Accommodations vs. Modifications

When planning a student’s program, be sure to keep in mind the difference between accommodations and modifications.

Accommodations include: regular grade level expectations, use of assistive devices to enhance learning, differentiated instruction, and regular grading.

Modification is different though, and as its name implies, it requires a change in what is happening in the student’s learning program. Modification includes:

A change in grade level expectations
Alternate expectations
Grading based on the alternate expectations
The use of specialized equipment
Changes to the classroom / school environment
Exemption from part or parts of the curriculum
Frequency of parent contact
Involvement in team meetings

When a student’s program is modified, it is usually reflected through an IEP. This must be shared with parents so that they understand it fully. Teachers who modify a student’s program will also have to consider how to modify the assessment practices used to evaluate student progress.

Mrs. Harwood