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

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the parental responses above. I appreciate being read charitably.

Anonymous wrote:
I am arguing for the untimed tests and not sure why u would read them as judgmental or vindictiveness. Simply that untimed tests will get rid of abuses and unfairness especially to the poor/rural/clueless families. Currently the system as it stands today only benefits wealthy families who abuse the system and families w accommodations who are getting too much time (example diabetics). The current system actually does not help current families w extended time accommodations if the time allotted is not enough for the disability since none of the time allotment is personalized. What I don’t understand is all the posters saying we don’t understand about SN kids etc. No, we do understand and am telling u that the current system is not as good as u believe.

I do not think I am reading you charitably, and I don't know why. I am sorry for that. It may be that your posting style reminds me of someone else, or something.

I am trying to work with the idea, though, and I appreciated it being raised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We're like crabs in a barrel clawing away and trying to pushing each other down when perhaps we should be figuring out how to lift everyone up in our country. There are a lot of challenges facing us right now as a country and a planet, and I think we need all minds -- ones that work typically and ones that do not -- to solve them.

-Pollyanna mom

Yes, this exactly. I hope we find a way to get there.

[Anonymous]

Well so for Pollyanna and similar posters, what do you make of the fact that many affluent students with little to no evidence of disability are getting accommodations in order to get higher scores? Previously posted articles and posts cited private schools where a third or a half of the kids got extra time. Shouldn’t it make you angry that they are giving accommodations a bad name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well so for Pollyanna and similar posters, what do you make of the fact that many affluent students with little to no evidence of disability are getting accommodations in order to get higher scores? Previously posted articles and posts cited private schools where a third or a half of the kids got extra time. Shouldn’t it make you angry that they are giving accommodations a bad name?

I have a child with a documented disability (since 2nd grade) who received several accommodations for the College Board tests, including the APs he took.

I am on half a dozen Facebook groups of parents with children with disabilities. ALL have been lit up with outraged over this and worry how their children and other children like them will be affected. Most prefer to express in safer places like closed or secret facebooks groups. This forum is not a safe place as I think we can all agree. It is hard to have a decent conversation here because you dont know which posters are for real and which are trying to poke the bear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing how little empathy the posters here have for people with disabilities when it impacts you, calling it 'gaming' the system. My child is whip smart, but has dyslexia. I hope none of you who are demanding that accommodations be disclosed ever have to live with a child with a learning disability, seeing your child write his letters and numbers perfectly, but backwards. It is painful, for parent and child. Every day is a struggle in school and with homework. I'm glad you all have perfect children - do you teach your kids to call people with LD's the R-word too?

Cool your jets. How old is your child? 4

FWIW I have the same kid but older. By SAT time I expect full remediation. My whip smart kid will do decently on the test with no extra time. Will she do better with extra time? Yes. But fine without. I don’t mind disclosure in either case.

So your child does not have double deficit dyslexia? Lucky you. Not every child is in the same place. For some
Kids who can read at grade level, it’s still laborious and they can’t decide and focus intently on content at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well so for Pollyanna and similar posters, what do you make of the fact that many affluent students with little to no evidence of disability are getting accommodations in order to get higher scores? Previously posted articles and posts cited private schools where a third or a half of the kids got extra time. Shouldn’t it make you angry that they are giving accommodations a bad name?

It enrages me.

I think that for all their faults, the public schools have somewhat less of this version of abuse, solely because they are legally on the hook for more supports once a disability is documented.

Way back we sought a private school for our kid, seeking a smaller environment etc. We were asked if they’d ever had an IEP (yes), to submit a copy, and if so to submit a copy of his psych testing. He was denied at 6 different schools, including a couple that are far from selective.

For some these schools to suddenly have a cohort of kids with disabilities, when they screen out most applicants with them. adds some insult to injury for me.

Open to solutions. But I don’t think throwing out the baby with the bath water and eliminating accommodations or going to unlimited time is the solution. T

-Pollyanna mon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well so for Pollyanna and similar posters, what do you make of the fact that many affluent students with little to no evidence of disability are getting accommodations in order to get higher scores? Previously posted articles and posts cited private schools where a third or a half of the kids got extra time. Shouldn’t it make you angry that they are giving accommodations a bad name?

It enrages me.

I think that for all their faults, the public schools have somewhat less of this version of abuse, solely because they are legally on the hook for more supports once a disability is documented.

Way back we sought a private school for our kid, seeking a smaller environment etc. We were asked if they’d ever had an IEP (yes), to submit a copy, and if so to submit a copy of his psych testing. He was denied at 6 different schools, including a couple that are far from selective.

For some these schools to suddenly have a cohort of kids with disabilities, when they screen out most applicants with them. adds some insult to injury for me.

