Testing Accommodations

Testing accommodations are provided as outlined to students with IEPs or 504 Plans, as well as English Learners (ELs). Staff administering assessments throughout the year with accommodations must be familiar with the information in the IEP/504 Plan. Administration of CSA Accommodations should emulate the SOL guidelines as closely as possible, as they are designed to prepare for the SOL Tests. Common presentation accommodations are outlined below.

Audio

• MasteryConnect provides Audio utilizing the Text-to-Speech functionality. This is function is activated through the your student Tracker. Text-to-Speech settings are not saved across all trackers for a student. For more information about how to enable Text-to-Speech please visit https://help.masteryconnect.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002706894-Making-Text-to-Speech-Available-to-Students.

Paper Test

• Paper tests are available to students with the accommodation specified in their IEP/504 Plan or English Learner Assessment Participation Plan. Please contact your school's CSA Designee/Alternate to place an order with the Testing Department on your behalf.

Large-Print Test

• Large-print tests are available only to students who have a documented visual impairment (IEP/504 Plan). Please contact your school's CSA Designee/Alternate to place an order with the Testing Department on your behalf.

Read Aloud

• Examiners administering exams with the Read-Aloud accommodation may be required to read portions of, or the entirety, of the test per the IEP/504 Plan. Examiners may read the test from the student's screen or request a paper copy of the test through the Testing Designee. Please contact your school's CSA Designee/Alternate to place an order for a proctor copy with the Testing Department on your behalf.
  • HCS strives to align with SOL accommodations. More details for Administering the Read-Aloud Accommodation can be found at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/participation/guidelines_read_aloud.pdf

Bilingual Dictionary - ELs Specific

• ELs may use a bilingual dictionary on CSA tests following these guidelines:
  • The bilingual dictionary must be individually offered to each EL documented to have this accommodation for testing.
  • The bilingual dictionary must be a general, word-to-word bilingual dictionary.
  • The bilingual dictionary must not be a specialized dictionary, such as a subject specific dictionary, rhyming dictionary, picture dictionary, etc.
  • The Bilingual dictionary must be a paper dictionary. Electronic Bilingual dictionaries or translators are not allowed.
  • The bilingual dictionary may be either school-owned or student-owned.
  • The bilingual dictionary must not be altered with hand-written notes in the margins nor include additional materials, such as class notes.
  • The bilingual dictionary should be familiar to the EL. EL may be eligible to use bilingual dictionary for SOL.
  • The bilingual dictionary may be used alone or with the English dictionary (see below).

English Dictionary - ELs Specific

• Because an English dictionary may provide definitions of subject-specific vocabulary that ELs are expected to know (e.g., median, simile, metaphor) for the CSA Tests, the use of this testing accommodation should be carefully considered. ELs may use an English dictionary on the CSA test following these guidelines:
  • The English dictionary must be a general dictionary without a thesaurus section.
  • The English dictionary must not be a specialized dictionary, such as a subject specific dictionary, rhyming dictionary, picture dictionary, etc.
  • The English dictionary must be a paper dictionary. Electronic dictionaries are not allowed.
  • The English dictionary may be either school-owned or student-owned.
  • The English dictionary must not be altered with hand-written notes in the margins nor include additional materials, such as class notes.
  • The English dictionary should be familiar to the EL. EL may be eligible to use the English dictionary for SOL.
  • The English dictionary is not permitted on the CSA for Grade 8 Writings.