Reply to WSJ article on more students especially the affluent get extra time on SAT

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]College Board approves 94% of requests??? So there is no real investigation? Who ever said it was difficult to get extra time accommodation is full of hog wash. A 94% approval rate is not an indication that it is difficult to get approval.[/quote]

College board requires proof of diagnosis for accomodations.   Once you have a qualified diagnosis, who is the College Board to say that the kid's diagnosis isn't valid?   Getting an evaluation to get a diagnosis is an $$$ multiday process.   All of you people implying that parents and kids are faking should count your lucky stars that your kid doesn't have a learning disability or other learning challenges.[/quote]

I am a parent whose child has been tested for delays, though not HS age yet.  I have posted on the SN boards.  So that where I'm coming from.

I certainly believe that there are students who need the extra time and who have true LD.  They need it, and it's a shame that their need for it will be questioned.  But I also think it's an area that has a high potential for abuse.

There are parents like those in the college admissions scandal who will intentionally abuse it, and know very well their child has no LD.  They did it in this scandal, and I don't think it's that hard to do. Coach your child to act a certain way, they will get a diagnosis.  Especially if you have money, you can do this.

[b]I also think there are other parents who I don't think are intentionally faking it, but who just can't seem to accept that their child is anything less than the best.  If the child is not top of the class, mom or dad is having everything tested up the wazoo, doctor shopping, and I think if you put enough effort into it, you can probably find someone who will diagnose your child with something -- low processing speed or ADHD.  It's not like there's a blood test for these, it's all a judgment call interpreting symptoms.[/b]

I also think there is under-diagnosis in low SES communities.  It takes money to get these diagnoses, time to get all this testing done, and certain know-how about the system and how to apply for it.  Private schools and schools serving an affluent community are on the lookout for LDs, they help students get the help they need through the system.  Probably not so much in lower-performing schools.  [/quote]

I think this is it.  I don't think there are very many parents who are actually encouraging their kids to lie about having problems to get a fake diagnosis, but I do think that when a lot of successful parents have average kids, they think that there must be some kind of disability that's causing their kids to not be top performers, hence they see a "problem" and get the kids tested.  So I don't think there are really very many wealthy parents who are truly trying to scam the system, but rather they assume that their kids are most likely smarter than what they actually are, and when they don't see the performance that goes with what they perceive the intelligence is, they assume a LD or ADHD. [/quote]

Oh please.  My kid was diagnosed in 2nd grade.  And it wasn't because of poor grades.  His grades were quite good and he was advanced in math.  We didn't pursue testing because we were thinking about the SAT down the line or because we were trying to give him an advantage.  We got them because the "elementary" school suggested we do so.  My son's issues are mainly attention, slow processing, and executive functioning.  It is a brain "disorder" which qualifies as a disability.  It puts him at a disadvantage against his peers -- technically.  It just turns out he is lightyears brighter than most of them.  This is what I think is maddening to many people.  But it is what it is, and because of it, my son has been highly successful in school, testing, and college admissions.  Sorry that bothers you all.  [/quote]

Your kid doesn't actually have a disability he is obviously quite bright.  So why accept accommodations?[/quote]

Here's why we accept them.  He is gifted in math, and does quite well in that and can focus.  However, other subjects, not so much, and the attention becomes an issue as well as the executive functioning.  What happens, is he drifts off, comes back, and has a hard time refocussing.  The extra time gives him the opportunity to demonstrate is mastery of the subject matter.  Despite the fact that he is slow and inattentive, he has a very high IQ.  And that is what enables him to do so well with the accommodations.  Another interesting fact is that he is starting to "grow out of" the processing speed issue as the last test showed improvement.  So he is not doomed for life as some may think.[/quote]

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