M-STEP Assessment Accommodations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'universally designed assessment' mean in the context of M-STEP?
- Tests given to all students in the universe
- Assessments built from the start to be accessible to the widest range of students (Correct answer)
- Tests that require no accommodations for any student
- Assessments designed only for students with disabilities
Correct answer: Assessments built from the start to be accessible to the widest range of students
Universal design in assessment means building accessibility features into the test from the outset so that all students, including those with disabilities, can participate meaningfully.
Question 2: An ELL student with a disability has both an IEP and an English Learner (EL) plan. Which accommodations may apply to M-STEP testing?
- Only IEP accommodations apply
- Only EL accommodations apply
- Both IEP and EL accommodations may apply simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Neither set applies; ELL students are exempt
Correct answer: Both IEP and EL accommodations may apply simultaneously
Students who are both ELL and have disabilities may be eligible for accommodations from both their IEP and their EL plan on state assessments.
Question 3: Which statement best describes a 'non-embedded accommodation' on the M-STEP?
- An accommodation built directly into the online testing platform
- An accommodation provided outside the testing system, such as a separate room or human reader (Correct answer)
- An accommodation that cannot be used during testing
- A digital tool available to all students by default
Correct answer: An accommodation provided outside the testing system, such as a separate room or human reader
Non-embedded accommodations are provided by school staff or through external means rather than through built-in features of the online test platform.
Question 4: How frequently must a student's IEP team review whether their testing accommodations are still appropriate?
- Every five years
- At least annually during the IEP review meeting (Correct answer)
- Only when the student fails a state assessment
- Every three years during the re-evaluation
Correct answer: At least annually during the IEP review meeting
IEP teams are required to review the IEP at least annually, which includes reviewing the appropriateness of assessment accommodations.
Question 5: A student whose IEP includes extended time uses that accommodation on classroom tests daily. Why is this instructional-use requirement important for M-STEP testing?
- It ensures the student has practiced cheating prevention
- It verifies that the accommodation is genuinely needed and routinely used, supporting its validity on state tests (Correct answer)
- It allows the school to charge for the accommodation
- It prevents other students from requesting the same accommodation
Correct answer: It verifies that the accommodation is genuinely needed and routinely used, supporting its validity on state tests
Accommodations must be used routinely in instruction to demonstrate that they are necessary; testing-only accommodations are not considered valid under M-STEP guidelines.
Question 6: Which student population is referred to as 'Recently Arrived ELLs' and may qualify for special M-STEP participation decisions?
- Students who transferred between Michigan districts
- English learners who have been enrolled in a US school for less than 12 months (Correct answer)
- Students who recently scored proficient on an ELP assessment
- Native English speakers who moved to Michigan recently
Correct answer: English learners who have been enrolled in a US school for less than 12 months
Recently Arrived ELLs, defined as those enrolled in a US school for fewer than 12 months, may qualify for certain participation exemptions or additional accommodations on M-STEP.
Question 7: What is the purpose of the Michigan's Accommodation Resources Tool (ART) in relation to M-STEP?
- It scores student assessments automatically
- It helps educators identify and document appropriate accommodations for individual students (Correct answer)
- It replaces the IEP process for students with disabilities
- It tracks teacher certification in accommodation delivery
Correct answer: It helps educators identify and document appropriate accommodations for individual students
Michigan's Accommodation Resources Tool (ART) is designed to help educators identify, select, and document appropriate accommodations for students taking M-STEP and other state assessments.
M-STEP Assessment Accommodations 3
What does 'universally designed assessment' mean in the context of M-STEP?