Open to solutions. But I don’t think throwing out the baby with the bath water and eliminating accommodations or going to unlimited time is the solution. T

-Pollyanna mon

Thanks. I think a lot of us, with kids with disabilities or not, are enraged at the same things.

[Anonymous]

I am really sorry that parents and kids who already had extra on their plates are having to deal with the potential fallout from this.

The lack of consideration in so many realms shown by the people who were defrauding the system is just breathtaking. It is treating children with disabilities as objects to hide behind or use for your own unfair advantage. I am sure there is a lot of rationalization that went on behind the scenes, but it was baseless.

I don't have children with special needs at this time (although I did do fostering). If it makes me this angry, I can't imagine how I would feel if my own child's rightful accommodations were treated like this.

[Anonymous]

Folks: regular kids who don't need extended time really won't do better with the extended time. The test is structured to test what they are capable of in an amount of time that is reasonable. Al the extra time in the world won't change their results. The accommodations were secured for these fraudulent test takers as a means for getting fake proctors into the room to change scores. It wasn't just to get extra time. Extra time for regular kids, or even exceptional kids with LDs who qualify for it, isn't the holy grail. It's just not that big deal. Stop feeling so jealous of the extra time and be more thankful that your kids don't have the extreme challenges that some of ours do. Enraged? Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Folks: regular kids who don't need extended time really won't do better with the extended time. The test is structured to test what they are capable of in an amount of time that is reasonable. Al the extra time in the world won't change their results. The accommodations were secured for these fraudulent test takers as a means for getting fake proctors into the room to change scores. It wasn't just to get extra time. Extra time for regular kids, or even exceptional kids with LDs who qualify for it, isn't the holy grail. It's just not that big deal. Stop feeling so jealous of the extra time and be more thankful that your kids don't have the extreme challenges that some of ours do. Enraged? Give me a break.

You are so wrong. Kids in private schools with wealthy parents and accommodations do so much better on the ACT than their school grades and general performance in classes would indicate. But since it is a private school, Johnny will never get below a B+ and combined with the high ACT score would qualify for scholarships also.

I don’t understand why you and others are calling for he system not to be changed in light of these abuses and unfairnesss to rura/poor/clueless families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks: regular kids who don't need extended time really won't do better with the extended time. The test is structured to test what they are capable of in an amount of time that is reasonable. Al the extra time in the world won't change their results. The accommodations were secured for these fraudulent test takers as a means for getting fake proctors into the room to change scores. It wasn't just to get extra time. Extra time for regular kids, or even exceptional kids with LDs who qualify for it, isn't the holy grail. It's just not that big deal. Stop feeling so jealous of the extra time and be more thankful that your kids don't have the extreme challenges that some of ours do. Enraged? Give me a break.

You are so wrong. Kids in private schools with wealthy parents and accommodations do so much better on the ACT than their school grades and general performance in classes would indicate. But since it is a private school, Johnny will never get below a B+ and combined with the high ACT score would qualify for scholarships also.

I don’t understand why you and others are calling for he system not to be changed in light of these abuses and unfairnesss to rura/poor/clueless families.

I cannot imagine all kids in privates get straight A's. If they all get high grades and ACT it is because the privates cherry pick only bright kids so this isn't even a comparable discussion as those kids will do well regardless. Your comments aren't relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks: regular kids who don't need extended time really won't do better with the extended time. The test is structured to test what they are capable of in an amount of time that is reasonable. Al the extra time in the world won't change their results. The accommodations were secured for these fraudulent test takers as a means for getting fake proctors into the room to change scores. It wasn't just to get extra time. Extra time for regular kids, or even exceptional kids with LDs who qualify for it, isn't the holy grail. It's just not that big deal. Stop feeling so jealous of the extra time and be more thankful that your kids don't have the extreme challenges that some of ours do. Enraged? Give me a break.

You are so wrong. Kids in private schools with wealthy parents and accommodations do so much better on the ACT than their school grades and general performance in classes would indicate. But since it is a private school, Johnny will never get below a B+ and combined with the high ACT score would qualify for scholarships also.

I don’t understand why you and others are calling for he system not to be changed in light of these abuses and unfairnesss to rura/poor/clueless families.

I cannot imagine all kids in privates get straight A's. If they all get high grades and ACT it is because the privates cherry pick only bright kids so this isn't even a comparable discussion as those kids will do well regardless. Your comments aren't relevant.

