Guidance for Allowable Test Accommodations on NYS ELA Assessments
Please refer to the chart below for the NYSED policy decisions made regarding the allowable test accommodations on NYS Assessments for Grades 4 & 8 – these allowable accommodations also apply to local BPS assessments, such as TerraNova assessments.
ELA Grade 4
| NYS Assessment | Session | Part | Allowable IEP test accommodations |
| ELA 4 | 1 | 1-Reading Comprehension | - Can NOT be read to student
|
| ELA 4 | 1 | 2-Listening | - Can be read to student
- Can NOT waive mechanics (spelling, paragraphing, punctuation)
|
| ELA 4 | 2 | 1-Listening | - Can be read to student
- All directions/items/questions can be read to student
- Can NOT waive mechanics (spelling, paragraphing, punctuation)
|
| ELA 4 | 2 | 2-Writing | - Can be read to student
- All directions/items/questions can be read to student
- Can NOT waive mechanics (spelling, paragraphing, punctuation)
|
| ELA 4 | 3 | Reading & Short Response | - Can not be read to student
- Can not waive mechanics (spelling, paragraphing, punctuation)
|
ELA Grade 8
| NYS Assessment | Session | Part | Allowable IEP test accommodations |
| ELA 8 | 1 | 1-Reading Comprehension | - Can NOT be read to student
|
| ELA 8 | 1 | 2-Listening | - Can be read to student
- Can NOT waive mechanics
|
| ELA 8 | 2 | 1-Reading | - Can NOT be read to student
|
| ELA 8 | 2 | 2-Writing | - Can be read to student
- Can NOT waive mechanics
|
No other parts of these tests may be read to a student. Students may NOT use a spell checking or grammar checking device on any part of the ELA Assessments.
Guidance for Calculator Use in the Classroom and on NYS Math Assessments
Please refer to the chart below for NYSED policy decisions made regarding the use of calculators in classrooms and on the NYS Math Assessments
| Grade Level | Classroom usage policy | NYS Math Assessments usage policy |
| 3 | 4-function calculator for instructional purposes | No calculators permitted |
| 4 | 4-function calculator for instructional purposes | No calculators permitted |
| 5 | *Scientific calculator for instructional purposes | No calculators permitted |
| 6 | *Scientific calculator for instructional purposes | No calculators permitted |
| 7 | *Scientific calculator for instructional purposes and graphing calculator for exploratory use | No calculators for Book 1 (multiple questions) *Scientific calculators required for Book 2 (short and extended response questions) No graphing calculators permitted for any part of the test |
| 8 | *Scientific calculator for instructional purposes and graphing calculator for exploratory use | No calculators for Book 1 (multiple questions) *Scientific calculators required for Books 2 & 3 (short and extended response questions) No graphing calculators permitted for any part of the test |
| Math A | Graphing calculator | **Graphing and/or scientific calculators required |
| Math B | Graphing calculator | **Graphing and/or scientific calculators required |
*must include at leas these functions: standard 4 (add, subtract, multiply, divide), decimal, change sign (+, -), parentheses, square, and symbolic Pi. It may NOT include: any and all problem solving or programming capabilities, place values and inequalities.
**must include at lease these functions: trigonometric and logarithmic functions. It must NOT be capable of symbol manipulation or communication with other calculators through infrared sensors, nor may there be any instruction or formula cards, or other information regarding the operation of calculators such as operation manuals permitted. The memory of any calculator with programming capability must be cleared, reset, or disabled when student enter the testing room – if the memory of any calculator is password protected and cannot be cleared or reset, the calculator may NOT be used
(as per the NYSED policy chart 2/16/06)
NYS Assessments & Regents Examinations
| NYS Assessments | NYS Regents Examinations |
| ELA grades 3-8 | ELA – Comprehensive English |
| Science grades 4 & 8 | Math B |
| SS grades 5 & 8 | Sequential Math I Math II Math III |
| Technology Ed. Grade 8 | Science – Living Environment Earth Science Chemistry Physics |
| Second Language Proficiency Exams – French/German/Italian/Latin/Spanish | Arts Assessment – grade 9 |
| NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) grades 4, 8, & 12 Reading, Math, and Science assessments for selected schools | SS – Global History & Geography US History and Government |
| LAB-R (Language Assessment Battery – Revised) administered as part of the IEP identification process – to grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-6 and 9-12 | Language Other Than English – French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Spanish; as well as SLPE in the same languages |
| NYSESLAT (NYS English as a Second Language Achievement Test) administered to grades K-1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12 | Many of the NYS Assessments and Regents Exams are available in languages other than English |
NYSAA (NYS Alternate Assessment) is available to students who meet the eligibility criteria – provided by VESID
This information was obtained by the NYS education website at www.nysed.gov
