FloridaTIMSS 2015Students with Disabilities (SD) and English Language Learners (ELL) Inclusion Guidelines

Grades 4, 8, and 12 Mathematics and Science

The Florida Department of Education expects that most students with disabilities (SD) and English language learners (ELL) will be included on Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) (grades 4 and 8) and TIMSS Advanced (grade 12).

Only students with disabilities who participate in Florida’s Alternate Assessmentmaybe excluded from any TIMSS assessment. All other students with disabilities should participate in TIMSS with or without TIMSS-allowed accommodations.

Only English language learners who have been enrolled in United States schools for less than 1 full academic year before the TIMSS assessment may be excluded from any TIMSS assessment.All other English language learners should participate in TIMSS with or without TIMSS-allowed accommodations.

Several accommodations provided on Florida’sassessments are not necessary for the TIMSS assessment because they are available for all students through universal design elements. The chart below is divided into two sections: the first includes universal design elements that will be available to all students and the second includes accommodations.TIMSS accommodations are only allowed for a student on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Plan or for a student identified as an ELL.If you have questions about the TIMSS accommodations, please contact Michele Sonnenfeld, Florida’sNAEP State Coordinator at 7.

Please keep in mind that TIMSS does not produce results for individual students or schools; it is intended purely to provide an overall picture of educational performance and progress at the national level. Also, please note that all assessments are not the same and are developed to measure specific constructs. Therefore, TIMSS may not allow all accessibility features and accommodations Florida’s state assessments allow.

Section 1

TIMSS Universal Design Element / TIMSS Code / TIMSS Subject / TIMSS Universal Design ElementDescription
Read Aloud in English – Directions Only / RA-D / Mathematics, Science / Students have the general directions (the same for all students) read aloud, repeated, or reworded in any way in English so that students understand what to do.Allowable for all students on TIMSS. Allowable for SDs on Florida’s statewide assessments. Not allowable for ELLs on Florida’s statewide assessments (ELLs may receive assistance with directions in their heritage language only).
NOTE: Some students’ IEP or 504 Plans stipulate this as an accommodation. For those students, this will be coded as an accommodation. Students who do not have this as an IEP or 504 requirement but who need the directions read aloud, repeated, or reworded in any way in English can request this by raising their hand during the session, and it will not be recorded as an accommodation.
Reminder to stay on task / RST / Mathematics, Science / This is a gentle reminder to students who stray off task. Allowable on TIMSS for all students to receive verbal or nonverbal cues to begin a task or to refocus on a task. Allowable for SDs on Florida’s statewide assessments. Not allowable for ELLs on Florida’s statewide assessments.
Calculator – Grades 8 and 12 / CAL / Mathematics, Science / Students are allowed to use their own calculators – grade 8 and grade 12. Allowable for all students on both Florida’s statewide assessments (specific tests/sessions only) and TIMSS.
Marking or recording answers on TIMSSbooklet / OTR / Mathematics, Science / Students are allowed to write in their booklets and record their answers directly in the assessment booklet. Allowable for all students on both Florida’s statewide assessments (specific tests/sessions only) and TIMSS.

