Star CBM Accessibility and Accommodations – Star Help

Braille Support

Star CBM offers braille support via downloadable .BRF files for most reading and math assessment measures. For reading assessments, uncontracted braille files are available for all assessments except for Encoding and Receptive Nonsense Words; for Passage Oral Reading and Sight and High-Frequency Words, contracted braille files are also available if you prefer to use those. For math assessments (including Rapid Number Naming), both UEB and Nemeth braille files are available.

Use the Accommodations preference to indicate which students should have braille files made available when you generate Star CBM assessments. The assigned .BRF braille file will download and can be sent to your braille embosser. When braille files are used, the teacher indicates that in the assessment record.

Accommodations for Encoding Assessments

Adjustments can be made for students with IEP or 504 plan accommodation needs.

Teachers should determine the best method for student response based on IEP or 504 accommodations. This includes braille (digital, slate & stylus, or braille writer), digital, or assistive technology. With the assistance of a scribe, students may also spell words verbally or via sign language
The instructions for students who use an accommodated test may be adjusted based on the method of input the student is using. Teachers or test proctors must keep the instructions as close to the original as possible, altering only the instructions that are specific to the student’s needs
As the Encoding assessment is not timed, the timing for each answer may be adjusted to allow time for the student to respond
Presentation of target words via sign language can be used if the teacher/test proctor is confident that the exact word can be accurately conveyed to the student without impacting the construct of the test question. Teacher or test proctor must use words when presenting the target word, individual letters may not be used
If student answers in braille, the use of contracted or uncontracted braille should coincide with what the student is required to use in the classroom
Renaissance offers printable forms for students to record answers. Utilizing these forms is not required, but if a different form is used, there must be a clear method to show a student has skipped a word
If a student is using a computer or other electronic device to record responses, software with autocorrect or that have predictive text cannot be used
If a student is using speech recognition software, the student must spell out the target word rather than repeat the word orally
The Encoding assessment cannot be modified to serve as a true/false or multiple choice test. Students must assemble the target word independently using one of the methods previously mentioned

Other Accommodations

Any other Star CBM accommodations should be consistent with requirements for individual students you are assessing. In general and when appropriate, to use Star CBM as designed, we recommend not varying either the content of individual forms/measures or the time limit for completing each measure (1 minute).

Changes in font size, highlighting, contrast, or other changes that do not vary the content and timing are possible and, based on student need, appropriate. The following accommodations could be made:

For Print and Mixed Assessments

For Online Assessments

Larger font: Preprint student forms in a larger size using scaling in the print settings. You'll find the forms in Preprinting Star CBM Forms.
Color contrast: Preprint student forms on colored paper as desired (see Preprinting Star CBM Forms).
Line readers/reading guides: Use a ruler or another reading guide under each line of the student form as you administer the assessment.
For children who have difficulty discriminating or naming colors: For Rapid Automatic Naming assessments, instead of Rapid Color Naming, use Rapid Picture Naming, Rapid Number Naming, or Rapid Letter Naming.

Larger font: Use the zoom capabilities in your student's browser.
Line highlighting: For all math and reading measures except for Passage Oral Reading, when teachers move their mouse over the current line of the form, that row is highlighted for the student.
For children who have difficulty discriminating or naming colors: For Rapid Automatic Naming assessments, instead of Rapid Color Naming, use Rapid Picture Naming, Rapid Number Naming, or Rapid Letter Naming.

If you'd like to note which assessments were administered with these modifications for accessibility or accommodations, use the Notes field to record the information after the assessment.

Please note that Star CBM norms were not established with these modifications for accessibility/accommodations in place, so results should be understood within that context.