Teachers play an important role in preparing their students for standardized tests. In addition to normal classroom instruction, teachers can lead their special needs students through practice exercises drawn from previous editions of the test. As the National Center for Learning Disabilities explains, "...teachers often use released test items found on state department websites as instructional materials or mock quizzes in order to ensure their students are being exposed to the content and the formats found on state tests."
Teachers may modify the process of test administration in an effort to work around a student's special needs. For example, students with a visual impairment may receive the test in Braille. Alternatively, the teacher may read questions out loud to a dyslexic student. In such cases, the presentation of the test is modified so that the student's content knowledge is tested without being hindered by an existing disability.
According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, teachers can also alter test schedules for special needs students. A teacher may arrange for the student to take one section of a test at a time, with breaks of an hour or even a day between the completion of each section. A teacher may also recommend that the student receive additional time to complete each test section.
Teachers can alter the setting where the special needs student will complete the test. For example, students often complete standardized tests in a classroom surrounded by their peers. As an alternative, teachers can arrange for a special needs student to test in a private room or in a seat positioned away from potential distractions, such as a door or a window. Teachers can also alter the room's lighting to accommodate a special need.