IEP Accommodations in Tennessee
What IEP accommodations are available in Tennessee?
Tennessee IEPs must specify all accommodations that enable the child with a disability to access the general education curriculum and participate in state and district assessments, as required by Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(1)(d)-(f) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-103. The IEP must include supplementary aids and services and program modifications that will be provided to or on behalf of the child. For statewide assessments — the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) for grades 3-8 and End-of-Course (EOC) exams for high school — the IEP team must specify individual accommodations the child needs, consistent with TDOE's Assessment Accommodations Manual. If the IEP team determines the child will take the Tennessee Alternate Assessment (TAA), the IEP must explain why the child cannot participate in the regular assessment and why the TAA is appropriate (0520-01-09-.09(1)(c); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)). All accommodations must be provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-102(6)). Teachers and service providers must be informed of the specific accommodations in the IEP and their responsibility for implementing them (34 CFR 300.323(d)). Tennessee's IEP team determination of accommodations must be based on individual student needs as documented in evaluation data and present levels.
What Tennessee Requires
The IEP must specify all accommodations for instruction and assessment, including supplementary aids and services and program modifications (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(1)(d)-(e); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4)).
For statewide assessments (TCAP grades 3-8, EOC exams), the IEP must list individual accommodations consistent with TDOE's Assessment Accommodations Manual, or if the child takes the Tennessee Alternate Assessment (TAA), explain why the child cannot participate in the regular assessment and why the TAA is appropriate (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.09(1)(c); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)).
All regular and special education teachers and related service providers must be informed of the specific 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 (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-102(6); Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-103; 34 CFR 300.17).
Accommodations must not fundamentally alter what is being measured — they provide access while maintaining content standards and performance expectations (34 CFR 300.160(b)).
The IEP team determines appropriate accommodations based on the individual student's needs as documented in the evaluation and present levels (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(1)(a),(d); 34 CFR 300.324(a)(1)).
The IEP must explain the extent to which the child will not participate with nondisabled children in the regular class (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(5); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(5)).
Key Timelines
Accommodations must be in effect at the beginning of each school year and as soon as possible after the IEP is developed (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(3); 34 CFR 300.323(a)).
IEP accommodations must be reviewed at least annually and revised as needed (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12; 34 CFR 300.324(b)).
Sources
Related IEP Guides
IEP Accommodations vs Modifications: What Parents Need to Know
Accommodations change how your child learns. Modifications change what — and can affect their diploma. Know the difference before your next IEP meeting.
Sensory Accommodations: The Full List Schools Don't Tell You About
The complete list of sensory accommodations for IEPs — auditory, visual, tactile, movement, oral, environmental, and testing. Sample IEP language included.