M-STEP Assessment Accommodations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document legally mandates that students with disabilities receive appropriate accommodations during state assessments like the M-STEP?
- No Child Left Behind Act
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA requires that students with disabilities receive accommodations documented in their IEP, including during state assessments.
Question 2: A student with a processing speed deficit needs extra time on the M-STEP. Who is primarily responsible for documenting this accommodation?
- The classroom teacher alone
- The IEP or 504 team (Correct answer)
- The building principal
- The state assessment coordinator
Correct answer: The IEP or 504 team
Extended time and other accommodations must be documented in the student's IEP or 504 Plan by the appropriate team.
Question 3: What is the difference between an accommodation and a modification in assessment contexts?
- An accommodation changes what is being tested; a modification does not
- A modification changes what is being tested; an accommodation does not (Correct answer)
- Both terms mean the same thing in Michigan
- Modifications are allowed on M-STEP; accommodations are not
Correct answer: A modification changes what is being tested; an accommodation does not
Modifications alter the content or construct being measured, while accommodations change how a student accesses the test without changing what is measured.
Question 4: Which accommodation category includes having test directions read aloud to a student?
- Setting accommodations
- Timing accommodations
- Presentation accommodations (Correct answer)
- Response accommodations
Correct answer: Presentation accommodations
Presentation accommodations change how test content is delivered to the student, including reading directions aloud.
Question 5: A student uses a scribe to record written responses on the M-STEP. This is an example of which type of accommodation?
- Presentation accommodation
- Setting accommodation
- Response accommodation (Correct answer)
- Timing accommodation
Correct answer: Response accommodation
Response accommodations change how students provide their answers, such as using a scribe, speech-to-text, or other alternate response methods.
Question 6: For M-STEP purposes, which students may be eligible for accommodations under Section 504?
- Only students with IEPs
- Students with physical or mental impairments that substantially limit a major life activity (Correct answer)
- Only students diagnosed with learning disabilities
- Students who score below grade level
Correct answer: Students with physical or mental impairments that substantially limit a major life activity
Section 504 covers students with physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities, which is a broader category than IDEA eligibility.
Question 7: Which of the following is NOT a standard allowable accommodation on the M-STEP for eligible students?
- Extended time
- Use of a calculator on non-calculator sections for all students (Correct answer)
- Text-to-speech technology
- Small group testing environment
Correct answer: Use of a calculator on non-calculator sections for all students
Providing a calculator on non-calculator sections would change what is being measured and is considered a modification, not an accommodation, and is not universally allowed.
M-STEP Assessment Accommodations 2
Which document legally mandates that students with disabilities receive appropriate accommodations during state assessments like the M-STEP?