1. LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS AND
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Sonya Henley
EDET J735
Spring 2012

2. Student Participation
• All students are required to participate in the state’s large-
scale assessments:
1. Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS)
2. High School Assessment Program (HSAP)
3. End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP)
4. South Carolina Alternate Assessment (SC-Alt)

3. More on the Assessments (1)
• PASS
• All students in grades 3 through 8.
• Subtests are English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, science,
and social studies.
• HSAP
• All students beyond their second year in high school.
• Subtests are ELA and mathematics.
• Students must pass to receive a S.C. Diploma
• Students must test until both subtests are passed or the student
graduates with a certificate.

4. More on the Assessments (2)
• EOCEP
• Students enrolled in gateway courses: English 1, Algebra 1,
Biology 1, or U.S. History and Constitution
• Scores count as 20% of students’ final grades.
• SC-Alt
• Students with severe cognitive disabilities aged 8-13 or 15 on
September 1 of the school year.
• Students assessed with alternate achievement standards.
• Subtests include ELA, mathematics, science, and social studies.

5. More on the Students (1)
• A student with a documented disability has been
evaluated and found to meet the eligibility criteria for
enrollment in special education.
• As defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA 1997) and the South Carolina Board of
Education, OR
• One who has a disability covered under Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

6. More on the Students (2)
• All students with current individualized education program
or 504 Accommodation Plan must participate in the state’s
large-scale assessments.
• Students may participate in the same manner as other
students or with accommodations.
• If the student cannot participate with appropriate
accommodations, the student must be tested with SC-Alt
when age eligible.

7. Types of Allowable Accommodations
1. Setting
2. Timing
3. Scheduling
4. Presentation
5. Response Options
6. Extended Response Options
7. Supplemental Materials and Devices
8. Special Circumstances

8. Setting
• Tests should be administered in a setting appropriate to
the student’s individual needs.
• This accommodation includes:
1. Preferential seating
2. Separate testing location
3. Small group administration
4. Individual administration

9. Timing
• S.C.’s large-scale assessments are not timed.
• Students may have the entire school day to complete the
test(s).
• Timing accommodations include
1. Frequent breaks
2. Extended breaks

10. Scheduling
• The scheduling of the test should be best suited to the
student’s needs.
• This accommodation includes:
1. Afternoon administration
2. Multiple testing sessions per day
3. Multiple testing days

11. Presentation
• The student may require that the test be presented in a
different manner.
• This accommodation includes:
1. Highlighting of directions and/or text within the test
2. Cueing to directions (e.g., providing arrows, stop signs, etc.)
3. Reading aloud to self
4. Repeating/signing directions
5. Customized test forms
• Large-Print, Loose-Leaf, Sign Language, or Braille
6. Oral or signed administration
a. Oral administration script or CD-ROM
b. Sign Language DVD (ASL and/or Pidgin Signed Exact English)
c. Sign Language Script
d. Braille oral administration script

12. Response Options
• Students also have options in the manner they record
their answers in the test booklets and/or answer
documents.
• This accommodation includes:
1. Typing responses
2. Writing responses on bold-line or other special paper.
3. Nonverbal indication of answer choices
4. Dictation of responses
5. Braille test responses
6. Responding in the test booklet

13. Extended Response Options
• For the extended-response portion of the writing and/or
ELA test, students may receive assistance with the
spelling or the physical task or writing.
• This accommodation includes:
1. Use of word processors
2. Spelling assistance
• Poor speller’s dictionary
• Electronic speller

14. Supplemental Materials & Devices
• Supplemental devices used during instruction may also be
used during testing.
• This accommodation includes:
1. Amplification equipment or special acoustics
2. Magnifying device or special lighting
3. Colored overlays
4. Pointer to assist in maintaining visual attention
5. Braillewriter, Braille note-taking device, or word processor
6. Pencil grips or large-diameter pencils
7. Special assistive devices (adaptive keyboard, voice synthesizer)
8. Television monitor and DVD
9. Adaptive or special furniture
10. Calculator

15. Special Circumstances
• Some students require additional accommodations or
modifications for testing, and these special requests are
handled on an individual basis by the Office of
Assessment in the S.C. State Department of Education.