PSAT for 10th Graders and Accommodations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

You must request accommodations from College Board. In HS, the counselor can facilitate this, but the process can take weeks or longer. You will need documentation of the disability, and your child's 504 Plan will need to be one that has been in place for awhile. College Board is wary of parents getting 504 Plans to improve their children's odds on college entrance exams. In my child's case, it took months to get extra time approved, and it was only for some tests even though the 504 Plan is for everything.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there are standard College Board accommodations and non-standard ones. If you try to color outside of the lines, approval will take longer. When it comes time to the SAT, the more unusual your accommodations are, the harder it will be to find a school where your child can take the SAT, since not all sites offer accommodations. The first time our child took the SAT, we had to drive from MoCo to Northern VA for a test site. The second time they took the SAT, we had to drive from Rockville to Germantown for a site.

So be careful what you ask for. If your child doesn't need a particular accommodation for College Board tests, don't request it -- even if it's an accommodation your child has and needs in their day-to-day school environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure mine had to get approval for AP accommodations separate from 10th grade PSAT. It did not carry over, I don't think.

Nope. College Board is College Board. Accommodations for PSAT, SAT and AP exams all are covered

Yes, they are all covered, but I don't think you are correct that all students
automatically roll over. Diagnoses change. Students have to have a new 504 meeting to keep school accommodations. My kid had to reapply for AP accommodations after taking PSAT earlier in the year and AP the previous year. It's just a counselor approval, but it's there.

My kid's friend who had PSAT accommodations was not on the list for AP later in the year because he did not apply. (Had a crap guidance counselor).

Don't assume you're the expert.

The College Board produces an eligibility letter for each student who applies for accommodations setting out what has been approved. When the schools submit online, I do not think those letters get mailed home, but they can be downloaded from the online system. The letter will list all of the accommodations for all College Board tests that your child has available to them. After you talk to the counselor about getting the accommodations, follow up with them to get a copy of the eligibility letter so you can double check what accommodations are approved for which tests.

[Anonymous]

My child’s school submitted online, but I got the letter in the mail. The letter lists PSAT/SAT and AP accommodations. The school didn’t receive it or if they did, got it after me. I emailed them when I received the letter, which was a good thing because AP exams were already underway and the test administrator may not have known on time otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child’s school submitted online, but I got the letter in the mail. The letter lists PSAT/SAT and AP accommodations. The school didn’t receive it or if they did, got it after me. I emailed them when I received the letter, which was a good thing because AP exams were already underway and the test administrator may not have known on time otherwise.

I guess YMMV - we never received the letter at home. Got it through the counselor, who had it downloaded when I asked for status

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

So when would you request the counselor to initiate the 504 accommodation process for an early fall PSAT testing?

What about timeline for request if the student takes the AP in 9th?

[Anonymous]

PP, our school said at least 7 weeks in advance of the test and you needed a recent diagnosis (within the last three years).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, our school said at least 7 weeks in advance of the test and you needed a recent diagnosis (within the last three years).

Can't speak to the recent diag - our kid used one from 5th grade for College Board. Did have IEPs, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure mine had to get approval for AP accommodations separate from 10th grade PSAT. It did not carry over, I don't think.

Nope. College Board is College Board. Accommodations for PSAT, SAT and AP exams all are covered

Yes, they are all covered, but I don't think you are correct that all students
automatically roll over. Diagnoses change. Students have to have a new 504 meeting to keep school accommodations. My kid had to reapply for AP accommodations after taking PSAT earlier in the year and AP the previous year. It's just a counselor approval, but it's there.

My kid's friend who had PSAT accommodations was not on the list for AP later in the year because he did not apply. (Had a crap guidance counselor).

Don't assume you're the expert.

My child has had accommodations since ES. Yes, 504 meetings every year. However I had been warned by a parent that had been burned, and once he was settled in 9th grade (mid- to late- Oct) we requested that his counselor request college board accommodationsas well as ACT accomodations.

