Which statement best distinguishes accommodations from modifications?

• A. Accommodations adjust how a student learns or demonstrates knowledge (extended time).
• B. Modifications adjust how a student learns or demonstrates knowledge.
• C. Accommodations change the grading system.
• D. Modifications are for behavior.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how each approach handles expectations and delivery for a student. Accommodations change how a student learns or shows what they know without changing the content or the standard itself. For example, giving extended time allows the student to demonstrate the same knowledge and meet the same standards, just under more favorable conditions. Modifications, on the other hand, change what the student is expected to learn or demonstrate—such as simplifying tasks or altering the content to align with a different level of requirements.

So the best statement is that accommodations adjust how learning or demonstration occurs (extended time is a classic example). The other options misstate the distinction: modifying changes content or expectations, and accommodations don’t alter grading or address behavior as the defining feature.