ELPA21 - English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century Accessibility and Accommodations Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An English learner with an IEP requires the use of a scribe for the ELPA21 Writing domain. According to the ELPA21 Accessibility and Accommodations Manual, this support is classified as which of the following?
- A universal tool
- A designated support
- An accommodation (Correct answer)
- A non-standard modification
Correct answer: An accommodation
A scribe is a substantial change in the test procedure that is reserved for students with a documented need on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan; therefore, it is classified as an accommodation. Universal tools are available to all students, and designated supports are available to any student for whom a need is identified by an educational team, but a scribe is a more specific support tied to a formal disability plan.
Question 2: A teacher notices a student is having difficulty focusing on one line of text at a time while reading on the computer screen. Which embedded universal tool, available to all students taking the ELPA21, would be most appropriate to assist this student?
- Masking
- Text-to-speech
- Line reader (Correct answer)
- Magnification/Zoom
Correct answer: Line reader
The line reader is an embedded universal tool that helps students track reading line-by-line by highlighting a single line of text, making it the most appropriate tool for a student struggling to focus on individual lines. Masking is a designated support that blocks off quadrants of the screen. Text-to-speech is a designated support or accommodation for test directions only, not reading passages. Magnification enlarges text but does not isolate a single line.
Question 3: What is the primary distinction between a 'designated support' and an 'accommodation' within the ELPA21 accessibility framework?
- Designated supports are non-embedded only, while accommodations are embedded in the testing platform.
- Designated supports can be provided to any student with an identified need by an educational team, while accommodations are reserved for students with an IEP or 504 plan. (Correct answer)
- Designated supports must be approved by the state, while accommodations are approved at the district level.
- Designated supports alter the test construct, while accommodations do not.
Correct answer: Designated supports can be provided to any student with an identified need by an educational team, while accommodations are reserved for students with an IEP or 504 plan.
The key difference lies in eligibility. Designated supports are available to any student if an informed team (including educators and parents) identifies a need. Accommodations, however, are more formal and are only for students with documented disabilities on an IEP or 504 plan.
Question 4: Which of the following would be considered a prohibited modification that would invalidate a student's score on the ELPA21 Reading domain?
- Providing the student with extra time to complete the test.
- Allowing the student to use a highlighter tool on the screen.
- Having a test administrator read the reading passages aloud to the student. (Correct answer)
- Administering the test in a small group setting.
Correct answer: Having a test administrator read the reading passages aloud to the student.
Reading the passages aloud to a student during the Reading domain assessment is a prohibited modification because it fundamentally changes what the test is designed to measure (i.e., the student's own ability to read and comprehend English text). This would invalidate the test score. Extra time, highlighters, and small group settings are allowable accommodations or supports.
Question 5: A school's educational team, including the student's teacher and parent, determines that an English learner would benefit from having the test directions translated into their native language. How is this support categorized under the ELPA21 guidelines?
- An accommodation
- A universal tool
- A procedural consideration
- A designated support (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A designated support
Translated test directions are a designated support. This means they are not automatically available to everyone (like a universal tool) but can be assigned to any student for whom an educational team has identified a need, without the requirement of an IEP or 504 plan.
Question 6: For a student to be eligible to use an accommodation, such as receiving American Sign Language (ASL) for test directions, on the ELPA21 assessment, the accommodation must be:
- Requested by the student on the day of the test.
- Approved by the school principal.
- Documented in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. (Correct answer)
- Available to all students in the same grade level.
Correct answer: Documented in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan.
Accommodations are changes in testing procedures or materials for students with disabilities. For an accommodation to be administered, it must be formally documented in the student's IEP or 504 plan, reflecting that it is also used during regular instruction.
ELPA21 - English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century Accessibility and Accommodations Questions and Answers
An English learner with an IEP requires the use of a scribe for the ELPA21 Writing domain.
According to the ELPA21 Accessibility and Accommodations Manual, this support is classified as which of the following?