Results of Survey on State Assessment and Accountability Initiatives: Inclusion of Students with Visual Impairments
Carol B. Allman, Ph.D.
July 2002
Purpose
The purpose of this survey of states was to collect information regarding states' current status in dealing with the assessment and accountability of students with visual impairments. Results of this survey are being used to assist in guiding the efforts of the American Printing House for the Blind's Test Central Initiative.
Method
Surveys were sent to state vision consultants and assessment office personnel in each state. The first mailing was sent in August 2001, and a second mailing was done in January 2002. In addition, the survey was posted on the APH website from January - June 2002.
Data Collection
Thirty-five states responded. States responding were: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (2), Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas (2), Louisiana (2), Maine, Maryland (2), Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York (2), North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon (2), Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. One respondent indicated that no state assessment is given; a second respondent indicated, "too busy to respond." Therefore, 33 completed responses were used for purposes of this study.
Person Completing Survey
| State VI Consultant | 10 |
| Teacher of Visually Impaired | 3 |
| Other VI Personnel | 12 |
| Non VI Personnel | 10 |
| Total | 35 |
Grade Levels Assessed
| Grade Levels | # of States |
|---|---|
| K | 4 |
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 10 |
| 3 | 20 |
| 4 | 26 |
| 5 | 21 |
| 6 | 19 |
| 7 | 17 |
| 8 | 32 |
| 9 | 12 |
| 10 | 20 |
| 11 | 19 |
| 12 | 8 |
State Testing
| VI Included in State Assessment Program: | 33 out of 33 |
| Passing State Test Required for Graduation | 17 out of 33 |
| Passing State Test Required for VI to Graduate | 15 out of 33 |
| State Test Used for Grading of Schools or Sanctions | 28 out of 33 |
| VI Included in School Grading or Sanctions | 21 out of 33 |
| Scores are reported with Accommodations Indicated | 17 out of 33 |
Accomodations Allowed in the Presentation of Test Material
| Accommodation | Yes | No | NR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use of Magnification Device | 32 | 0 | 1 |
| Use of Large Print Version of Test | 32 | 0 | 1 |
| State Provides Large Print Test | 30 | 1 | 2 |
| Enlarging at Local Level Allowed | 11 | 16 | 6 |
| Use of Templates, Rulers, Markers to Maintain Place | 29 | 1 | 3 |
| Use of Braille Version of Test | 32 | 0 | 1 |
| State Provides Braille Test | 30 | 0 | 3 |
| Brailling at Local Level Allowed | 8 | 21 | 4 |
| Use Computer Presentation of Test | 12 | 18 | 3 |
| Use of Scanner, Text-talk Converter, Voice Output on Reading Comprehension Section of Test | 13 | 17 | 3 |
| Use of Paraphrasing or Simplification of Directions | 21 | 10 | 2 |
| Use of Paraphrasing or Simplification of Stimulus Material or Test Questions | 14 | 18 | 1 |
| Use of Calculator on Mathematics Computation Test | 23 | 9 | 1 |
| State Provides Talking Calculator or Mandates Specific Calculator for Use | 11 | 17 | 5 |
| Use of Oral Reader or Tape-recorded Test for Reading Comprehension Test | 13 | 17 | 3 |
| Use of Oral Reader or Tape-recorded Test for Math Test | 30 | 2 | 1 |
| Use of Oral Reader or Tape-recorded Test for Other Academic Areas | 30 | 2 | 1 |
| Use of Dictionary for Writing Test | 13 | 17 | 3 |
| Use of Oral Reader or Tape-recorded Test for Writing Test | 26 | 5 | 2 |
*NR = No response
Student Response Accommodations
| Accommodation | Yes | No | NR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Responses in Test Booklet | 31 | 0 | 2 |
| Mark Responses in Large Print Booklet | 31 | 1 | 1 |
| Mark Responses in Braille Booklet | 28 | 4 | 1 |
| Indicate Responses to a Scribe for Reading, Math, or Other Academic Area Test | 29 | 1 | 3 |
| Indicate Responses to a Scribe for Writing Test | 27 | 4 | 2 |
| Record Responses on Audio Tape | 24 | 6 | 3 |
| Use Computer, Typewriter, Braillewriter, or Communication Board to Respond | 31 | 1 | 1 |
| Indicate Responses with Other Communication Device such as Speech Synthesizer | 27 | 4 | 2 |
| Use Spell Check on Tests Where Spelling and Writing Will Be Scored | 8 | 23 | 2 |
*NR= No response
Setting, Timing and Scheduling Accommodations
| Accommodation | Yes | No | NR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take Test Alone or in Study Carrel | 31 | 1 | 1 |
| Take Test with Small Group | 30 | 0 | 3 |
| Take Test at Home or Other Care Facility | 18 | 11 | 4 |
| Take More Breaks | 29 | 0 | 4 |
| Have Flexible Scheduling (Time of Day, Days Between Sessions) | 31 | 0 | 2 |
