What distinguishes accommodations from modifications in an educational context?

Accommodations and modifications are both strategies used to support students with diverse learning needs, but they serve different purposes. The distinction lies primarily in the level of change made to the educational material or expectations.

When accommodations are used, they typically involve changes that support a student's access to the same curriculum as their peers without altering the actual content. This means that students may use different materials (such as audiobooks or graphic organizers), take tests in a different environment, or receive additional time to complete assignments. The core content and learning goals remain the same for all students, but the way the material is presented or assessed can differ to better suit the individual learning requirements of the student.

In contrast, modifications involve a change in the actual content or learning goals that students are expected to achieve. For instance, a student may be given a simpler version of an assignment or be expected to learn fewer concepts than their classmates. This alters the depth of knowledge required and can significantly change what a student is learning.

This fundamental difference is why the first option correctly captures the distinction between accommodations and modifications, emphasizing that accommodations allow for different materials while modifications change what content or expectations students are held to.