Never, never, say "Modifications"

I have never heard of this, but I don’t doubt it exists!
So when is my state/district/school going to tell me this?!
That will be the first thing on my list when I attend the
spec parent mtg. this fall.
Thanks, Socks.

On the other hand….. I am a freelance writer specializing
in wildlife/nature. My husband signed me up to be the
advisor for boy scouts doing the ecology merit badge.
A written report is involved - so guess who is ‘modifying’
the program?
My son is going to give me an ORAL report. This is the FIRST
time in his seven years of schooling that he is being allowed
to give an oral report - which showcases how much he learns
and retains - where he has never been offered this alternative
by the school.
I feel a bit victorious! Just a bit.

Anne

you are absolutely right. Parents beware. Now, I do know, in Florida, you CAN modify IF the modifications still are at or above CORE CURRICULUM (as told to me by a friend/former spec ed teacher/current guidance counselor). In other words, my dyslexic daughter can do less spelling words each wk and still get the same grade; however, I have never researched this b/c I want her to struggle some and not be given too much support.

Giving an oral report is not considered a modification, just as having him dictate the report to you and you typing it instead of him isn’t. But socks is right, never have the modification in the IEP. As a matter of fact, in my state, VA, you can not say the word ‘modification’ any where including on the report cards unless you want the ” students rights committee” hauling you into court. This is a good thing. Another thing, it is against a student’s rights to be on the sped teacher’s list if he is in inclusion. I knew this, told the school and it is changed this year. He has to be listed on the class role and in the reg ed’s grade and attendance book.

But Anne,he is still required to produce the information correct? THIS an Oral report would be considered not modifying the report,of what is required. It is another way to show the knowledge,so therefore it is an accomodation.

Having fewer words on the spelling list is STILL an accomodation. Now if she was in 1st grade and instead of doing fewer 1st grade words,they have her do kindergarten words, this would then be considered modifying the curriculum.Which is probably what was meant regarding the core curriculum,but it is still really an accomodation.
And BTW I am also in Florida:-)

oops Shay I responded to Anne before I read your post:-) Right it would be an accomodation,not modification.

Thank you sooooo much for bringing this to our attention. This answers a few questions I had on my list for the next meeting. Instead of answering the questions now, I will insist that the naughty word be taken out completely.

Thanks again for the clarification!

It had never occured to me that the semantics of wording could pose such a trap.

There are those students for whom the special ed diploma is an approrpiate goal, and if attained is no less wonderful than for a reg ed (or reg ed included) student to attain the general sheepskin.

I wonder how many children have been burned by the sneaky twisting of words by less than forthright districts?

I will alert my parent trainer about this and have her check on my state’s policies concerning mod vs. accom.

Right! But accommodations won’t hurt a child in the area of a HS diploma, correct? BTW, where are you in Florida, I am in Jacksonville.

Exactly,so make sure it is stated “accomodations”,not modifications.

I live in Tampa,spent tooo many years being the mother from hell in the public school system,so now my kids attend a private school on the McKay.

Thanks, socks. I fought this in middle school where teachers were allowed to check a box indicating “modified curriculum” at their discretion— with no other guidelines given. When I called the teacher on it she told me that it wasn’t fair that my child got copies of notes when the others didn’t, and that is why she considered the curriculum modified!

Rover, WHERE did they check this for modified curriculum? On the IEP? I just want to know so I can keep my eagle eyes ready. Thanks in advance.

1. Big issue with teacher discretion regarding anything about the IEP. The IEP is a TEAM decision,not a teacher’s discretion.YOU,the parent, are an equal member of the team.
2. I have heard this kind of statement before,the “it wouldn’t be fair” comments. What I always say,”no, the copies of notes are what the federal government calls leveling the playing field.” “otherwise what you are saying,is if you fell over with a heart attack,and I being trained in CPR, could decide that I couldn’t save your life,because it wouldn’t be fair to all the others people sitting here who didn’t need CPR” “Of course what I would do is the right and ethical thing,I would save your life ,because you need me too,not because I am doing you a favor.” “so,what you have done for this child is the right thing,you don’t need to do this for everyone,but ethically you need to for this child.”“as an LD student,you in eccsence are saving their life by leveling the playing field” Which is, according to the federal law,the right thing to do.” I as an equal member of the IEP team would make the determination that copies of notes is an accomodation to level the playing field and make this student more successful and fully included,which is not modifying the curriculum.Don’t you agree? If not,you might want to pay more attention to your blood pressure.:-) smile smile.

