Claiming a disability on the SAT/ACT - have people been gaming the system?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are some articles to inject actual data into the discussion:

On how accommodations have increased especially among the affluent: https://mobile.edweek.org/c.jsp?cid=25919971&bcid=25919971&rssid=25919961&item=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.edweek.org%2Fv1%2Few%2F%3Fuuid%3D3E8BB0CA-8835-11E7-905B-8B98B3743667

https://newtriernews.org/news/2018/05/11/testing-accommodations-four-times-national-average/

https://edsurgeindependent.com/a-case-against-extended-test-time-71aa4a82148d

Up to 46% of kids at some affluent high schools, according to the third article!

It's the second article that is most infuriating. And it really hurts those with actual disabilities.

Schools who make a disproportionate number of requests on behalf of their students should have those requests subject to a higher degree of scrutiny and a look back period.

While some students are 'discovered' to have an issue in high school, the majority of the students in most need of accommodations have had them since elementary or middle school at the latest. As an example, ADHD is rarely an appropriate diagnosis for an issue that was not present and a disabling issue when someone was a young child.

Not true - I was diagnosed at age 35.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This “leveling the playing field” is nonsense. I cringe when I hear it. And one of my children has an LD and qualifies for extra time.

Well what do you suggest?

I guess I would be fine with flagging the tests as being done with accommodations. My child has an LD, and we aren’t hiding it. If she needs accommodations on the SAT she will need them in college. I would imagine this would cut down on the gamers. And my child’s application would be more accurate.

Not opposed to flagging, but should the type of accommodation be specified, e.g., large print, circle in booklet, or extended time?

Specific accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This “leveling the playing field” is nonsense. I cringe when I hear it. And one of my children has an LD and qualifies for extra time.

Well what do you suggest?

My country separates kids based on ability around 8th grade. I like that approach, it still leaves an opening for the slower kids to succeed, but they do not have to feel inadequate. I find that here in the US slow kids are putting brakes on the whole class in numerous ways and faster kids have more time for boredom, mischief, etc. I am talking about public school in relatively affluent school district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are some articles to inject actual data into the discussion:

On how accommodations have increased especially among the affluent: https://mobile.edweek.org/c.jsp?cid=25919971&bcid=25919971&rssid=25919961&item=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.edweek.org%2Fv1%2Few%2F%3Fuuid%3D3E8BB0CA-8835-11E7-905B-8B98B3743667

https://newtriernews.org/news/2018/05/11/testing-accommodations-four-times-national-average/

https://edsurgeindependent.com/a-case-against-extended-test-time-71aa4a82148d

Up to 46% of kids at some affluent high schools, according to the third article!

It's the second article that is most infuriating. And it really hurts those with actual disabilities.

Schools who make a disproportionate number of requests on behalf of their students should have those requests subject to a higher degree of scrutiny and a look back period.

While some students are 'discovered' to have an issue in high school, the majority of the students in most need of accommodations have had them since elementary or middle school at the latest. As an example, ADHD is rarely an appropriate diagnosis for an issue that was not present and a disabling issue when someone was a young child.

Not true - I was diagnosed at age 35.

You can be diagnosed at age 35. But typically the psychologist needs to look back at your childhood history and find some evidence then that was not at the time recognized

If you have a sudden onset of ADHD symptoms at age 30+ it is probably something else. Anxiety and ADHD, for example, can present very similarly with problems with focusing, executive functioning and reading otherse' social cues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This “leveling the playing field” is nonsense. I cringe when I hear it. And one of my children has an LD and qualifies for extra time.

Well what do you suggest?

I guess I would be fine with flagging the tests as being done with accommodations. My child has an LD, and we aren’t hiding it. If she needs accommodations on the SAT she will need them in college. I would imagine this would cut down on the gamers. And my child’s application would be more accurate.

Not opposed to flagging, but should the type of accommodation be specified, e.g., large print, circle in booklet, or extended time?

Specific accommodations.

This is not legal under the ADA. This used to happen but now the ACT and the College Board and high schools are barred from disclosure, unless the student and his/her parents consent. It is both a FERPA and HIPAA violation to disclose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This “leveling the playing field” is nonsense. I cringe when I hear it. And one of my children has an LD and qualifies for extra time.

Well what do you suggest?

