PSAT for 10th Graders and Accommodations

[Anonymous]

Can anyone share if parents need to do anything to ensure accommodations (extended time) are honored for the upcoming PSAT for 10th graders? My DD has them through a 504 plan, but I am under the impression you have to request them from the College Board. Does the school do this, or do we? The school has basically been uncommunicative about the test until a notification last night that it will be taking place. And the communication said zero about what to do about accommodations.

[Anonymous]

The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

Thank you. But surely if she already has the 504 in place, they (the school) would have had to submit the request already? Otherwise, it would mean that no students were receiving them. That said, I was never asked to sign a release form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

Thank you. But surely if she already has the 504 in place, they (the school) would have had to submit the request already? Otherwise, it would mean that no students were receiving them. That said, I was never asked to sign a release form.

you would think - but no. you just request this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

Thank you. But surely if she already has the 504 in place, they (the school) would have had to submit the request already? Otherwise, it would mean that no students were receiving them. That said, I was never asked to sign a release form.

OK. So, no, no it did not happen. If you did not sign the release form, most probably the accomodation request did not happen. You have to be on top of this with the school. This is not only for SN parents but also NT parents.

Remember that PSAT is offered from 9th grade onwards (9th, 10th and 11th - with 11th PSAT being the NMSQT). In some middle schools, there is an 8th grade PSAT too. Most MS don't want to do the extra work for hosting the 8th grade PSAT, and they may not have funding for it. BUT, hound your school to make sure that your kid takes the 9th, 10th and 11th grade PSAT, and make sure that you are linking the PSAT scores on CollegeBoard to Khan Academy.

Another thing, PSAT is additional work for the schools without any reward. Usually, the 10th and 11th grade PSAT exam costs was paid for MCPS. I think that parents should make a stink and insist that the HS hosts 9, 10 and 11th grade PSATs, even if they have to pay the collegeboard fees. Don't let budget cuts keep your kid from getting the chance for the practice SATs.

PSAT is a very effective way to prepare for SAT without any consequence for poor performance. The colleges do not see this. And Middle School parents better start speaking up for PSAT 8. I know that Parkland MS in MCPS was offering 8th grade PSAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

Thank you. But surely if she already has the 504 in place, they (the school) would have had to submit the request already? Otherwise, it would mean that no students were receiving them. That said, I was never asked to sign a release form.

OK. So, no, no it did not happen. If you did not sign the release form, most probably the accomodation request did not happen. You have to be on top of this with the school. This is not only for SN parents but also NT parents.

Remember that PSAT is offered from 9th grade onwards (9th, 10th and 11th - with 11th PSAT being the NMSQT). In some middle schools, there is an 8th grade PSAT too. Most MS don't want to do the extra work for hosting the 8th grade PSAT, and they may not have funding for it. BUT, hound your school to make sure that your kid takes the 9th, 10th and 11th grade PSAT, and make sure that you are linking the PSAT scores on CollegeBoard to Khan Academy.

Another thing, PSAT is additional work for the schools without any reward. Usually, the 10th and 11th grade PSAT exam costs was paid for MCPS. I think that parents should make a stink and insist that the HS hosts 9, 10 and 11th grade PSATs, even if they have to pay the collegeboard fees. Don't let budget cuts keep your kid from getting the chance for the practice SATs.

PSAT is a very effective way to prepare for SAT without any consequence for poor performance. The colleges do not see this. And Middle School parents better start speaking up for PSAT 8. I know that Parkland MS in MCPS was offering 8th grade PSAT.

Ok. Thank you. But this seems truly crazy. My DD has testing accommodations. They're administering a test. They theoretically did not inform parents of this until last night. Yet, it's too late to request accommodations when for this particular test we needed to sign a release form? That seems to be a violation of Section 504. So do I make a stink?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

Thank you. But surely if she already has the 504 in place, they (the school) would have had to submit the request already? Otherwise, it would mean that no students were receiving them. That said, I was never asked to sign a release form.

OK. So, no, no it did not happen. If you did not sign the release form, most probably the accomodation request did not happen. You have to be on top of this with the school. This is not only for SN parents but also NT parents.

Remember that PSAT is offered from 9th grade onwards (9th, 10th and 11th - with 11th PSAT being the NMSQT). In some middle schools, there is an 8th grade PSAT too. Most MS don't want to do the extra work for hosting the 8th grade PSAT, and they may not have funding for it. BUT, hound your school to make sure that your kid takes the 9th, 10th and 11th grade PSAT, and make sure that you are linking the PSAT scores on CollegeBoard to Khan Academy.

Another thing, PSAT is additional work for the schools without any reward. Usually, the 10th and 11th grade PSAT exam costs was paid for MCPS. I think that parents should make a stink and insist that the HS hosts 9, 10 and 11th grade PSATs, even if they have to pay the collegeboard fees. Don't let budget cuts keep your kid from getting the chance for the practice SATs.