| Use Extra Time for Timed Test | 26 | 2 | 5 |
*NR= No response
Font Sizes Used
| 14 point | 3 |
| 16 point | 4 |
| 18 point | 15 |
| 20 point | 5 |
| 22 point | 4 |
| 24 point | 4 |
| On demand | 3 |
State Process for Providing Braille and Large Print Tests
| Activity | Yes | No | NR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requirement of Test Publisher to Provide Test in Braille | 23 | 7 | 3 |
| Requirement of Test Publisher to Provide Test in Large Print | 23 | 7 | 3 |
| Requirement of Test Publisher to Assure Proof-reading and Accuracy of Braille Test | 17 | 10 | 6 |
| Requirement of Test Publisher to Assure Readability of Large Print Test | 15 | 11 | 7 |
| Review of Test Items for Disability Bias | 20 | 9 | 4 |
| Review of Test Items for Brailling Issues | 18 | 11 | 4 |
| Review of Test Items for Large Print Formatting Issues | 14 | 15 | 4 |
| Modification of Test Items for Brailling | 17 | 10 | 6 |
| Modification of Test Items for Large Print Version | 11 | 17 | 5 |
| Deletion of Specified Items in the Braille Version | 14 | 16 | 3 |
| Deletion of Field Test Items in the Braille Version | 9 | 17 | 7 |
| Deletion of Specified Items in the Large Print Version | 7 | 25 | 1 |
| Deletion of Field Test Items in the Large Print Version | 7 | 22 | 4 |
| Substitution of Deleted Items that Assess the Same Skill | 6 | 23 | 4 |
| Substitution of Deleted Items that Assess a Different Skill | 2 | 25 | 6 |
| Inclusion of Notes to the Test Proctor for the Braille Test | 14 | 16 | 3 |
| Rescaling of the Test if Braille or Large Print Items Are Deleted | 8 | 19 | 6 |
| Option to Reformat Test for Large Print Production | 7 | 22 | 4 |
*NR= No response
Comments of Interest
- Special accommodations can be requested.
- Special provisions are made for newly blinded students.
- Prep materials are not available in large print or braille.
- Schools work with the School for the Blind
- Some perceive that a test is invalid if produced in large print or braille.
- Resource Materials Centers are involved in the test production, dissemination, and transcription of answers onto standard answer sheet.
- All allowable accommodations must be indicated on the IEP.
- Substitution of deleted items is being proposed.
- Formats are modified. Content is NOT modified.
- Vision educators are on state committees for test development.
- Individual school boards can design their testing policies.
- Creating the braille and large print version of the test can be quite a hassle. The publisher has nothing to do with these versions. The test is done in state and unmodified so many items are problematic such as complex table and graphs.
Differences of Opinion Issues
Responses from two different perspectives were received from six states. Teacher responses differed from state level responses on topics such as:
- including scores of students with visual impairments in school grading and sanctions (2)
- brailling being allowed at local level
- using computer presentation (3)
- using scanner or text-talk converter for reading comprehension test (3)
- using paraphrasing of directions, stimulus materials, and questions (3)
- using calculator (2)
- using oral reader or tape-recorded test for writing test
- marking responses in test booklets (2)
- indicating responses to a scribe for writing test (2)
- using dictionary on writing test
- using spell check when part of scoring criteria (3)
- taking test at home or other care facility (3)
- using flexible scheduling
- deleting items in braille (2)
- deleting items in large print (2)
- modifying items for large print (2)
- modifying items for braille test
- substituting deleted items (2)
- rescaling test (2)
- reformatting for large print production (2)
- including test proctor notes for braille test (2)
- providing font sizes (2)
Recommendations of Author Based on Results
- States need to provide specific information (through training and/or providing products) to educators at the local level regarding the assessment program purposes and accommodations allowed in testing.
- There is a need for development of test publisher guidelines for making tests accessible for students with visual impairments.
- There is a need to develop national capacity to ensure availability of tests in accessible media.
- There is a need to support states' efforts in:
- reformatting of state test for large print production
- substituting deleted items
- providing test administration notes for braille versions of the test
- addressing braille and large print formats in contracts with test publishers
- using computer presentations of test
- addressing modifications (in format, not content, of graphics) needed for braille transcription of tests
©2006, American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