I guess I would be fine with flagging the tests as being done with accommodations. My child has an LD, and we aren’t hiding it. If she needs accommodations on the SAT she will need them in college. I would imagine this would cut down on the gamers. And my child’s application would be more accurate.

Not opposed to flagging, but should the type of accommodation be specified, e.g., large print, circle in booklet, or extended time?

Specific accommodations.

This is not legal under the ADA. This used to happen but now the ACT and the College Board and high schools are barred from disclosure, unless the student and his/her parents consent. It is both a FERPA and HIPAA violation to disclose.

But they used to do it? They should go back to that then. Again, no one is forcing a kid to take accommodation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This “leveling the playing field” is nonsense. I cringe when I hear it. And one of my children has an LD and qualifies for extra time.

Well what do you suggest?

I guess I would be fine with flagging the tests as being done with accommodations. My child has an LD, and we aren’t hiding it. If she needs accommodations on the SAT she will need them in college. I would imagine this would cut down on the gamers. And my child’s application would be more accurate.

Not opposed to flagging, but should the type of accommodation be specified, e.g., large print, circle in booklet, or extended time?

Specific accommodations.

This is not legal under the ADA. This used to happen but now the ACT and the College Board and high schools are barred from disclosure, unless the student and his/her parents consent. It is both a FERPA and HIPAA violation to disclose.

But they used to do it? They should go back to that then. Again, no one is forcing a kid to take accommodation.

Again, it was ruled to be illegal. They can't just "go back" to it unless they roll back the entire ADA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This “leveling the playing field” is nonsense. I cringe when I hear it. And one of my children has an LD and qualifies for extra time.

Well what do you suggest?

I guess I would be fine with flagging the tests as being done with accommodations. My child has an LD, and we aren’t hiding it. If she needs accommodations on the SAT she will need them in college. I would imagine this would cut down on the gamers. And my child’s application would be more accurate.

Not opposed to flagging, but should the type of accommodation be specified, e.g., large print, circle in booklet, or extended time?

Specific accommodations.

This is not legal under the ADA. This used to happen but now the ACT and the College Board and high schools are barred from disclosure, unless the student and his/her parents consent. It is both a FERPA and HIPAA violation to disclose.

But they used to do it? They should go back to that then. Again, no one is forcing a kid to take accommodation.

Again, it was ruled to be illegal. They can't just "go back" to it unless they roll back the entire ADA.

I contend it would not. The devil is in the details.

It’s not forcing kids with disabilities to share that info. It’s only forcing them if they want a different test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This “leveling the playing field” is nonsense. I cringe when I hear it. And one of my children has an LD and qualifies for extra time.

Well what do you suggest?

I guess I would be fine with flagging the tests as being done with accommodations. My child has an LD, and we aren’t hiding it. If she needs accommodations on the SAT she will need them in college. I would imagine this would cut down on the gamers. And my child’s application would be more accurate.

Not opposed to flagging, but should the type of accommodation be specified, e.g., large print, circle in booklet, or extended time?

Specific accommodations.

This is not legal under the ADA. This used to happen but now the ACT and the College Board and high schools are barred from disclosure, unless the student and his/her parents consent. It is both a FERPA and HIPAA violation to disclose.

But they used to do it? They should go back to that then. Again, no one is forcing a kid to take accommodation.

Again, it was ruled to be illegal. They can't just "go back" to it unless they roll back the entire ADA.

I contend it would not. The devil is in the details.

It’s not forcing kids with disabilities to share that info. It’s only forcing them if they want a different test.

The specific practice is barred. If a student wishes to share their disability in admissions they can.

What about a student who has or had an IEP or 504 for any or all of their primary or secondary career, including accommodations or special instruction, but they do not seek or use accommodations on the SAT or ACT.

Should their transcripts similarly note it without permission?

Now we are into both FERPA, HIPAA and the ADA. There are protections against the release of this information because of people who have biases. Like, apparently, you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This “leveling the playing field” is nonsense. I cringe when I hear it. And one of my children has an LD and qualifies for extra time.

Well what do you suggest?

I guess I would be fine with flagging the tests as being done with accommodations. My child has an LD, and we aren’t hiding it. If she needs accommodations on the SAT she will need them in college. I would imagine this would cut down on the gamers. And my child’s application would be more accurate.

