DET 541 June/Aug. (6-23 & 8-23) Page 3 of 19
numbered the same as those on the printed examinations. Braille editions of the Regents Examinations
in Physical Setting/Chemistry, Physical Setting/Earth Science, and Physical Setting/Physics incorporate
the material from the separate secure answer booklets in the regular editions directly into the braille
examination booklets. Separate or special answer sheets are not provided with copies of braille editions
of Regents Examinations. Students may use any special equipment that they use in the classroom to take
the test, such as special rulers, protractors, and calculators. The student may answer the questions in any
manner appropriate and familiar to the student. The student may write, type, or braille the answers, dictate
them to a proctor or a mechanical recording device, or use any combination of these methods.
When the Department transcribes an examination into braille, questions that contain material that cannot
be reproduced in a manner understandable to a blind student are modified. The questions are reworded
or replaced with questions that measure skills similar to those measured by the original questions. Special
notices containing the reworded or replaced items and rating guides will be provided. Unless otherwise
noted, the scoring key provided by the Department can be used for both the printed and braille editions of
the examination. Separate scoring keys are provided for the braille editions of the Regents Examinations
in Living Environment, Physical Setting/Earth Science, and Physical Setting/Physics.
Reader-Administered Examinations. A proctor should use the regular examination booklet when reading
an examination to a student with a disability. The principal should provide the proctor with an examination
booklet one hour prior to the required starting time so that the proctor can become familiar with the
examination questions before reading them to the student.
When test items are to be read, the entire test must be read, including reading passages, questions, and
answer choices. The test must be read in a neutral manner, without intonation or emphasis, and without
otherwise drawing attention to key words or phrases. Passages and questions must be read word-for-
word, without any clarification or explanation. (However, such content may be read more than once.)
Unless the IEP or 504 Plan specifically disallows it, when reading a mathematics test question to a student
who has this accommodation, all numbers and mathematics symbols, along with words, should be spoken
by the proctor to the student. For example, the symbol < should be read as “less than,”
and 1,211 should be read as “one thousand, two hundred, eleven.” However, test questions may never
be modified, nor may proctors provide additional examples.
Reference Materials for Regents Examinations. Provide for students with disabilities all information
normally provided to students. All reference materials for Regents Examinations—tables, charts, and
graphs—are available in large type and braille. These materials will be supplied with the braille or large-
type examinations. When reading a test to a student in accordance with the student’s IEP or 504 Plan,
the proctor may read the required reference information to the student as long as this does not give the
student an unfair advantage. Students may not use English language dictionaries, either printed or
electronic.
Administering Examinations to English Language Learners (ELLs)
Schools may provide the following testing accommodations to ELLs:
• Time Extension. Schools may extend the test time for ELLs. Principals may use any reasonable
extensions, such as “time and a half” (the required testing time plus half that amount), in accordance
with their best judgment about the needs of the ELLs. Principals should consult with each student’s
classroom teacher in making these determinations.
• Next-Day Completion of Testing. ELLs who have been granted the accommodation of extended time
and are scheduled to take two Regents Examinations on the same day may be approved by the school
principal for the new accommodation of Next-Day Completion of a Regents Examination. If Next-Day
Completion is approved by the school principal, the student must complete the entire morning
examination and at least the first part (Part 1 or Part A) of the afternoon examination on the date the
Department scheduled the administration of those examinations. The student must then complete the
remainder of the afternoon examination on the next school day. Prior to administration, the school