We only had to do it once, he had 13 AP exams over 4 years, the 10th grade PSAT, one SAT and one ACT both jr year, and never had to make the request again, he always had accomodations.

This child is in college now, and works with the college disability office to get the accommodations he needs.

[Anonymous]

A 504 is new for my DC. We just missed the cut off to ask for the accommodation. It will be okay. It’s just a practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure mine had to get approval for AP accommodations separate from 10th grade PSAT. It did not carry over, I don't think.

Nope. College Board is College Board. Accommodations for PSAT, SAT and AP exams all are covered

Yes, they are all covered, but I don't think you are correct that all students
automatically roll over. Diagnoses change. Students have to have a new 504 meeting to keep school accommodations. My kid had to reapply for AP accommodations after taking PSAT earlier in the year and AP the previous year. It's just a counselor approval, but it's there.

My kid's friend who had PSAT accommodations was not on the list for AP later in the year because he did not apply. (Had a crap guidance counselor).

Don't assume you're the expert.

My child has had accommodations since ES. Yes, 504 meetings every year. However I had been warned by a parent that had been burned, and once he was settled in 9th grade (mid- to late- Oct) we requested that his counselor request college board accommodationsas well as ACT accomodations.

We only had to do it once, he had 13 AP exams over 4 years, the 10th grade PSAT, one SAT and one ACT both jr year, and never had to make the request again, he always had accomodations.

This child is in college now, and works with the college disability office to get the accommodations he needs.

That's great for you/him, but it is not an automatic for everyone. I know kids who had it for some, then not others. Mine had to initiate approval for testing after AP test that was already approved. Better to assume you need to check in than assume it's done.

[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.

Nope. I would confirm. Our DCC school screwed this up for our son who has a Didn’t get him the psat accommodations for junior year so he took it in a normal room with normal time. Then weeks later the school realized they had not given him the accommodations and asked him if he wanted to cancel the scores. Without talking to us, he agreed. So, he didn’t get a PSAT score.

So check with the school.

[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.

Nope. I would confirm. Our DCC school screwed this up for our son who has a Didn’t get him the psat accommodations for junior year so he took it in a normal room with normal time. Then weeks later the school realized they had not given him the accommodations and asked him if he wanted to cancel the scores. Without talking to us, he agreed. So, he didn’t get a PSAT score.

So check with the school.

Part of my text got cut off. He has a 504 with extra time and a quiet room.

[Anonymous]

DD has a 504 Plan and after reading this post and panicking that I’d dropped the ball, I contacted her school guidance counselor. I received a brief email stating that she would ensure the accommodations were registered with College Board. Sure enough, I received an eligibility letter in the mail from College Board that same day. DD needs to bring a copy of her letter to every test, arrive early to check in with the proctor, and request the small group room. For us, this happened automatically, but I’m not sure that’s the case everywhere. It should be. DD has had a 504 Plan since 5th grade that is reviewed annually and we sign lots of forms. Maybe that triggered the College Board approval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure mine had to get approval for AP accommodations separate from 10th grade PSAT. It did not carry over, I don't think.

Nope. College Board is College Board. Accommodations for PSAT, SAT and AP exams all are covered

Yes, they are all covered, but I don't think you are correct that all students
automatically roll over. Diagnoses change. Students have to have a new 504 meeting to keep school accommodations. My kid had to reapply for AP accommodations after taking PSAT earlier in the year and AP the previous year. It's just a counselor approval, but it's there.

My kid's friend who had PSAT accommodations was not on the list for AP later in the year because he did not apply. (Had a crap guidance counselor).

Don't assume you're the expert.

The College Board produces an eligibility letter for each student who applies for accommodations setting out what has been approved. When the schools submit online, I do not think those letters get mailed home, but they can be downloaded from the online system. The letter will list all of the accommodations for all College Board tests that your child has available to them. After you talk to the counselor about getting the accommodations, follow up with them to get a copy of the eligibility letter so you can double check what accommodations are approved for which tests.

Good to know. I got my kid this diagnosis for the extra time on the SATs feel lucky you mentioned this otherwise might've had to take it with everyone else.