Screening to Assign Accommodations: Using Data to Make Decisions

In this paper, we describe the design, development, and initial validity evidence for the Screening to Assign Accommodations Tool (SAAT). The purpose of the SAAT is to identify students for whom construct irrelevant variance (CIV) might obscure measurement of their knowledge, skills, and abilities in mathematics. Once students are identified as having risk factors that might interfere with accurate measurement of the tested construct, additional information can be collected to determine the most appropriate accommodations that will reduce the impact of construct irrelevant variance on their observed academic performance. Implications, limitations, and future research for the refinement of this instrument are discussed.