PSAT is a very effective way to prepare for SAT without any consequence for poor performance. The colleges do not see this. And Middle School parents better start speaking up for PSAT 8. I know that Parkland MS in MCPS was offering 8th grade PSAT.

Ok. Thank you. But this seems truly crazy. My DD has testing accommodations. They're administering a test. They theoretically did not inform parents of this until last night. Yet, it's too late to request accommodations when for this particular test we needed to sign a release form? That seems to be a violation of Section 504. So do I make a stink?

Honestly yes, I think so. Because then they may come up with some plan to avoid this ridiculousness in the future for your child and others. Why is this not automatic? I’m so sorry for your child and for you having to deal with this dysfunction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

Thank you. But surely if she already has the 504 in place, they (the school) would have had to submit the request already? Otherwise, it would mean that no students were receiving them. That said, I was never asked to sign a release form.

One would think, but I doubt it. They did not submit for my now 11th grader until after the PSAT when I asked about it for AP exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

Thank you. But surely if she already has the 504 in place, they (the school) would have had to submit the request already? Otherwise, it would mean that no students were receiving them. That said, I was never asked to sign a release form.

OK. So, no, no it did not happen. If you did not sign the release form, most probably the accomodation request did not happen. You have to be on top of this with the school. This is not only for SN parents but also NT parents.

Remember that PSAT is offered from 9th grade onwards (9th, 10th and 11th - with 11th PSAT being the NMSQT). In some middle schools, there is an 8th grade PSAT too. Most MS don't want to do the extra work for hosting the 8th grade PSAT, and they may not have funding for it. BUT, hound your school to make sure that your kid takes the 9th, 10th and 11th grade PSAT, and make sure that you are linking the PSAT scores on CollegeBoard to Khan Academy.

Another thing, PSAT is additional work for the schools without any reward. Usually, the 10th and 11th grade PSAT exam costs was paid for MCPS. I think that parents should make a stink and insist that the HS hosts 9, 10 and 11th grade PSATs, even if they have to pay the collegeboard fees. Don't let budget cuts keep your kid from getting the chance for the practice SATs.

PSAT is a very effective way to prepare for SAT without any consequence for poor performance. The colleges do not see this. And Middle School parents better start speaking up for PSAT 8. I know that Parkland MS in MCPS was offering 8th grade PSAT.

Ok. Thank you. But this seems truly crazy. My DD has testing accommodations. They're administering a test. They theoretically did not inform parents of this until last night. Yet, it's too late to request accommodations when for this particular test we needed to sign a release form? That seems to be a violation of Section 504. So do I make a stink?

No, you don’t make a stink, and ignore the other person who said you should. The 504 (or IEP) covers testing that the school, district, or state require and is to help students access the basic education they are entitled to. College board is a private entity and PSAT/SAT/AP tests are not required for students to take. Although schools partner with college board to administer them, it is still College Board’s process.

Personally I would have your DC take 10th grade PSAT without accommodations to see how they do without them. Separately ask counselor to submit request to College Board to have them in place for 11th grade PSAT and SAT, which are the versions that actually matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

Thank you. But surely if she already has the 504 in place, they (the school) would have had to submit the request already? Otherwise, it would mean that no students were receiving them. That said, I was never asked to sign a release form.

OK. So, no, no it did not happen. If you did not sign the release form, most probably the accomodation request did not happen. You have to be on top of this with the school. This is not only for SN parents but also NT parents.

Remember that PSAT is offered from 9th grade onwards (9th, 10th and 11th - with 11th PSAT being the NMSQT). In some middle schools, there is an 8th grade PSAT too. Most MS don't want to do the extra work for hosting the 8th grade PSAT, and they may not have funding for it. BUT, hound your school to make sure that your kid takes the 9th, 10th and 11th grade PSAT, and make sure that you are linking the PSAT scores on CollegeBoard to Khan Academy.

Another thing, PSAT is additional work for the schools without any reward. Usually, the 10th and 11th grade PSAT exam costs was paid for MCPS. I think that parents should make a stink and insist that the HS hosts 9, 10 and 11th grade PSATs, even if they have to pay the collegeboard fees. Don't let budget cuts keep your kid from getting the chance for the practice SATs.

PSAT is a very effective way to prepare for SAT without any consequence for poor performance. The colleges do not see this. And Middle School parents better start speaking up for PSAT 8. I know that Parkland MS in MCPS was offering 8th grade PSAT.

Ok. Thank you. But this seems truly crazy. My DD has testing accommodations. They're administering a test. They theoretically did not inform parents of this until last night. Yet, it's too late to request accommodations when for this particular test we needed to sign a release form? That seems to be a violation of Section 504. So do I make a stink?

No, you don’t make a stink, and ignore the other person who said you should. The 504 (or IEP) covers testing that the school, district, or state require and is to help students access the basic education they are entitled to. College board is a private entity and PSAT/SAT/AP tests are not required for students to take. Although schools partner with college board to administer them, it is still College Board’s process.

