Preparing Students for Competent Use of Academic Testing Accommodations: Teachers’ Belief, Knowledge, and Practice

Authors

  • Lisa Beth Carey Kennedy Krieger Institute
  • Catherine Stephan Drexel University
  • Alison E. Pritchard Kennedy Krieger Institute Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4436-0262

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/LDMJ-2019-V24-I1-9021

Keywords:

Accommodations, ADHD, learning disabilities, teacher practices

Abstract

Existing research suggests that students with ADHD may not receive the expected benefit from some testing accommodations. One possible explanation for this lack of benefit might be that students do not receive adequate instruction in and practice with testing accommodations to make them effective. The current study was designed to investigate teacher belief, knowledge, and practices that may influence the competent use of academic testing accommodations on the part of students. An anonymous survey of current classroom teachers (n = 240) representing the full range of roles and grade spans was conducted via social media platforms. Overall, teachers endorsed beliefs about testing accommodations most positively, followed by practice, then knowledge. Teacher role (i.e., special vs. general education teacher) and grade span taught were associated with beliefs, knowledge, and practice with regard to supporting competent student use of academic testing accommodations. Teacher training was positively associated with teacher knowledge regarding practices that are thought to best prepare students to use their testing accommodations with independence. These findings suggest that additional training may be needed, particularly for certain groups of teachers, in order to promote instructional practices that may improve the successful use of student academic testing accommodations. 

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Author Biographies

Lisa Beth Carey, Kennedy Krieger Institute

Lisa Beth Carey earned her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Goucher College and holds a Maryland Advanced Professional Certificate in Special Education.  She currently serves as the Senior Education Consultant for the Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education at the Kennedy Krieger Institute.  Lisa is also currently working toward her doctorate in instructional technology at Towson University.

Catherine Stephan, Drexel University

Catherine Stephan received her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience from Davidson College. She is currently a graduate student at Drexel University working towards her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. 

Alison E. Pritchard, Kennedy Krieger Institute Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Alison E. Pritchard is a clinical child psychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Published

2019-05-02

Issue

Section

Articles