Instructions for Writing IEPs in order that Kurzweil may be used as an Accommodation for High Stakes Testing

Kurzweil is a software tool that students may use for high stakes testing as long as the written documentation of the students’ accommodations is completed correctly. These instructions will cover these IEP documentations. There are two areas in which Kurzweil may be used for high-stakes testing:

  1. For assisting the WRITING process.
  2. For READING the material aloud.

Accommodations for Assisting the WRITING Process

If a student is a candidate for using Kurzweil for the Writing portions of the LEAP, iLEAP, GEE, or LAA2, the IEP must have the accommodations documented on three pages of the IEP.

The three pages of the IEP for documenting WRITING accommodations are:

  1. General Student Information Page
  2. Under the heading: Assistive Technology
  3. List “Talking word processor” and any of the following three items that are appropriate for the student:
  4. Talking word prediction
  5. Talking spell check
  6. Talking dictionary
  7. Accommodations Page
  8. Under “Instruction/Materials”
  9. Check “Other Materials”andlist “Talking word processor” as well as any of the following three items that are appropriate for the student:
  10. Talking word prediction
  11. Talking spell check
  12. Talking dictionary
  13. Under “Tests/Quizzes/Projects” (Accommodations Page)
  14. Check “Other” andlist “Talking word processor” as well as any of the following three items that are appropriate for the student:
  15. Talking word prediction
  16. Talking spell check
  17. Talking dictionary
  18. Under “Assistive Technology” (Accommodations Page)
  19. Check “Other AT devices” andlist “Talking word processor” as well as any of the following three items that are appropriate for the student:
  20. Talking word prediction
  21. Talking spell check
  22. Talking dictionary
  23. Program Services Page
  24. Under “Accommodations Needed for LEAP Testing”
  25. Check “Transferred Answers” and “Assistive Technology”
  26. In the section under “Assistive Technology: Identify the type of AT to be used,” list “Talking word processor” and any of the following three items that are appropriate for the student:
  27. Talking word prediction (may only be used for writing portions)
  28. Talking spell check (may only be used for writing portions)
  29. Talking dictionary(may only be used for writing portions)

Accommodations for READING the Material Aloud

If a student is a candidate for Tests Read Aloud, in order for Kurzweil to read the tests, the IEP must have the accommodations documented on three pages of his IEP. Tests Read Aloud, alone, is not enough for the student to use Kurzweil as the reader. It has to be Tests Read Aloud AND Text to Speech.

The three pages of the IEP for documenting READING accommodations are:

  1. General Student Information
  2. Under the heading: Assistive Technology
  3. List: Text to Speech
  4. Accommodations Page
  5. Under Instruction/Materials
  6. Check “Utilize digital formats”
  7. Check “Other materials” and list: Text to Speech
  8. Under Tests/Quizzes/Projects
  9. Check “tests read aloud”
  10. Check “Other” and list: Text to Speech
  11. Under Assistive Technology
  12. Check “Text to Speech”
  13. Program Services Page
  14. Under Accommodations Needed for LEAP Testing
  15. Check “Test Read Aloud except Reading Comprehension
  16. Check “Assistive Technology” and list: Text to Speech

Please note that the above instructions list only the Accommodations that qualify IDEA students to use Kurzweil to take high stakes tests. Any other appropriate assistive technology and/or accommodations for the student should be listed as well on the IEP.

IDEA students who require the use of Kurzweil 3000 for reading aloud text, will likely qualify for AIM (Accessible Instructional Materials). If a student qualifies for AIM, (demonstrates a print disability), he/she may receive copyrighted materials (including textbooks) in specific formats free of charge. Available formats for these students are: Braille, Audio, Large Print, and Digital. Thousands of books and publications are available in these formats from Bookshare.org. JPPSS has an organizational account with Bookshare.org. Students must qualify for AIM and their teacher(s) would become Bookshare.org sponsors. As a sponsor, the teacher is responsible for downloading books for the qualifying student(s). If the student uses Audio or Digital formats, he can access these through Kurzweil 3000.

Qualifying a student for AIM is relatively simple. The student must have a print disability due to Visual Impairments, Physical Impairments, and/or Cognitive/Learning Impairments. The student’s impairment must affect their ability to access standard print materials. Please refer to the forms section of the Special Programs website to obtain the AIM forms needed for student referral.

Please submit forms to Ozala Mazar and/or Michele O’Steen in the Special Programs Department at 501 Manhattan Blvd. The fax number is 504-349-8614.