EQAO - Education Quality and Accountability Office Accommodations and Special Provisions Questions and Answers

Question 1

A Grade 6 student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) specifies the use of speech-to-text software for all written assignments due to a learning disability.
For the upcoming EQAO assessment, what is the most appropriate application of this accommodation?

Accepted Answer

The student is permitted to use the speech-to-text software for their responses, provided it is a tool they use regularly in the classroom.

Answer

The accommodation cannot be used as it involves external software not provided by EQAO.

Answer

The student may use the software for planning and organizing ideas, but must hand-write the final responses.

Answer

The school must provide a human scribe instead of allowing the use of assistive technology.

Question 2

Under EQAO guidelines, what is the key distinction between an 'accommodation' and a 'special provision'?

Accepted Answer

Accommodations are supports for students with an IEP, whereas special provisions are typically for English Language Learners or students with temporary circumstances.

Answer

Accommodations are only for the OSSLT, while special provisions apply to Grades 3, 6, and 9.

Answer

Accommodations change the performance expectations of the test, while special provisions only change the timing.

Answer

Accommodations must be pre-approved in writing by EQAO headquarters, while schools can grant special provisions independently.

Question 3

A principal is reviewing the case of a Grade 10 student who is an English Language Learner (ELL) and arrived in an Ontario school for the first time three months ago. Which of the following is the most appropriate course of action regarding the upcoming OSSLT?

Accepted Answer

Defer the student's participation in the OSSLT until a later administration.

Answer

Exempt the student from the OSSLT, as it is not fair to assess them so soon.

Answer

Require the student to write the test with no special provisions to get a baseline score.

Answer

Allow the student to use an online translation tool for the entire assessment.

Question 4

When a teacher is acting as a scribe for a student during an EQAO assessment, which of the following actions is strictly forbidden?

Accepted Answer

Correcting grammatical errors and punctuation to clarify the student's ideas.

Answer

Recording the student's dictated response verbatim.

Answer

Asking the student to spell a word they have dictated.

Answer

Typing the student's response directly into the digital assessment platform.

Question 5

Which of the following is a permissible accommodation for a student with an IEP that documents significant attention difficulties?

Accepted Answer

Administering the test in a small group or individual setting.

Answer

Allowing a parent to sit with the student to help them focus.

Answer

Removing all questions that require multi-step problem-solving.

Answer

Providing the student with a completed exemplar to guide their work.

Question 6

An exemption from an EQAO assessment is a special consideration that can be granted by the principal. Under which circumstance is an exemption most likely to be granted?

Accepted Answer

The student's IEP indicates they are not working toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Answer

The student is an English Language Learner who finds the test too challenging.

Answer

The student has missed a significant number of school days due to a prolonged illness.

Answer

The student's parents have requested an exemption due to test-related anxiety.