What describes the difference between accommodations for instruction and accommodations for assessment?

• A. Instructional accommodations change how content is taught.
• B. Assessment accommodations change how content is taught.
• C. There is no difference between the two.
• D. Instructional accommodations affect how content is taught; assessment accommodations affect how students demonstrate what they know.

Answer: (D)

Accommodations come in two forms, each serving a different goal. Instructional accommodations change how content is taught, making lessons more accessible during learning—for example, using visual supports, simplified steps, outlines, or flexible pacing. Assessment accommodations change how students demonstrate what they know, not what they learn—such as extended time, reading items aloud, using a calculator, or testing in a quieter setting. The idea is to remove barriers in the learning process and in the demonstration of knowledge. Saying that accommodations both change how content is taught or that there’s no difference would miss this distinction; the best answer shows that instructional changes affect instruction delivery while assessment changes affect the demonstration of learning.