Personally I would have your DC take 10th grade PSAT without accommodations to see how they do without them. Separately ask counselor to submit request to College Board to have them in place for 11th grade PSAT and SAT, which are the versions that actually matter.

You can make a stink all you won't but it won't change anything. Anything related to the College Board you have to be VERY proactive in making sure accommodations are in place. DD has accommodations for a medical condition and I have to be on top of the school to make sure that her accommodations are in place for every single test she takes. Yes, it's a pain in the ass but I don't trust them to take care of it (and rightly so). She did take the PSAT with everyone else because they messed up her accommodations so going forward I was very proactive making sure everything was correct. Had I not they would have messed them up again.

[Anonymous]

Since almost everyone has extended time these days, I don't think they even bother with the time-limit anymore, so I wouldn't sweat it.

This is 100% incorrect...ignore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The accommodation request has to from the school counselor to college board. There is a release form that the parents have to sign. They are not super speedy, so I would be surprised if they are approved in time for the PSAT. But once college board approves accommodations, they are good for all of their tests and you don't have to reapply each year.

Thank you. But surely if she already has the 504 in place, they (the school) would have had to submit the request already? Otherwise, it would mean that no students were receiving them. That said, I was never asked to sign a release form.

OK. So, no, no it did not happen. If you did not sign the release form, most probably the accomodation request did not happen. You have to be on top of this with the school. This is not only for SN parents but also NT parents.

Remember that PSAT is offered from 9th grade onwards (9th, 10th and 11th - with 11th PSAT being the NMSQT). In some middle schools, there is an 8th grade PSAT too. Most MS don't want to do the extra work for hosting the 8th grade PSAT, and they may not have funding for it. BUT, hound your school to make sure that your kid takes the 9th, 10th and 11th grade PSAT, and make sure that you are linking the PSAT scores on CollegeBoard to Khan Academy.

Another thing, PSAT is additional work for the schools without any reward. Usually, the 10th and 11th grade PSAT exam costs was paid for MCPS. I think that parents should make a stink and insist that the HS hosts 9, 10 and 11th grade PSATs, even if they have to pay the collegeboard fees. Don't let budget cuts keep your kid from getting the chance for the practice SATs.

PSAT is a very effective way to prepare for SAT without any consequence for poor performance. The colleges do not see this. And Middle School parents better start speaking up for PSAT 8. I know that Parkland MS in MCPS was offering 8th grade PSAT.

Ok. Thank you. But this seems truly crazy. My DD has testing accommodations. They're administering a test. They theoretically did not inform parents of this until last night. Yet, it's too late to request accommodations when for this particular test we needed to sign a release form? That seems to be a violation of Section 504. So do I make a stink?

No, you don’t make a stink, and ignore the other person who said you should. The 504 (or IEP) covers testing that the school, district, or state require and is to help students access the basic education they are entitled to. College board is a private entity and PSAT/SAT/AP tests are not required for students to take. Although schools partner with college board to administer them, it is still College Board’s process.

Personally I would have your DC take 10th grade PSAT without accommodations to see how they do without them. Separately ask counselor to submit request to College Board to have them in place for 11th grade PSAT and SAT, which are the versions that actually matter.

If the process is that the request has to come from the school counselor, then this is not just an issue between the family and the private entity (College Board). It absolutely should be something the school counselor communicates with the family about far enough in advance of whatever the deadline is.

[Anonymous]

Check with the guidance counselor. Things like psat and AP require separate approvals, but guidance counselor can help in all cases.

FWIW, I never signed the parent approval form for my Jr's recent ACT. She applied and contacted her GC who was on it, and it was approved before I got a chance to submit the form!!

I also know a kid who has 504 accommodations and did not get them for APs. So much gets communicated to kids, and when an adhd kid is involved, things slip through the cracks. It's a very imperfect system. A good guidance counselor is key.

[Anonymous]

In the beginning of 9th grade, my son’s counselor at Blair encouraged us to apply for accommodations based on our annual 504 meeting. She explained the process and pointed us to the correct form on the College Board website. Seems like we got lucky— she is on top of everything, e.g. course enrollment, Naviance, communicated with teachers, etc. She just sent an email confirming accommodations for the 10th grade PSAT.

I hope she doesn’t leave or retire!

[Anonymous]

DS also with a 504 somehow got missed in 10th grade for the PSAT with accommodations. I called the school, they apologized for not sending him to the small group testing room and said there was really nothing they could do about it at that point. My DS told me he even said something to the teacher proctoring the test that he thought he was in the wrong room, but they just waived him off and told him to take a seat. I think this happens a LOT. FYI-he already had been approved for the College Board accommodations when this happened so it was an oversight by the school. The good thing is that the 10th grade PSAT is just for practice. Also, they never made that kind of mistake with my DS again. Keep in mind that the College Board accommodations also cover AP exams.