ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the possibilities and limitations of test taking support devices, a term used here to refer to both testing accommodations and accessibility resources in the testing of ELL students. These support devices are intended to minimize the effects of limited proficiency in the language of testing as an extraneous factor that adversely affects the performance of ELL students on tests. The chapter provides definitions of testing accommodations and accessibility resources. It explains definitions of testing accommodations and accessibility resources. The chapter explores the limitations of accommodations in their effectiveness to reduce the score gap between ELL and non-ELL students that is attributable to English proficiency and the reasons that account for those limitations. It also discusses limitations of current assessment policies concerning the use of testing accommodations with ELL students. The chapter also explores deterministic and probabilistic approaches that guide the actions of researchers and decision makers in their attempts to maximize the effectiveness of test taking support devices.