Did you ever imagine what is happening now could be true? Just because you are dismissing my comments by saying they aren’t relevant, doesn’t mean they are not. Get it?? Those not in the private schools especially with lots of wealthy people, you truly have no clue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks: regular kids who don't need extended time really won't do better with the extended time. The test is structured to test what they are capable of in an amount of time that is reasonable. Al the extra time in the world won't change their results. The accommodations were secured for these fraudulent test takers as a means for getting fake proctors into the room to change scores. It wasn't just to get extra time. Extra time for regular kids, or even exceptional kids with LDs who qualify for it, isn't the holy grail. It's just not that big deal. Stop feeling so jealous of the extra time and be more thankful that your kids don't have the extreme challenges that some of ours do. Enraged? Give me a break.

You are so wrong. Kids in private schools with wealthy parents and accommodations do so much better on the ACT than their school grades and general performance in classes would indicate. But since it is a private school, Johnny will never get below a B+ and combined with the high ACT score would qualify for scholarships also.

I don’t understand why you and others are calling for he system not to be changed in light of these abuses and unfairnesss to rura/poor/clueless families.

I cannot imagine all kids in privates get straight A's. If they all get high grades and ACT it is because the privates cherry pick only bright kids so this isn't even a comparable discussion as those kids will do well regardless. Your comments aren't relevant.

Did you ever imagine what is happening now could be true? Just because you are dismissing my comments by saying they aren’t relevant, doesn’t mean they are not. Get it?? Those not in the private schools especially with lots of wealthy people, you truly have no clue.

The irony, of course, is like the kids in the Singer scandal, virtually all private school students in the US are wealthy. They already have the strongest hook out there in 2019.

It doesn't matter so much what your test score is if you can pay the full cost of tuition.

Their parents are both craven and wasting their money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks: regular kids who don't need extended time really won't do better with the extended time. The test is structured to test what they are capable of in an amount of time that is reasonable. Al the extra time in the world won't change their results. The accommodations were secured for these fraudulent test takers as a means for getting fake proctors into the room to change scores. It wasn't just to get extra time. Extra time for regular kids, or even exceptional kids with LDs who qualify for it, isn't the holy grail. It's just not that big deal. Stop feeling so jealous of the extra time and be more thankful that your kids don't have the extreme challenges that some of ours do. Enraged? Give me a break.

You are so wrong. Kids in private schools with wealthy parents and accommodations do so much better on the ACT than their school grades and general performance in classes would indicate. But since it is a private school, Johnny will never get below a B+ and combined with the high ACT score would qualify for scholarships also.

I don’t understand why you and others are calling for he system not to be changed in light of these abuses and unfairnesss to rura/poor/clueless families.

I cannot imagine all kids in privates get straight A's. If they all get high grades and ACT it is because the privates cherry pick only bright kids so this isn't even a comparable discussion as those kids will do well regardless. Your comments aren't relevant.

Did you ever imagine what is happening now could be true? Just because you are dismissing my comments by saying they aren’t relevant, doesn’t mean they are not. Get it?? Those not in the private schools especially with lots of wealthy people, you truly have no clue.

The irony, of course, is like the kids in the Singer scandal, virtually all private school students in the US are wealthy. They already have the strongest hook out there in 2019.

It doesn't matter so much what your test score is if you can pay the full cost of tuition.

Their parents are both craven and wasting their money.

Where is it an issue that smart kids are accepted at full tuition over another equal child who cannot pay. That's life. If you want your kid in a school that is $$$ start saving at birth like we do and live modestly. I am so tired of reading about oh, I need financial aid at $200-500K... you can do it but it means living in a lesser house, lesser vacations and cars...that's life that schools will always accept full pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well so for Pollyanna and similar posters, what do you make of the fact that many affluent students with little to no evidence of disability are getting accommodations in order to get higher scores? Previously posted articles and posts cited private schools where a third or a half of the kids got extra time. Shouldn’t it make you angry that they are giving accommodations a bad name?

It enrages me.

I think that for all their faults, the public schools have somewhat less of this version of abuse, solely because they are legally on the hook for more supports once a disability is documented.

Way back we sought a private school for our kid, seeking a smaller environment etc. We were asked if they’d ever had an IEP (yes), to submit a copy, and if so to submit a copy of his psych testing. He was denied at 6 different schools, including a couple that are far from selective.

For some these schools to suddenly have a cohort of kids with disabilities, when they screen out most applicants with them. adds some insult to injury for me.

Open to solutions. But I don’t think throwing out the baby with the bath water and eliminating accommodations or going to unlimited time is the solution. T

-Pollyanna mon

Thanks. I think a lot of us, with kids with disabilities or not, are enraged at the same things.

What is there to be enraged about? You seriously didn't think this kind of stuff was happening. People do crappy things because more time than not, they are not held accountable and get away with it. That's life, it sucks, but that's life.