The US Department of Justice issues Technical Assistance on Testing Accommodations for individuals with disabilities who take standardized exams and high-stakes tests.
DOJ addresses the obligation to ensure that the test scores of individuals with disabilities accurately reflect the individual’s aptitude, achievement, or the skill that the exam purports to measure, rather than his or her disability.
This guidance document clarifies:
- who is entitled to testing accommodations
- what types of testing accommodations must be provided
- what documentation may be required of the person requesting testing accommodations
- prohibited flagging policies
- how test scores for test-takers receiving disability-related accommodations should be reported
A person with a history of academic success may still be a person with a disability who is entitled to testing accommodations under the ADA.
Documentation Sufficient to Support a Request for Testing Accommodations
Formal Public School Accommodations.
If a candidate previously received testing accommodations under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a Section 504 Plan, he or she should generally receive the same testing accommodations for a current standardized exam or high-stakes test.
If a candidate shows the receipt of testing accommodations in his or her most recent IEP or Section 504 Plan, and certifies his or her current need for the testing accommodations due to disability, then a testing entity should generally grant those same testing accommodations for the current standardized exam or high-stakes test without requesting further documentation from the candidate.
This would include students with disabilities publicly-placed and funded in a private school under the IDEA or Section 504 placement procedures whose IEP or Section 504 Plan addresses needed testing accommodations.
Example: Where a student with a Section 504 Plan in place since middle school that includes the testing accommodations of extended time and a quiet room is seeking those same testing accommodations for a high-stakes test, and certifies that he or she still needs those testing accommodations, the testing entity receiving such documentation should generally grant the request.
Technical Assistance Guidance
https://www.ada.gov/regs2014/testing_accommodations.html
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Learn more about Section 504, accommodations, discrimination, ADAAA on the Wrightslaw Section 504 and ADA page.
Question-Is test then re-test an appropriate accommodation for a student with an IEP, just because the student didn’t score above a 70 on the initial test. This seems like an accommodation that gives an unfair advantage to the student over his other peers.
help! emergency accomm. from the College Board (CB):
Any recourse if CB does not respond in time? my son has existing 504 acc. for a permanent disability-50% extra time. Last month, he needed emergency surgery on his dom arm from a recent injury and is in a cast. He cannot write with R hand. I submitted the app for emerg accomm to the CB, asking for double extended time. For Math and Physics, he must write with L hand to figure out the answers to the problems. No scribe can help him with that.
CB denied the request, offering him 50%. I was told to re-submit application with additional documentation, including photographs, xrays, new doctors note and letter from me explaining that he already has existing disability and why he needs 100%. No response. Test starts tomorrow!
“DOJ addresses the obligation to ensure that the test scores of individuals with disabilities accurately reflect the individual’s aptitude, achievement, or the skill that the exam purports to measure, rather than his or her disability.”………”he or she should generally receive the same testing accommodations for a current standardized exam or high-stakes test.”
May the school deny 504 testing accommodations if the purpose of the nationally normed achievement test is to meet criteria to participate in the gifted program? This is the only time testing accommodations are denied.
Why won’t the ACTaspire allow accommodation? Student have the option to be read to during the year, but they wont allow them to have it read to them. The test will not allow for student’s in the 3rd – 5th grade to use a calculator on the math portion.
This change has been a tremendous help for my 16y.o. by allowing him to take the SAT with accommodations without the need for re-testing.
In applying for accommodations for college, though, many of the schools we’ve talked to all require updated (within 1-2 years of applying or after 18y.o.) testing in order to qualify for college accommodations. He has had a 504 throughout his high school life.
We can’t afford this huge financial cost. Is there any way this law could be used for receiving accommodations at state-run colleges so parents aren’t still burdened with expense of new testing?
Check with the local universities. They often have clinics where evaluations can be done at a reduced cost.