Assessment Accommodations

RISAP Accommodations Resources:

• RISAP Accommodations and Accessibility Features (PDF). This document contains accommodations and accessibility features for all state assessment (DLM, ACCESS for ELLs, SAT, PSAT 10, NGSA, and RICAS). It also includes all accommodations policies and other helpful documentation. NOTE: The DLM, ACCESS for ELLs, PSAT 10, and SAT have additional accommodations manuals that should also be consulted when preparing for test administration.
• RISAP Accommodations and Accessibility Features Excel Table (XLS). This excel table can be used to look at accommodations and accessibility features across tests.

Update Notes:

• 3.5.2019: NGSA Read Aloud accommodations for EL students were updated in both documents. All other accommodations information is current.
• 3.18.2019: Read aloud in English for the NGSA is an accommodation available to students with disabilities.

ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs: Additional Resources for Accommodations and Accessibility Features

NOTE: The RISAP Accommodations and Accessibiltiy Features manual and Excel sheet are posted under the first tab State Assessment Accommodations and Accessibiltiy Features Manual and Resources. Below are important additional materials and resources on accommodations needed for both ACCESS for ELLs assessments.

• Accommodations and Accessibility Supplement (PDF)
• Rhode Island Accessibility and Accommodations Policies 2018-19 (PDF): This information is also contained in the RISAP Accommodations and Accessibility Features manual.

DLM: Additional Resources for Accommodations and Accessibility Features

NOTE: The RISAP Accommodations and Accessibiltiy Features manual and Excel sheet are posted under the first tab State Assessment Accommodations and Accessibiltiy Features Manual and Resources. Below are important additional materials and resources on accommodations needed for DLM.

• DLM Accommodations and Accessibility Guide (PDF)

NGSA: Additional Resources for Accommodations and Accessibility Features

NOTE: The RISAP Accommodations and Accessibiltiy Features manual and Excel sheet are posted under the first tab State Assessment Accommodations and Accessibiltiy Features Manual and Resources. Below are important additional materials and resources on accommodations needed for the NGSA assessments.

• Technical Specifications Manual for Online Testing (pdf): This manual provides technology staff with the technical specifications for online testing, including information on Internet and network requirements, general hardware and software requirements, and the text-to-speech function.
• Periodic Table (pdf): The Periodic Table is available online for the 8th and 11th grade NGSA and appears on the global menu. If desired, students have the option of using a printed paper copy of the Periodic Table.
• Braille Requirements and Testing Manual (pdf): This manual includes information about supported operating systems and required hardward and software for Braille testing. It provides information on how to configure JAWS, navigating an online test with JAWS, and how to administer a test to a student requiring Braille.
  • Sample PRN file: This link will take you to a sample PRN file to help configure settings for Braille software.
  • Sample BRF file: This link will take you to a sample BRF file to help configure settings for Braille software.

RICAS: Additional Resources for Accommodations and Accessibility Features

NOTE: The RISAP Accommodations and Accessibility Features manual and Excel sheet are posted under the first tab State Assessment Accommodations and Accessibility Features Manual and Resources. Below are important additional materials and resources on accommodations needed for RICAS.

RICAS Student Registration and Personal Needs Profile Guide (pdf) contains all of the directions for working in PearsonAccessNext (PAN) to update accommodations for RICAS testing.

RICAS Assistive Technology Guide (pdf) contains a list of all assistive technology programs and devices that are and are not supported by TestNav8.

Bilingual Dictionaries and Glossaries for English Learner Students (pdf) contains a list of bilingual dictionaries and glossaries that current and former English Learner students may use on RICAS assessments.

NOTE: Please ensure that students use the bilingual dictionaries/glossaries regularly during instruction throughout the school year. Bilingual dictionaries should not be given to a student on the day of testing. For approved bilingual dictionaries/glossaries for other state assessments, such as the PSAT10 or SAT School Day, please that test's specific web page. As a rule, bilingual dictionaries and glossaries may not contain any pictures, or definitions; only word-to-word dictionaries and glossaries are permitted.

Reference Sheets for the Spanish Edition of the Mathematics Test: Below are Spanish versions of the standard reference sheet for EL students. NOTE: grades 3 and 4 do not have a standard mathematics reference sheet so a corresponding Spanish reference sheet is not provided.

