M-STEP Assessment Accommodations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A test administrator reads the test questions aloud to a student who does not have a reading-aloud accommodation in their IEP. What is the consequence?
- The student's score will automatically increase
- This constitutes a testing irregularity that may invalidate the student's scores (Correct answer)
- The administrator will receive a bonus for supporting the student
- No consequence occurs because reading aloud is always permitted
Correct answer: This constitutes a testing irregularity that may invalidate the student's scores
Providing an accommodation not documented in the student's IEP or 504 Plan is a testing irregularity that can invalidate assessment results.
Question 2: Which statement about calculator use as an M-STEP accommodation is most accurate?
- All students may use a calculator on every M-STEP math section
- A calculator may be an accommodation for specific students on designated non-calculator sections if documented in their IEP (Correct answer)
- Calculators are never permitted under any circumstance on M-STEP
- Students choose whether to use a calculator regardless of their IEP
Correct answer: A calculator may be an accommodation for specific students on designated non-calculator sections if documented in their IEP
For eligible students with documented needs in their IEP, a calculator may be permitted even on non-calculator designated sections of M-STEP math.
Question 3: What does 'accommodation fidelity' mean in M-STEP testing?
- The student's loyalty to the testing program
- Implementing the student's approved accommodations exactly as specified in their IEP or 504 Plan (Correct answer)
- The school's financial commitment to purchasing accommodations
- Ensuring all students receive the same accommodations for fairness
Correct answer: Implementing the student's approved accommodations exactly as specified in their IEP or 504 Plan
Accommodation fidelity means that test administrators implement each approved accommodation precisely as written in the student's IEP or 504 Plan.
Question 4: If a student's disability requires speech-to-text software, but the testing device malfunctions on test day, what is the BEST course of action?
- Have the student test without the accommodation and adjust the score later
- Document the issue, contact the assessment coordinator, and reschedule the student's test (Correct answer)
- Allow the student to use a personal device not approved by MDE
- Skip the accommodation and require the student to write by hand
Correct answer: Document the issue, contact the assessment coordinator, and reschedule the student's test
Equipment failures affecting accommodations must be documented and reported; the student should be rescheduled so their approved accommodation can be properly provided.
Question 5: Which M-STEP accommodation is specifically designed to support students with visual impairments who read Braille?
- Audio accommodation
- Large print test format
- Braille form of the assessment (Correct answer)
- Color contrast setting
Correct answer: Braille form of the assessment
M-STEP provides a Braille form of the assessment for students with visual impairments who use Braille as their primary reading medium.
Question 6: How does Michigan determine whether a new student transferring from another state is eligible for M-STEP accommodations?
- The student must re-qualify from scratch with no consideration of prior documentation
- Prior IEP or 504 documentation is reviewed and the receiving school team determines eligibility based on Michigan criteria (Correct answer)
- The student is automatically exempt from M-STEP for the first year
- The sending state's accommodations are automatically accepted without review
Correct answer: Prior IEP or 504 documentation is reviewed and the receiving school team determines eligibility based on Michigan criteria
Michigan schools review incoming IEP or 504 documentation and convene the appropriate team to determine eligibility and appropriate accommodations under Michigan and M-STEP guidelines.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of maintaining consistent accommodation practices between classroom instruction and M-STEP testing?
- To ensure students always score higher on state tests
- To confirm accommodations are genuinely needed and to accurately measure student knowledge without the barrier of a disability (Correct answer)
- To reduce the workload of test administrators
- To allow schools to report higher accommodation usage rates to the state
Correct answer: To confirm accommodations are genuinely needed and to accurately measure student knowledge without the barrier of a disability
Consistent use ensures accommodations are truly necessary and that assessment results reflect what the student knows rather than the impact of an unaddressed disability.
M-STEP Assessment Accommodations 5
A test administrator reads the test questions aloud to a student who does not have a reading-aloud accommodation in their IEP.
What is the consequence?