once an ARD committee determines appropriate
accommodations and modifications for a student (including frequency, duration, and location of such services), the LEA is responsible for seeing that those services are provided to a student.

Below are just some examples of common accommodations.