Accommodations SAT/ACT

[empeg1]

Healthy, I noticed an answer you gave in another thread, about test modifications, that a request for extended time on the ACT is usually denied the first time. Did you make the request for extended time for your ds yourself or did your son's school make the request?

I contacted the testing coordinator at my dd's HS about an accommodation for extended time for my dd on the SAT and ACT. My dd has a 504 plan that includes extended time, since 6th grade. She has a 1) neuropsych report from just before 9th grade with a diagnosis of GAD, and 2) psychiatrist's letter verifying the diagnosis of GAD & OCD, with marked test anxiety and 3) current 504 with the accommodation of extended time all as documentation.

The 504 coordinator from the HS will be filling out the documentation and the testing coordinator will submit the request for extended time to both the ACT & SAT. The testing coordinator did not think there should be trouble getting the accommodation.

What info do people have about the above?

[healthy11]

In our case, we made the initial request for extended time for the ACT, although I enclosed paperwork from the school showing that my son had an accommodation plan in place. I know other posters have had schools submit the initial request and also had difficulties, but it may very well be a factor of who at the ACT company reviews your child's application and how familiar they are with the kind of diagnosis that your child has. In any case, I wouldn't worry too much, because it sounds like your daughter's school will be very supportive, even if you have to appeal. Here's an older discussion you might find to be of interest:
schwablearningforumarchive.greatschools.org/thread/17189.html

[aworriedmom]

For DS, he had an IEP with accommodatiosn of extended time. School filed paperwork for SAt accoms but the case manager was not in favor of accoms, so she did minimal amount of work she could. I appealed with tons of data from private evals, and we are waiting to hear.

With DD, school did nothing at all for PSAt accoms, so I got on their case and we filed for accoms. Case Manager said that when a kid is classified "SLD" the college board is more accommodating. We shall see. This time, I know to keep requesting that they reconsider. School does not want to help because this means they need to pay proctors for a longer day.

[d]

I'm where aworried mom is except I haven't gone back for round 3 yet. We applied once for SAT's, was denied, appealed and got it. However, the school psych only appealed for 1/2 accoms so taking that issue up with her after the 1st (denial and procrastination about sped stuff) to appeal again. And we had to initiate all, original request and appeal.

[SharonF]

My kids went to different public high schools in the same district (one went to a fine arts magnet school, the other to our neighborhood's assigned high school.) In both cases, the high schools asked us to fill out the bulk of the bureaucratic paperwork. Then the high school added internal information such as copies of their IEPs, "proof" that my kids regularly used extended time for classroom tests, etc.

For my son, we filled out the paperwork. The school added their interal documentation and mailed the request to SAT and ACT. His IEP was for SLD.

For my daughter, we filled out the paperwork. Her IEP was for OHI. The school added their internal documentation (sealed) and sent it all back home with dd. My dd's high school made us pay the mailing cost to ship the accom requests to SAT and ACT.

We had no problem getting accoms. Both kids got extended time for both SAT and ACT on the first try. (We did not apply for accoms for PSAT.)

Because we also requested keyboarding accom for dd, we had to submit a lot more paperwork. I had to contact her ped-neuro and get proof of her ADHD diagnosis, as well as details of various private neurological evaluations regarding her fine motor problems. The high school Testing Coordinator also got a written recommendation from the school OT that dd needed to keyboard rather than write the essay by hand. SAT gave her the keyboarding accom on the first try (along with extended time.)

There was so much paperwork for the ACT keyboarding accom that we didn't bother.

[michellea]

I was advised in October that the rules governing accommodations for the SAT (I did not ask about the ACT) have recently changed - making it much easier for parents.

DD's guidance counselor told me that if a public school student is on a 504 for 4 months (i think 4 is the right number), the school files and the college board automatically accepts.

[bros]

For the SATs, I was given the accommodations of Large Block Answer Sheet and Computer for Essay. 50% Extended time was denied.

I was denied twice, then my dad basically yelled at the case manager to give us copies of what she filled out and a new copy of the accommodation form.

Turns out she filled out the completely wrong boxes, and filled out a box that basically said "we don't have any doctor evals to support this, we're just giving you the IEP"

Then we filled out the form ourselves, had the school fill it out and mail it in along with an outside OT evaluation, neurologist eval, pediatrician note, and education + psych evals done by the school.