Accessibility Resources On-Demand Modules
Introduction
These on-demand modules provide guidance on the appropriate assignment of accessibility resources in the classroom and for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).
Module A should be completed prior to Module B. All embedded videos on this web page should be watched in their entirety and in the order listed. There are also additional resources provided as options for further learning.
The intended audience for this training is all California educators or administrators. Participants are encouraged to share this training with special education specialists, curriculum coordinators, multilingual specialists, teachers on special assignment, and anyone else who may benefit from this training.
CAASPP and the ELPAC provide a wide range of resources to ensure that the administration of the test meets the needs of all students. For a comprehensive list of resources available as part of CAASPP and the ELPAC, go to the California Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix web page.
How to Assign and Check Accessibility Resources
- In the Test Operations Management System (TOMS), accessibility resources are called test settings. Test settings for summative assessments can be applied by local educational agency (LEA) coordinators or site-level coordinators in TOMS.
- LEA CAASPP coordinators or LEA ELPAC coordinators can use the following videos to learn how to assign student test settings and more on the Accessibility Resources web page:
- Coordinators can also find more information about test settings in the Students chapter of the TOMS User Guide and in the CAASPP and ELPAC Accessibility Guide.
As you will learn in these on-demand modules, educators have an important role in matching resources to students’ needs and using resources in the classroom, so that students are familiar with the resources that they might need when summative testing occurs.
After participating in this training, make sure to communicate with your school or LEA testing coordinator to ensure that students have access to these resources.
For all other resources that you may need beyond what is provided in this training, visit the Accessibility Resources web page.
Module A: Matching Accessibility Resources to Students’ Needs
Participants will learn about the importance of accessibility resources, the categories of accessibility resources, and the process for matching students with the appropriate accessibility resources for daily instruction and assessments. Additionally, participants will learn how to categorize accessibility resources into Universal Design for Learning (UDL) categories.
UDL provides a research-based framework for teachers to incorporate flexible materials, techniques, and strategies for delivering instruction, and for students to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of ways. All videos should be watched in their entirety and in the order listed.
- The Notetaking Guide—Module A: Matching Accessibility Resources web document is provided to enter responses and notes for questions posed in the training videos. Participants can save this notetaking guide to share responses during the live training sessions as well.
- The California Assessment Accessibility Resources Matrix web page displays the embedded and non-embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations allowed for CAASPP.
- The CAASPP and ELPAC Accessibility Guide provides information about universal tools, designated supports, accommodations, and test settings.
Additional Resources:
- The Importance of Implementing CAASPP and ELPAC Accessibility Resources: Voices from Educators (08:37) video focuses on our conversations with California educators to learn more about the importance of implementing accessibility resources for assessments. Best practices used by educators in the field are highlighted in this video.
- The Myth of Average: Todd Rose at TEDxSonomaCounty (18:26) video is an optional video that talks about how a simple new way of thinking helps nurture individual potential.
Tools and Materials:
- The Accessibility Resources Demonstration Videos web page list more than 30 videos demonstrating many of the accessibility resources and tools available to students during testing. Please view and share these videos with students, teachers, and parents/guardians.
- The Accessibility Resource Graphics are one-page graphic organizers that list the various accessibility resources available by assessment.
- The Smarter Balanced Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines web document describes the universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations available for Smarter Balanced assessments.
- The Smarter Balanced Accessibility web page explains the development of Smarter Balanced assessments with accessibility in mind, process for including accessibility resources in assessments, and strategies for remote teaching and learning.
Tools and Materials:
- Case Study Graphic Organizer web document
- The Accessibility Resources Planning Tool web document (Updated 09/09/22) (Organizes many of the accessibility resources that are available according to their connection with the UDL guidelines)
- Individual Student Assessment Accessibility Profile (ISAAP) Tool website
Additional Resources:
- Using the ISAAP Tool (10:34) video (Demonstrates how to find accessibility resources that meet a student's needs)
- ISAAP Tool User Guide
- Use the ISAAP Tool web document
- Effective Use of Accessibility Resources web document
Congratulations on completing Module A of this on-demand training.
Please fill out this survey to help us improve future versions of this module:
Module B: Using Accessibility Resources in Daily Instruction
The Using Accessibility Resources in Daily Instruction virtual training focuses on providing participants with an understanding of how to use accessibility resources, how to observe students using assigned accessibility resources, and how to make adjustments throughout the year based on those observations.
Module A should be completed prior to Module B. There is no notetaking guide for Module B.
Tools and Materials:
- On the Decriminalizing Supports: Using Accessibility Resources in Daily Instruction Padlet web page, access the video or blog post and post your response.
Additional Resources:
- The UDL Guidelines website is a tool used in the implementation of UDL, and it provides a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.
- The UDL At A Glance introductory video explains UDL.
Additional Resources:
- Tools for Teachers Resources web page
- How to Self-Register for Tools for Teachers web document
Congratulations on completing Module B of this training.
Please fill out this survey to help us improve future versions of this module.