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Preparing for
Dakota STEP and special accommodations
Test dates for the Dakota
STEP are quickly approaching. In exceptional circumstances, there may be a
student whose disabilities are such that the allowable accommodations listed
in the Testing Coordinators Handbook will be insufficient to provide access to
the Dakota STEP. In these cases, the district will need to complete the Dakota
STEP Special Accommodation Consideration Request Form. The form is
available online.
Upon receiving a Dakota
STEP Special Accommodation Consideration Request Form, the Department of
Education and Harcourt will determine whether the request is for an
accommodation or a modification. Based on that determination, instructions
will be e-mailed to you on how to properly code the student answer document.
An allowable
accommodation does not invalidate the student’s score and can be coded
as a standard allowable accommodation. A modification does invalidate
the student’s score and must be coded as a non-standard accommodation, which
will yield a below basic score.
The U.S. Department of Education expects
most students with disabilities to participate in the regular statewide
assessment. Students participate in one of two ways: 1) without accommodations
or 2) with accommodations that are consistent with those provided during
regular instruction.
Forms must be returned to
the department by March 11. For more information, contact Linda Turner at
(605) 773-3678.
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