Accommodations vs. modifications
Accommodations and modifications are two different ways to adjust education for students. While accommodations change how a task is performed, modifications change what is being done or expected. While these two categories exist in all settings, they have different names in some provinces or territories. It’s important to understand how they differ and how each can affect your child’s learning and success. Consider the following examples:
Accomodation
- A student uses assistive technology and is given extra time to finish the same assignment or test as the other students.
- The student’s report card mark reflects their achievement of curriculum expectations for their grade level.
Modification
- A student’s assignment or test is based on expectations from a different grade level than their classroom peers.
- The student’s report card mark reflects their achievement of curriculum expectations for a different grade level.
When children struggle with reading and writing, schools might suggest modifications so they can be assessed and graded based on the skills they are working on. For example, if a student in grade 5 is still working on proficiency with grade 2 skills and a modification is in place, their report card would reflect their ability to meet grade 2 reading standards instead of their ability to meet grade 5 standards. This means that the child could receive a “B” on their report card, while still being years below their grade level.
While modifications can boost marks and help the child feel like they are making progress, parents should understand that a grade of ‘B’ when modifications are in place doesn’t mean their child is meeting grade- level expectations or acquiring skills needed for success in later grades. Although modifications can be a useful temporary measure in some situations, parents should be cautious: before agreeing to modifications make sure the school has a clear plan to help your child catch up and remove the modifications.