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Accommodation Breakdown: Breaks During Testing
IDEA & Section 504

Accommodation Breakdown: Breaks During Testing

What’s the accommodation? Student will be provided breaks during testing. How's it supposed to be implemented? What are potential problems?

Callie Oettinger
Jun 23, 2025
∙ Paid
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Special Education Action
Special Education Action
Accommodation Breakdown: Breaks During Testing
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What’s the Accommodation?

Student will be provided breaks during testing.

This accommodation helps ensure students are assessed on what they know, not on how long they can endure a testing session. Breaks allow students to pause throughout an assessment and may vary in length depending on the test type and duration.

Important: Breaks do not count against the student’s testing time. A “stop-the-clock” model ensures students receive the full time intended for the test content.

Who Benefits from this Accommodation?

Students who have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: These students may have difficulty sustaining attention over extended periods. Testing breaks allow them time to pause and reset.

Students who have specific learning disabilities: Students with reading comprehension difficulties, processing speed challenges, or other SLDs may experience mental fatigue during long assessments. Scheduled breaks help reduce cognitive overload and maintain performance.

Students who have other health impairments: Some students may require breaks due to medical, physical, or psychological conditions. These breaks may serve as medically necessary rest periods or as emotional regulation tools during stressful assessments.

Potential Issues

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