IEP Accommodations in Utah
What IEP accommodations are available in Utah?
Utah IEPs must specify all accommodations that enable the student to access the general education curriculum and participate in assessments. Under Utah Admin. Code R277-750-2(2) and Utah Code § 53E-7-207(2), the IEP must include a statement of supplementary aids and services and program modifications to support the student in regular education settings. For Utah's RISE (Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment) statewide assessments, the IEP must list individual appropriate accommodations. USBE publishes the Utah Accessibility, Accommodations, and Participation Policy annually, which defines allowable, designated, and non-standard accommodations for the RISE and other state assessments. Under Utah Admin. Code R277-404-4, a student's IEP team determines the individual student's participation and accommodations for statewide assessments consistent with the Utah Participation and Accommodations Policy. If the student will take the DLM (Dynamic Learning Maps) alternate assessment instead of the RISE, the IEP must explain why the student cannot participate in the regular assessment and which alternate assessment is appropriate. All accommodations must be at no cost to the family as part of FAPE under Utah Code § 53E-7-207(2)(a). All teachers and service providers implementing the IEP must be informed of their specific accommodation responsibilities (34 CFR 300.323(d)). Accommodations differ from modifications: accommodations provide access without changing what is being learned or tested, while modifications alter the content or performance expectations.
What Utah Requires
The IEP must specify all supplementary aids and services and program modifications to support the student's access to the general curriculum and participation in regular education settings (Utah Admin. Code R277-750-2(2); Utah Code § 53E-7-207(2); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4)).
For the RISE statewide assessments, the IEP must list individual appropriate accommodations consistent with the USBE Utah Accessibility, Accommodations, and Participation Policy (Utah Admin. Code R277-750-2(2); R277-404-4; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)).
If the student will take the DLM alternate assessment, the IEP must explain why the student cannot participate in the RISE assessment and which alternate assessment is appropriate (Utah Admin. Code R277-750-2(2); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)(ii)).
All teachers and service providers must be informed of their specific responsibilities for implementing accommodations in the IEP (34 CFR 300.323(d)).
Accommodations must be provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE (Utah Code § 53E-7-207(2)(a); 34 CFR 300.17).
The IEP team determines appropriate accommodations based on the student's individualized needs; accommodations must not fundamentally alter what is being learned or tested (Utah Admin. Code R277-750-2(2)).
Accommodations used during instruction should be consistent with accommodations provided during assessments, so students are familiar with the supports during testing (USBE Utah Accessibility, Accommodations, and Participation Policy).
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 (Utah Admin. Code R277-750-2(2); 34 CFR 300.324(b)).
Teachers must be informed of accommodations and their implementation responsibilities before the student begins receiving services (34 CFR 300.323(d)).
Assessment accommodations must be determined and documented before statewide RISE testing windows (Utah Admin. Code R277-404-4; USBE Utah Accessibility, Accommodations, and Participation Policy).
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.