IEP Accommodations in Mississippi
What IEP accommodations are available in Mississippi?
Mississippi IEPs must specify all accommodations that enable the student to access the general curriculum and participate in assessments. Under 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4) and (a)(6) as implemented by the Mississippi Special Education Regulations, the IEP must include: (1) supplementary aids and services and program modifications for the student in general education settings; and (2) individual appropriate accommodations for state assessments — Mississippi uses the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) for grades 3-8 and high school, and the MAAP-A (alternate assessment) for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. MDE publishes accommodation guidelines specifying which accommodations are approved for MAAP administration. Accommodations must be provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE (Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-3). All teachers and service providers responsible for implementing the IEP must be informed of their specific responsibilities, including accommodations (34 CFR 300.323(d)).
What Mississippi Requires
The IEP must specify all accommodations and supplementary aids and services to support the student's access to the general curriculum (34 CFR 300.320(a)(4); Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-9).
For MAAP state assessments, the IEP must list individual appropriate accommodations approved by MDE; unapproved accommodations may not be used on high-stakes assessments (34 CFR 300.320(a)(6); MS Sp. Ed. Regs.).
If the student will take the MAAP-A alternate assessment, the IEP must explain why the student cannot participate in the regular MAAP and why the alternate assessment is appropriate (34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)(ii)).
All regular and special education teachers and related service providers must be informed of the student's accommodations and their responsibility for implementing them (34 CFR 300.323(d)).
Accommodations must be provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE (Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-3; 34 CFR 300.17).
Key Timelines
Accommodations must be in effect at the beginning of each school year (34 CFR 300.323(a)).
IEP accommodations must be reviewed at least annually and revised as needed (34 CFR 300.324(b); Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-9).