An IEP team determines that a student with severe language and cognitive impairments requires curriculum modifications. Which statement best characterizes a curriculum modification?

• A. Providing access to specialized computer software
• B. Altering the instructional level and content based on abilities
• C. Changing the acceptable format for assignments
• D. Using alternate input modalities to deliver instruction

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that a curriculum modification changes what is taught and the level at which it is taught to fit the student’s abilities. When a student has severe language and cognitive impairments, the IEP team often needs to adjust both the content and the difficulty level to make learning meaningful and achievable, rather than requiring the exact grade-level standards. For example, instead of aiming for grade-level math problems, the student might work on foundational counting or simple number sense at an appropriate level.

The other options describe ways to access the same curriculum or demonstrate learning without changing the content itself, such as using assistive software, changing how an assignment is presented, or using different ways to input responses. These are accommodations or instructional supports, not curriculum modifications.