“Modification” is just open to so many interpretations. My son’s IEP called for “modifications” on the FCAT. This could have been anything, including having the entire test read to him or extra time taking it. His “modifications” amounted to taking it in a smaller group, period. No extra explanation for instructions, time, or anything to do with his disabilities. And then subsequent teachers or school administrators perceived these unspecified “modifications” on his IEP as justification for thinking of him as “slow”, at least until they got to know him.

The problem I have with making such broad statements as “never say” is that different states use words differently. The use of the word modification in NO way prohibits a child from graduating with the regular diploma in my state. As a matter of fact, we definitely use testing “modifications” for almost all special ed. students (read aloud, extended time, etc.). Bottom line, you pass the tests, you graduate.

Janis

Oops— meant to say it was on the report card. After I threw a fit we never saw it again.

While it is very true that districts interpret these terms differently,as a matter of fact IDEA uses the terms interchangably,and many are asking OSEP for a clarification on them. The point I want to impress is, if you have the where with all use the term accomodation instead.USE it. Because if the issue of modifications come up,it might pose a problem. It appears that with the statewide mandated testing frenzy that some of our kids might have a problem come 8th grade. The time is now while your kid is younger to concern yourself with diploma thoughts. For example in my district the student must pass the Florida Writes in order to recieve a reg diploma. The student takes this test in 4th grade.. Be aware of what your district policy states,but also be aware of how fast the policy changes and how it will or might effect your child. Being proactive is a good idea,don’t you think? Yes a broad statement for a broad issue. Let’s not even get into what our states might be doing to our kids with new legislation regarding mandatory profiency levels.

Sorry Janis, but the term modifications is not up for debate for the different states to decide the meaning. Modifications basically means watering down the curriculum. You modify the curriuculum academically for the child to pass to the next grade. The examples you are giving are accommodations not modifications.

That may be true, Shay, however our state forms uses the word MODIFICATIONS for things you are all calling accommodations. Whether or not they are correct in doing do is another issue. But I can have “modifications” (as defined by NC) for my students and my own child while they are in the standard course of study/regular diploma track.

As a matter of fact, on the IEP form, in the section for what you are all calling accommodations the heading says “Appropriate supplementary aids, services, and modification(s) if any”. The word accommodation is not on the NC IEP.

Janis

Right Janis,and what will you do if five years from now the state decides that the definition of modification is changing the curriculum? This is my issue and concern. Modification in definition means to make changes in,not a supplementary aid. As I mentioned before IDEA uses the terms interchangebly,and will be making clarifications in this next revision. Why not use accomodations instead? If your district literally has modifications typed on the paperwork,I can see where you would have a problem,but supplementary aids is NOT modifying the curriculum it is an accomodation. Which is defined as Supply,compromise,make adjustments to. I might ask to line out the term moficiations if they are not modifying anything. I know,probably would be called all kinds of names after the meeting,but I would have possibly saved my kid a lot of grief in his future. Which is my priority anyway.

The only thing I’ll go back to is…we CAN modify the curriculum and as long as the child passes the test, they graduate. I took my child out of the spelling curiculum last year because it was inappropriate for her. I consider this a modification. This year the spelling curriculum is better (partly because I worked many hours researching and getting samples for them to look at), so she will go back into the spelling curriculum. None of this has a thing to do with her graduation.

As I said, my state uses the term modification for all accommodations and modifications. You then check mark or write in the specific item. Some may be accommodations and some may be modifications, as you define it. All that matters is that the child accesses the knowledge needed to pass the tests. If a child is OUT of the standard course of study (state curriculum), then they are tested differently and the parents understand that the child is out of the regular diploma track. Pretty much the only kids that are in that situation in elementary school are TMH. All others are tested and it is much later before the determination is made to go to the occupational diploma program (which is mainly for the cognitively delayed). As far as I know ALL LD children in my county are on regular diploma track regardless of modifications or accommodations. They still have to pass the same tests to graduate as everyone else regardless of what the IEP says regarding modifcations or accommodations. Of course, they can use testing modifications on the state tests if designated.

Because of the conflict over wording (which has never been a problem as long as I have been teaching), I do expect the IDEA revisions to redefine words. But I still say, the word modification does mean change just as you said…and if I have extended time for testing, then a change in the testing time has occurred. The term is absolutely correctly used…it’s just that people apparently have the need to make accommodation and modification mean two different things when they can at times be interchangeable. I think this is nitpicking really. I choose to look at the bigger picture and not get hung up in stuff like this. So I’m somewhat sorry I even came into the conversation…except to say…all states do not use the wording in the same way!

Janis