Not opposed to flagging, but should the type of accommodation be specified, e.g., large print, circle in booklet, or extended time?

Specific accommodations.

This is not legal under the ADA. This used to happen but now the ACT and the College Board and high schools are barred from disclosure, unless the student and his/her parents consent. It is both a FERPA and HIPAA violation to disclose.

But they used to do it? They should go back to that then. Again, no one is forcing a kid to take accommodation.

Again, it was ruled to be illegal. They can't just "go back" to it unless they roll back the entire ADA.

I contend it would not. The devil is in the details.

It’s not forcing kids with disabilities to share that info. It’s only forcing them if they want a different test.

The specific practice is barred. If a student wishes to share their disability in admissions they can.

What about a student who has or had an IEP or 504 for any or all of their primary or secondary career, including accommodations or special instruction, but they do not seek or use accommodations on the SAT or ACT.

Should their transcripts similarly note it without permission?

Now we are into both FERPA, HIPAA and the ADA. There are protections against the release of this information because of people who have biases. Like, apparently, you.

No. I just said. Just for getting extra time or unlimited time. If you need a completely different test that should be noted.

[Anonymous]

This is back to the idea that all kids can choose to take the test timed or untimed - then graded within each cohort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is back to the idea that all kids can choose to take the test timed or untimed - then graded within each cohort.

Actually this is pretty smart. Give all kids the option of taking it timed or untimed but have a box that must be filled out. Either:
TIMED
UNTIMED
UNTIMED-DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

You have to select one. (No HIPAA/IDEA violation bc you don’t have to disclose that you got a disability accommodation- you could just check UNTIMED.)

This way, kids who took the timed test would go to the top of the pack, and whiny parents who think Johnny should have more time because Larla with dyslexia got more time can have Johnny judged accordingly by all the top schools they thinks he deserves to go to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is back to the idea that all kids can choose to take the test timed or untimed - then graded within each cohort.

Actually this is pretty smart. Give all kids the option of taking it timed or untimed but have a box that must be filled out. Either:
TIMED
UNTIMED
UNTIMED-DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

You have to select one. (No HIPAA/IDEA violation bc you don’t have to disclose that you got a disability accommodation- you could just check UNTIMED.)

This way, kids who took the timed test would go to the top of the pack, and whiny parents who think Johnny should have more time because Larla with dyslexia got more time can have Johnny judged accordingly by all the top schools they thinks he deserves to go to.

There shouldn't be a top of the pack for timed. You could as easily say that anyone who chooses 'untimed' was more deliberate and a better student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is back to the idea that all kids can choose to take the test timed or untimed - then graded within each cohort.

Actually this is pretty smart. Give all kids the option of taking it timed or untimed but have a box that must be filled out. Either:
TIMED
UNTIMED
UNTIMED-DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

You have to select one. (No HIPAA/IDEA violation bc you don’t have to disclose that you got a disability accommodation- you could just check UNTIMED.)

This way, kids who took the timed test would go to the top of the pack, and whiny parents who think Johnny should have more time because Larla with dyslexia got more time can have Johnny judged accordingly by all the top schools they thinks he deserves to go to.

Actually when Larla scores higher than the Timed kids they would be like wow! even with a disability and give them preference in the holistic model... then you will cry that "disabled" has become a hook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is back to the idea that all kids can choose to take the test timed or untimed - then graded within each cohort.

Actually this is pretty smart. Give all kids the option of taking it timed or untimed but have a box that must be filled out. Either:
TIMED
UNTIMED
UNTIMED-DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

You have to select one. (No HIPAA/IDEA violation bc you don’t have to disclose that you got a disability accommodation- you could just check UNTIMED.)

This way, kids who took the timed test would go to the top of the pack, and whiny parents who think Johnny should have more time because Larla with dyslexia got more time can have Johnny judged accordingly by all the top schools they thinks he deserves to go to.

There shouldn't be a top of the pack for timed. You could as easily say that anyone who chooses 'untimed' was more deliberate and a better student.

Sorry but if I’m a college admissions officer and I’m comparing a 1500 timed, a 1500 untimed due to disability accommodation, and an untimed for no reason, the timed kid is looking the best to me and Johnny-untimed-for-no-reason is looking the worst. Worse then a kid who got a timed 1400 even.