What Is Accommodations?
Changes to how a student accesses or demonstrates learning without altering the content or expectations. The standard stays the same; the path changes.
Accommodations are changes to the learning environment, instructional delivery, or assessment format that enable a student with a disability to access the same content and meet the same standards as their peers. Accommodations do not change what the student is expected to learn — they change how the student accesses or demonstrates that learning.
Common accommodations include extended time on tests, preferential seating, large-print materials, text-to-speech technology, reduced number of answer choices, separate testing location, and permission to use a calculator. These are typically documented in an IEP or 504 Plan.
The key distinction between accommodations and modifications is that accommodations maintain grade-level expectations while modifications change them. A student with extended time on a grade-level test has an accommodation. A student taking a below-grade-level test has a modification.
Need help with accommodations?
Try the Differentiation HelperRelated Terms
Modifications
Changes to what a student is expected to learn or demonstrate — altering the content, standard, or level of the curriculum itself.
IEP (Individualized Education Program)
A legally binding document that outlines specialized instruction, goals, and services for a student with a disability under IDEA.
504 Plan
A plan that provides accommodations for students with disabilities to access general education, protected under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Differentiated Instruction
An approach to teaching that adapts content, process, product, or learning environment based on individual student needs, readiness, interests, and learning profiles.
AI-powered tools for every teacher
Generate lesson plans, quizzes, rubrics, and more in seconds. Free to start — no credit card required.
Try LessonDraft FreeFree to start. No credit card required.