A student with a severe hearing impairment is assigned a sign language interpreter according to the IEP. What is an appropriate accommodation on a statewide assessment for this student?

Providing the interpreter for the directions only is an appropriate accommodation for a student with a severe hearing impairment during a statewide assessment. This approach ensures that the student understands how to navigate the test and what is being asked without overwhelming them with assistance throughout the entire assessment.

By limiting the use of the interpreter to just the directions, it allows the student to demonstrate their own abilities without heavily depending on the interpreter for every question. This balance is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the assessment while also ensuring that the student can access necessary information to start the test effectively. Furthermore, this practice aligns with the goal of standardized assessments, which is to measure a student’s knowledge and skills independently while providing necessary supports for them to succeed.

Other options, such as providing the interpreter for the entire assessment or for every question, may lead to an unfair advantage, making it difficult to accurately assess the student's own understanding and abilities. Limiting the support to directions helps to mitigate this issue and fosters a more equitable testing environment. Not allowing any accommodations would disregard the specific needs of the student as identified in the IEP, which could significantly hinder their ability to perform to the best of their potential.