IEP Accommodations in Vermont
What IEP accommodations are available in Vermont?
Vermont IEPs must specify all accommodations that enable the student with a disability to access the general curriculum and participate in assessments. Under VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1, the IEP must include a statement of supplementary aids and services and program modifications to support the student in regular education settings. For state and districtwide assessments, the IEP must specify any individual appropriate accommodations; if the student will take an alternate assessment, the IEP must explain why and identify the appropriate alternate assessment. Vermont participates in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) for general assessments and uses the Alternate Portfolio Assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Accommodations must be provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE (16 V.S.A. § 2941). All teachers and service providers must be informed of their specific responsibilities for implementing accommodations (34 CFR 300.323(d); VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1).
What Vermont Requires
The IEP must specify all supplementary aids and services and program modifications to support the student's access to the general curriculum (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4)).
For state and districtwide assessments (SBAC/Smarter Balanced), the IEP must list individual appropriate accommodations (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)).
If the student will take the Vermont Alternate Portfolio Assessment, the IEP must explain why the student cannot participate in the regular assessment (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)(ii)).
All regular and special education teachers and related service providers must be informed of their responsibilities for implementing accommodations (34 CFR 300.323(d)).
Accommodations must be provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE (16 V.S.A. § 2941; 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 (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.2).
Progress on the effectiveness of accommodations is reviewed through periodic progress reports at least as frequently as report cards (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1).