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Oral/Signed Administration

Administering materials by reading aloud or signing to accommodate a student with a disability, including a hearing loss, reading disability, dyslexia, or documented reading difficulties.

 

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

auditory impairment presentation accommodation sld-reading comprehension sld-basic reading skills sld-reading fluency skills staar spanish staar

Examples Include:

  • Oral administration for paper tests, braille tests, and online tests.

  • Signed administration for paper tests, braille tests, and online tests.

  • Online oral/signed administration is administered via Text-to-Speech (TTS) or American Sign Language (ASL) videos.

    Each has a separate entry in Accommodation Central.

How to Implement:

  • 1.

    Decide whether there is a need for oral/sign language administration based on the student's needs.

    Decide whether there is a need for oral/sign language administration based on the student's needs.

  • 2.

    Identify who should administer the accommodation: a certified teacher of the deaf who has passed the TASC, a certified interpreter of the deaf interpreting for

    Identify who should administer the accommodation: a certified teacher of the deaf who has passed the TASC, a certified interpreter of the deaf interpreting for a teacher, or the paraprofessional/teacher (for oral administration).

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  • 3.

    Read aloud or sign the questions and answer choices for the test.

    Read aloud or sign the questions and answer choices for the test.

  • 4.

    Allow the student to request a repeated reading or signing of any part of the test.

    Allow the student to request a repeated reading or signing of any part of the test.

  • 5.

    Set expectations with the student for moving toward skills that build independence.  Teach decoding skills (word attack strategies). Teach site words. Practice oral and

    Set expectations with the student for moving toward skills that build independence. 

    • Teach decoding skills (word attack strategies).
    • Teach site words.
    • Practice oral and silent reading.
    • Teacher reads test and student follows along; teacher points to answer choices while reading (student circles correct answer).
    • Student uses a marker to focus on each question.
    • Teacher records the test so that student can work at own pace.
    • Student uses text-to-speech.
    • Student reads questions by himself/herself and teacher reads again for understanding.


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  • 6.

    Monitor and record the student’s progress and the effectiveness of the accommodation.  

    Monitor and record the student’s progress and the effectiveness of the accommodation.  

  • 7.

    Share your findings with the student, the educational team, and the family.

    Share your findings with the student, the educational team, and the family.

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Note: Review TEA policy document for allowable use of oral/signed administration 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 + –

Type: Designated Support 

Assessments:

STAAR and STAAR Spanish mathematics, science, and social studies 

 ✓ Test questions, answer choices, and embedded supports can be read aloud. 

 ✓ Required reference materials (where applicable) and allowable designated supports may be read aloud.

STAAR and STAAR Spanish RLA 

 ✓ Test questions, answer choices, and embedded supports can be read aloud. 

✓  Revising selections, revising test questions and answer choices, and embedded supports may be read aloud.

 ✓ Required reference materials (where applicable) and allowable designated supports may be read aloud. 

 ✗ Reading selections, editing selections, and editing test questions and answer choices CANNOT be read aloud.

STAAR English I and English II end-of-course (EOC)

 ✓ Reading test questions and answer choices, revising selections, revising test questions and answer choices, and embedded supports may be read aloud.

 ✓ Required reference materials and allowable designated supports may be read aloud.

 ✗ Reading selections, editing selections, and editing test questions and answer choices CANNOT be read aloud.

Student Eligibility Criteria:

A student may use this accommodation if he or she 

❏ routinely and effectively uses it during classroom instruction and classroom testing, and 

❏ meets at least one of the following:

  • The student is a current EL and takes a STAAR test in English.
  • The student is identified with dyslexia or a related disorder per TEC §38.003.
  • The student has documented evidence of reading difficulties.

NOTE: ELs taking STAAR Spanish may be eligible for an oral administration if they meet either of the requirements noted in the last two bullets and if a committee other than the language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC) determines eligibility.

STAAR Spanish + –

same as STAAR with the exception that STAAR Spanish is offered only in grades 3-5