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Color or Highlight Images or Text

Visual cues added by the educator to help the student notice and comprehend crucial elements of text or images, typically for students with a visual impairment and/or significant cognitive disability.

 

Allowable on at least one state assessment Allowable on state assessment: This accommodation is allowable on at least one state assessment. See which tests allow this accommodation

Assistive Technology Assistive Technology (AT): This accommodation includes AT. Be sure AT needs are included as accommodations on the IEP and that the PEIMS code reflects this.

intellectual disability autism traumatic brain injury presentation accommodation staar alternate 2 significant cognitive disability

Examples Include:

  • Image enhancement through partial or complete outlining, coloring, or highlighting.

  • Text enhancement through highlighting, underlining, or circling text.

How to Implement:

  • 1.

    Select the images or text to emphasize based on learning objectives.

    Select the images or text to emphasize based on learning objectives.

  • 2.

    Review your selections with the student’s teacher of the visually impaired (TVI), if appropriate.

    Review your selections with the student’s teacher of the visually impaired (TVI), if appropriate.

  • 3.

    Prepare the selected and reviewed materials.

    Prepare the selected and reviewed materials.

  • 4.

    Introduce the modified images or text, drawing the student’s attention to the enhanced sections. Help the student understand why certain parts are emphasized by thinking aloud.

    Introduce the modified images or text, drawing the student’s attention to the enhanced sections. Help the student understand why certain parts are emphasized by thinking aloud.

  • 5.

    Monitor and record the accuracy of the student’s responses and engagement to judge instructional effectiveness.

    Monitor and record the accuracy of the student’s responses and engagement to judge instructional effectiveness.

  • 6.

    Share effectiveness with the student, the educational team, and the family.

    Share effectiveness with the student, the educational team, and the family.

Note: Review the STAAR Alternate 2 Test Administrator Manual for presentation instructions during test administration.

State Assessment
Allowability

Some accommodations appropriate for instructional use may not be allowable on a statewide assessment. Select the state assessment to view the implementation policies.

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STAAR Alternate 2 + –

May be used if the accommodation is documented in the student's IEP and follows these guidelines:

  • maintain the integrity of the assessment,

  • avoid leading to or providing the student a direct answer,

  • be used routinely in instruction,

  • reflect the student’s learning styles, and

  • allow a student to respond using a mode that is appropriate for the student.