How do I apply for accommodations?
Students can apply for special testing accommodations if they have current documentation of accommodations granted them here at school to confirm a learning difference and the need for special accommodations. This may be in the form of an IEP or a 504 plan.
SMHS requests that students and parents notify the school counselor during 9th grade or early 10th grade if the need for accommodations is anticipated. This allows the parents and school counselor to request the accommodations from College Board and/or ACT. This process can take up to eight weeks. The school counselor will provide the student/parent with a packet to fill out. Once the packet is returned to the counselor, the counselor will submit the information to the appropriate testing service.
If a student has registered for the PSAT with extended time in the junior year (this must be completed no later than spring of the sophomore year), a letter qualifying the student for extended time on SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject tests will be mailed to the student from the Educational Testing Services. The parent should return it to the student's counselor, to become part of the student’s file. Students must include a copy of this letter, or cite its SSD code in online registration, in order to test with special accommodations. Special accommodations normally suggest a student is allotted time and a half; in some cases, students qualify for extended breaks, a large-print test booklet, or are permitted to use a computer for the writing section.
A separate application must be completed if a student seeks extended time for the ACT Plus Writing, including the registration form for a particular ACT test date.
Interested students should be advised that the ACT organization and College Board can prove more discretionary in their review of extended time requests and often denies requests, even when SMHS recommends extended time and documentation is provided.
Students are responsible for registering for their standardized test, with the exception of the PSAT and AP exams, which SMHS handles through on campus sign-ups. When it comes time to apply for college, students also are responsible for sending score reports directly from the College Board and/or the ACT to colleges. It is worth noting that scores achieved in tests taken with accommodations look the same as those for tests taken under standard conditions, so a student testing with accommodations has the option of letting a college know about a learning difference, or not. In any case, this is a conversation to be had with your counselor, who will always recommend that students consider the resources available on the campuses to which they are applying.
2016 College Board Accommodations Request Packet