Which statement correctly differentiates modifications and accommodations?

Which statement correctly differentiates modifications and accommodations?

• A. Modifications change the learning goal or objective itself, while accommodations change how they are taught.
• B. Modifications and accommodations are the same.
• C. Accommodations change the learning goal or objective.
• D. Modifications only change how they are assessed.

Answer: (A)

In this area, the important idea is separating what a student is expected to learn from how they access or show that learning. Modifications involve changing the actual learning target. For example, if the standard goal is to count to 20, a modification might adjust the goal to counting to 10 or counting a smaller set of objects. Accommodations, on the other hand, keep the same learning target but change how the student engages with the material or demonstrates their understanding—for instance, giving extra time, offering manipulatives, or allowing a student to demonstrate understanding by pointing or using a picture cue instead of writing. So the statement that modifications change the learning goal or objective, while accommodations change how they are taught, reflects this distinction. Modifications and accommodations are not the same, and accommodations do not change the learning goal.

In this area, the important idea is separating what a student is expected to learn from how they access or show that learning. Modifications involve changing the actual learning target. For example, if the standard goal is to count to 20, a modification might adjust the goal to counting to 10 or counting a smaller set of objects. Accommodations, on the other hand, keep the same learning target but change how the student engages with the material or demonstrates their understanding—for instance, giving extra time, offering manipulatives, or allowing a student to demonstrate understanding by pointing or using a picture cue instead of writing.

So the statement that modifications change the learning goal or objective, while accommodations change how they are taught, reflects this distinction. Modifications and accommodations are not the same, and accommodations do not change the learning goal.