Section 2

TIMSS Accommodation / TIMSS Code / TIMSS Subject / TIMSS Accommodation Description
Extended Time / EXT / Mathematics, Science / This accommodation requires that students be given extra time to complete the assessment. Allowable for SDs and ELLs on both Florida’s statewide assessments and TIMSS.
Small Group / SMG / Mathematics, Science / Generally, a small group session includes no more than five students. A student can be assigned to a small group session because he/she requires one or because one or more of the accommodations he/she typically requires must be administered in a separate session to minimize distractions to other students in the regular session. Allowable for SDs on both Florida’s statewide assessments and TIMSS. On Florida’s statewide assessments, ELLs may be tested in a separate room with the ESOL or heritage language teacher as test administrator; on TIMSS, ELLs may be tested in small group sessions.
One on One / ONE / Mathematics, Science / This accommodation requires that a student be assessed individually in an area free of distractions. Allowable for SDs on both Florida’s statewide assessments and TIMSS. On Florida’s statewide assessments, ELLs may be tested in a separate room with the ESOL or heritage language teacher as test administrator; accommodation allowable for ELLs on TIMSS.
Read Aloud in English ― Occasional / RA-O / Mathematics, Science / For this accommodation, students may request to have words, phrases, or sentences read aloud to them in English. Allowable for SDs on both Florida’s statewide assessments and TIMSS. On Florida’s statewide assessments, ELLs may receive assistance with words or phrases in non-reading items in the heritage language; accommodation allowable for ELLs on TIMSS.
Breaks During Testing / BRK / Mathematics, Science / This accommodation requires that the student be allowed to take breaks as requested or at predetermined intervals during the assessment. This also could mean that the student is allowed to take the assessment in more than one sitting during a single day. Allowable for SDs and ELLs on both Florida’s statewide assessments and TIMSS.
NOTE: If the school requests a stretch break between sections for the entire session, it should not be recorded as an accommodation.
Large Print Version of the Test / LRG / Mathematics, Science / TIMSS provides large-print booklets for students who are visually impaired. These are assessment booklets that have been enlarged to 129 percent. Allowable for SDs on both Florida’s statewide assessments and TIMSS.
Calculator – Grade 4 / CAL / Mathematics, Science / This is a four function calculator provided by the school to grade 4 students who require it. Calculators are not allowed for grade 4 students on Florida’s statewide assessments.
Magnification Equipment / MAG / Mathematics, Science / This is a lens or system provided by the school that enhances visual function. Magnification devices include eyeglass-mounted magnifiers, freestanding or handheld magnifiers. Some students use closed-circuit television to enlarge print and display printed material with various image enhancements on a screen. Allowable for SDs on both Florida’s statewide assessments and TIMSS.
Must Have Familiar Person in the Assessment / SSTF / Mathematics, Science / This accommodation requires that a school staff member familiar to the student be present during the session. Allowable for SDs on Florida’s statewide assessments; allowable for SDs on TIMSS when provided by the school. Individual is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
TIMSS Accommodation con’t / TIMSS Code / TIMSS Subject / TIMSS Accommodation Description
Uses Template/Special Equipment/Preferential Seating / EQP / Mathematics, Science / Responds Using a Template or Overlay
A template is a cutout provided by the school that is used to focus a student’s attention on one part of a page by obscuring other parts of the page. Overlays are plastic sheet covers that change the color of the paper to make the test easier to read.Allowable for SDs on both Florida’sstatewide assessments and TIMSS.
Responds Using a Special Writing Tool
A writing tool is a large-diameter pencil, pencil grip, or other special writing tool provided by the school that a student uses to record his/her answers in the assessment booklet.Allowable for SDs on both Florida’sstatewide assessments and TIMSS.
NOTE: Some students’ IEP or 504 Plans stipulate this as an accommodation. For those students, this will be coded as an accommodation. Students who do not have this as an IEP or 504 requirement but who typically use large-diameter pencils, pencil grips, or other special writing tools during assessment may use these for TIMSS, and it will not be recorded as an accommodation.
Responds Using a Computer or Typewriter
This accommodation requires that the student record his/her answers using a computer or typewriter provided by the school.Allowable for SDs on both Florida’sstatewide assessments and TIMSS.
Preferential Seating
This accommodation requires that a student sit in a designated area for the assessment, such as away from other students to limit distractions; a location where there is access to special equipment; or close to the front of the room so that a student can see or hear more easily. It may also include special light and furniture used by the student.Allowable for SDs on both Florida’s statewide assessments and TIMSS.
Bilingual Dictionary Without Definitions (in any language) / BI-D / Mathematics, Science / This is a handheld electronic or hardcopy bilingual dictionary provided by the school in any language that contains English translations of words but does not contain definitions. It is sometimes referred to as a “word-for-word” dictionary, “word-to-word translation dictionary,” or a “bilingual word list.” Allowable for ELLs on both Florida’s statewide assessments and TIMSS.
Other / OTR / Mathematics, Science / This category includes accommodations provided by the school that are not listed above and are regularly used by one or more students sampled for the assessment. For example, some hearing-impaired students require the administrator to wear a small microphone. Other students require a “read aloud to self” accommodation.
NOTE: Some schools provide special equipment such as colored highlighters for all students to use as a testing strategy. If these are typically used on the state assessment by these students, they are allowed for use on TIMSS and are not considered an accommodation. However, TIMSS does not allow the use of scrap paper or graph paper. Students are instructed to show all of their work in the assessment booklet.

The following accommodations are not allowed on TIMSS 2015:

  • Taking TIMSS over several days● Tape recording answers
  • Read aloud in English – most or all● Rewording or simplifying test questions
  • Responds orally to scribe
  • Presentation or response in Braille or in sign-language
  • Oral or written responses in native language
  • Directions read aloud in native language

● Use of dictionary, thesaurus, or spelling- and grammar-checking software

1