Does it Add Up? Calculators as Accommodations for Sixth Grade Students with Disabilities

Abstract

This study explored the performance of sixth grade students with and without disabilities on a mathematics assessment aligned to state standards when provided a calculator as an accommodation. The study utilized a pre/posttest design. No student was given access to a calculator on the pretest, and approximately half of the students were randomly assigned to have access to a four-function calculator on the posttest. The results suggest that both students with disabilities and students without disabilities benefited from access to a calculator. The findings raise implications for calculators as a valid accommodation on assessments and suggest directions for future research.