Scheduling: Over Several Days

Related References

Types of Assessment Accommodations Accommodation Objectives Guiding Principles Case Studies Glossary

A common accommodation is to administer the test in several sessions over several days. For example, a teacher may give one subtest on Monday and another on Tues- day, rather than giving it in its entirety on Monday. Or, the teacher may give the test on a specific day.

Generally, students who require this accommodation take the test in a separate set- ting so they will not distract other students - and so they will not be distracted.

Procedure

1. Review a calendar to determine the schedule for the test. The key is to meet the student's needs while not significantly interrupting the sequence of the test. A reasonable place to stop an assessment for the day is at the end of a subtest.
2. Some experts caution against interrupting a subtest at all, so it is wise to check with your district before providing that as an option.
3. Share the schedule with the student and his or her family.
4. Make sure you have not scheduled testing times that conflict with important classroom instruction or with activities that are of high interest to the student (e.g., the student will miss a field trip).

Cautions

A student who must take a test over several days may experience a decline in motivation. Student absenteeism also may become a factor if several days of testing are scheduled.

Excerpted from Assessment Accommodations Toolkit.

Provided in partnership with The Council for Exceptional Children.