Reply to ACT Multiple Day Testing

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Reply to "ACT Multiple Day Testing"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am a SAT/ACT tutor.  I have seen some of my students have this multi-day testing.  I've only seen it with private schools.  I've heard of instances of some public schools which have refused to give it because "we don't do that," which is illegal, but that is another thread.  I have not seen a parent get multi-day testing for SAT/ACT in public school (not saying it doesn't happen), but I have seen a student get multi-day testing for school district tests (like finals or PARCC) due to medical issues.

In the few instances, I've seen multi-day ACT testing, the private school has arranged it on successive days with 2 sections max per day.  Students taking the essay have been offered the option to take that on a 3rd day.  The private school typically has a "learning coordinator" who knows how this is set-up and will provide all the information if you ask -- what days, what times, what breaks, what sections in what order, etc.

Basically, it appears to me that schools have a lot of flexibility to administer the multi-day test in a way they feel is appropriate to the student.  They have a certain window within with to complete the testing -- something like 2 weeks-ish.  So, if you need something special -- to be allowed a snack or to take in afternoon instead of morning or vice-versa, you should ask (as long as there's some justification).

[b]You definitely should NOT have to take the ACT in addition to a normal school day.  If a school suggests this, please complain. That wouldn't be appropriate.  Kids are usually wiped afterwards, and doing homework/classwork on top of the ACT is not fair. 
[/b]
OP, can you please post back what your experience is?  How did you apply?  Are you in private or public?  What documentation did you need to have?  Did you get it on the first ask?  Did you have this accommodation on your IEP/504?

Any details you can share are useful to other LD parents. There are few special ed parents who get this type of testing and it's not the kind of thing parents usually discuss face to face and often school is not helpful.  ACT has a fair amount of documentation on their website about how to apply, but not much about test administration. Even though I work with a fair number of LD students over the years, even I have a small sample size from which to draw generalities about test administration.  So, if you can pay it forward by sharing after also, that would be a great resource for all![/quote]

This is exactly what my DS school RTSE told us we would get if my child took the multi-day ACT. I was very mad and when I complained and said that was not appropriate for my child, the attitude I got was "take it or leave it, this is how we do things". They were not willing to budge. I have been told that you can check around with other schools to find out if they would accommodate a student who does not attend their school. Apparently, as long as the test is administered within the 2 week period, the ACT has no requirements on how it is implemented. Basically, schools can get away with whatever they want. [/quote]

Does your school system open its doors to neurotypical students on weekend days for SAT or ACT testing - then they must do the same for your disabled student.

Write an email to both the head of special education and the county-wide Section 504 Supervisor.  Be factual.  State what you requested as an accommodation. State what the response was from he RTSE - what did they offer, what did they still refuse to offer after you pointed out that it was not appropriate for your student.  State that forcing disabled students to test on the weekday during or after school is discriminatory.  It forces a burden on didabled students that no -disabled students do not have to bear - attending school and keeping up with school while at the same time doing high stakes college testing.  Even if the school excuses the child from all attendance and making up any work, forcing a disabled student to test on the weekend is still discriminatory because it unnecessarily excludes the disabled child from participating in class and benefitting from instruction.

Public school systems already have procedures in place to test on weekends, do Sunday testing for those who can’t test on Saturday and have the power to open schools and pay test proctors.

I guarantee if parents complain at the top level, the school system will fix this (although it may take them some time).  This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Schools can only get away with breaking the law when we let them. [/quote]

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