Describe the difference between accommodations and modifications in special education.

Accommodations are designed to provide students with the support they need to access the curriculum and demonstrate their understanding without altering the content or expectations of what they are learning. By adjusting how a student learns, accommodations can include changes in the environment, instructional strategies, or the manner in which assessments are delivered. For example, a student may use assistive technology or receive extended time on tests, which allows them to engage with the same content as their peers while utilizing different methods to demonstrate their knowledge.

On the other hand, modifications involve altering the curriculum expectations or the level of content that a student is required to learn. These changes typically reflect a different set of learning goals tailored to an individual student's needs. For instance, a student may work on simpler concepts or reduced content that better matches their abilities, which means they are not expected to achieve the same outcomes as their peers.

This distinction is crucial in special education because understanding how to appropriately modify or accommodate instruction can greatly impact a student's educational experience and outcomes, ensuring they can learn effectively within the educational framework.