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Special Education » Testing Accommodations

Testing Accommodations

Requesting Accommodations for College Board and ACT Testing

 

Students with a formal plan (IEP/ 504) may be eligible to receive accommodations on National Standardized Tests. Accommodations provided at HPHS are meant to support students based on their daily academic needs at school. College Board (SAT, AP, PSAT) and ACT are independent companies who make those decisions based on their own criteria, and are not required to match the accommodations provided by the school. Please check the ACT and College Board websites for their application deadlines, required documentation, and available accommodations. The HPHS deadline to receive accommodations request is 5 school days prior to the published deadlines due to the time it will take to collect the required documentation needed for the student’s application.

 

Please read the information below before making your requests.

 

College Board:

  • Only Accommodations listed on a formal school plan will be requested.
    • Please ensure that HPHS has all updated documentation of a student’s diagnosis and disability.
    • For students to receive the support of the Highland High School staff in submitting requests for accommodations, families must submit their requests five school days prior to the deadlines established by College Board.  
    • Students can still submit their requests for accommodations directly to the College Board after the Highland Park High School deadline. Please understand that late requests may not provide a decision in a timely manner for the upcoming test date.
  • Per College Board:
  • Submit Requests Early: Because the approval process can take up to seven weeks, it’s best to start well before the test date.
  • SSD cannot review the request until all required documentation is received.
  • If additional documentation is required—or if a request is resubmitted—approval can take an additional seven weeks.
  • Students who receive an accommodation in school do not automatically qualify for the accommodation on College Board exams—even if they have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. The request for accommodations must still be approved by College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities.

 

ACT:

  • Students must register for the ACT first.
  • Select “SPECIAL TESTING” to indicate the need for accommodations.
  • After you register, you will receive an email that provides your next steps, which includes the consent form that must be uploaded onto the Google Form before we can request accommodations.
  • Only Accommodations listed on a formal school plan will be requested. 
  • For students to receive the support of the Highland High School staff in submitting requests for accommodations, families must submit their requests five school days prior to the ACT published deadline. 
  • Please ensure that HPHS has all updated information of student’s diagnosis and disability.

 

Any questions regarding accommodations on a school plan (IEP or 504 plan), should be directed to the 504 or Special Education Coordinator.