• Grade 5 Spanish Mathematics Standard Reference Sheet (PDF)
• Grade 6 Spanish Mathematics Standard Reference Sheet (PDF)
• Grade 7 Spanish Mathematics Standard Reference Sheet (PDF)
• Grade 8 Spanish Mathematics Standard Reference Sheet (PDF)

Graphic Organizers, Checklists, and Supplemental Reference Sheets. The approved graphic organizers, checklists, and supplemental reference sheets listed below are for use by students with disabilities in grades 3-8 who have the Pre-approved Graphic Organizer or Supplemental Reference Sheet accommodation listed in their IEP or 504 Plan. RIDE encourages educators to use these tools during instruction throughout the school year so students will be comfortable using them during RICAS testing. 

NOTE about using approved graphic organizers and reference sheets during testing and instruction: These graphic organizers and reference sheets may be helpful to students without disabilities. If appropriate, educators may use these graphic organizers and reference sheets during instruction for all students, not just students with disabilities. However, students without the appropriate accommodation(s) in their IEP or 504 Plan may not use the graphic organizers or reference sheets during RICAS testing. Educators should not feel the need to incorporate these graphic organizers or reference sheets into their instruction if they have others they use or feel these are not appropriate for their students.

English Language Arts Pre-Approved Graphic Organizers: The list below includes all graphic organizers allowed for use on the RICAS ELA tests.The year the graphic organizer was originally approved is in parenthesis. For ease of use and to minimize confusion, graphic organizers approved in 2018 are posted for grades 3-4 and grade 5 separately.

• Grades 3-4 Essay (approved in 2018) (docx)
• Grades 3-4 Essay (approved in 2019) (docx)
• Grades 3-4 Short Response (approved in 2018) (docx)
• Grades 3-4 Story (approved in 2018) (docx)
• Grades 3-4 Story (approved in 2019) (docx)
• Grade 5 Essay (approved in 2018) (docx)
• Grade 5 Essay (approved in 2019) (docx)
• Grade 5 Narrative (approved in 2018) (docx)
• Grade 5 Story (approved in 2018) (docx)
• Grades 6-8 Narrative (approved in 2019) (docx)
• Grades 6-8 Essay (approved in 2018) (docx)
• Grades 6-8 Essay (approved in 2019) (docx)
• Grades 6-8 Story (approved in 2018) (docx)

Mathematics Supplemental Reference Sheets (updated 9.12.2018)

• Grade 3 Reference Sheet (docx)
• Grade 4 Reference Sheet (docx)
• Grade 5 Reference Sheet (docx)
• Grade 6 Reference Sheet (docx)
• Grade 7 Reference Sheet (docx)
• Grade 8 Reference Sheet (docx)

PSAT10 and SAT: Additional Resources for Accommodations and Accessibility Features

NOTE: The RISAP Accommodations and Accessibiltiy Features manual and Excel sheet are posted under the first tab State Assessment Accommodations and Accessibiltiy Features Manual and Resources. Below are important additional materials and resources on accommodations needed for the PSAT 10 and SAT.

Accommodations Questionnaire (PDF): Schools should use this form when entering new accommodations for students with disabilities (not EL students unless they have an IEP/504) for either the SAT or the PSAT10. This questionnaire applies to the following accommodations only: extended time for students with disabilities, reader (including human reader, MP3, etc.), and breaks.

Accommodations for EL Students *

50% Extended Time (Do not use the questionnaire form for requesting extended time for EL students. No documentation or additional information is necessary when requesting extended time for EL students):

• Students will receive 50% extended time on each section of the SAT.  Students must sit for the entire time allotted and cannot go ahead in the test, or stop testing, even if they are the only one testing.
• EL students requiring 50% extended time will need to be identified in SSD Online.  Schools can record 50% extended time for ELs in SSD Online starting in January 2019.
• EL students using 50% extended time can be tested with other students with accommodations testing with the same timing and test materials.
• EL Students who receive this accommodation will receive college-reportable scores.

*How to Enter the Extended Time Accommodation for EL students into SSD Online (pdf)

2019 Bilingual Dictionary List for EL Students (pdf): This is a list of glossaries for students who are English Learners. Students are also welcome to use their own word-to-word glossaries instead of, or in addition to, those listed in this document. Students should be using these glossaries now, during classroom instruction, so they are familiar with them well before the test day. 

Translated Test Directions for English Learner Students: Below are links to translations for the general test directions for PSAT10 and SAT.

• PSAT10 Translated Test Directions Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the list of downloadable test directions.
• SAT Translated Test Directions - coming soon!
• Schools must print the directions for students, printed translations will not be shipped with school materials.
• Schools do not need to record this test support in SSD Online or in the TIDE system for PSAT10.