Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Time Accommodations for Screener Test Denied?

Hi all, so, of course, nothing is smooth ... I am pretty upset. My son took the screener test for Accelerated Math and apparently there is a time constraint on the test of 15 minutes (so he tells me that they told him - that sounds pretty severe time limit to me). He said he told the teachers that according to his IEP he gets time and half for his assessments. And these teachers definitely know that anyway. They refused and said he has to finish it in 15 minutes like everyone else. Is that legal? If he did well enough anyway, I guess no matter but really shouldn't he get time and half for ALL assessments like it says in his IEP? Why would this be different?

He should get the testing accommodations he has outlined in his IEP on all tests, unless there is something written in the IEP that specifically states he *shouldn't* get the accommodation in a specific circumstance. How is the accommodation worded in his IEP?

Has he already taken the test? If so, did he run out of time?

If he's already taken it, I'd send an email to whoever is in charge of administering the test and cc your SPED staff rep and ask that he be allowed to retake the test with the appropriate time accommodations (or finish the test that he's already started). If he hasn't taken it yet and he's reporting something that was said in advance by a teacher, I'd call the school and speak to the teachers or whoever is the contact person to assure that he's going to have his extended time and to verify how it will be implemented (before or after the other kids, same room or different room etc).

I would also, for now, while he's in elementary, send an email to verify before any special test like this that his accommodations will be honored and that the school remembers them and is prepared for them.

How's everything else going? Hope all is well

Best wishes,

polarbear

Thanks Polar. I am so upset - I never expected to have this problem with this group of teachers! The Special Ed teacher who administered the test to him knows his IEP and him VERY well. Also, I emailed a week ago (when you reminded to check on his accommodations for the test, thank you!) and asked to make sure he would get his accommodations and they said yes. I assumed that meant he would get ALL of his usual testing accommodations. That would have been the time to let me know if there were any issues with him getting any of his accommodations. I can not imagine what happened.

Yes He has already taken it. Today. And, yes, he ran out of time and would have gotten about two or three others correct he thinks (there were only 40 questions and in a 15 minute limit I assume that could be a good chunk of points). He got really upset when he and his classmates talked about the test later and he realized they got further than he.

You know I am upset because I didn't want this to be like this. I wanted him tested with his accommodations and if he couldn't get in the program with that, then, so be it. BUT now this introduces a whole big "what if" ... Of course, we do not know yet how he did ... Either way, though, I guess I am gonna have to raise the issue.

Thanks so so so much for responding so quickly!!!

Yikes! Given all of that, I'd send an email to the SPED teacher tonight, retell what your ds told you, and ask why he didn't receive the extended time. Then let us know what she says

And I'd send the email out tonight, before there's any question of did he get into the program or not based on results. The issue is he has an accommodation and it wasn't given. You need to know *why*, whether or not he did well enough to not have to worry about it.


Remember, the "what if" is on the side of what would this specific test score have been if he'd had the correct amount of time, not "what if" he's capable. You know he's capable already - so if this test isn't enough to get him in, gather other documentation / proof / data / etc and advocate to get him into it.


It s*cks, doesn't it? I'm in a bit of a similar situation this week (teachers ignoring accommodations) and honestly, I don't like advocating lol! I'm all in on it, and I'm stubborn and won't back down but argh... it gets old. Commiserating with you!

Hang in there!

polarbear

send the email now before you get the results.

This is the reply I got back "Yes, this assessment does not allow extended time as an accommodation. I apologize for not thinking to specify that to you! DS did receive the accommodations that this assessment allows, but the fifteen minute time limit was to be followed. ". She went on to *imply* that he did well and passed but she did not say it officially. And that's fine but - wow - that really sounds fishy to me! And that locks a lot of 2e kiddos out of the program, honestly. He did have a scribe but he said it was mostly computattion so that wasn't much of a help. aeh - it sounds like it was the WRAT test - does this sound right to you? Also, it looks like the next test in the screening is the SCAT test ... Is he permitted extra time for that or no? It's hard when the school doesn't give this info up front - they are so secretive !

You may wish to ask the school about "next steps", for example asking them to name the next assessment(s), accommodations which will be allowed for each, and accommodations which will not be allowed for each. Having this information from the school may help you advocate for change.

Irena, I would ask (in writing) why the extended time was not allowed on this specific test, and then forward that reply along with a question about why it is not allowed to the next-level SPED person in your school district (here that would be the supervisor of the district SPED department). Alternatively you could go ahead an email the next-level person now, stating that your ds was not give accommodations and you were told by ___ it was not allowed and you are inquiring re is this a district policy and if so, why.

I don't believe this is legal, and if the district insists it is I would ask for advice from an advocate. FWIW, our ds was given his extended time accommodation on the screening test he took in elementary school for our school district's gifted program. He hasn't ever taken the WRAT, but he's received his extended time accommodation on every standardized type timed test he's had in both public and private school.

Re the SCAT - is it the CTY SCAT? If it is, I don't know how it's implemented in your school district, but students with disabilities are allowed extended time accommodations when they are going through CTY for testing, but they have to apply through for the accommodations through CTY. We've applied through CTY for accommodations and the folks that handle it were very nice and turned around the request relatively quickly.

polarbear

ps - I would also consider asking if students who need glasses are required to take their glasses off during the test.............................................................. and.... fwiw if the SPED head tries to put your concern to rest by letting you know your ds passed, I'd politely reply that that's not the point - the point is he was denied an accommodation, and you need to know why this happened and what safeguards are in place to make sure this doesn't happen to your ds again or to other students with accommodations in their IEP/504 plans.

The analogy to taking off prescription eyeglasses for a test reminded me of this article on testing accommodations.

It would seem like it should be obvious that time and a half means 50% more time on everything, but I have heard of some strange applications in other districts. In your case, I would really pursue a clear set of rules in writing. I have heard of refusal to add extra time or to otherwise discount the time/speed factor in IQ and/or ability type tests in cases of testing for program entrance. This is justified as inappropriate distortion of the testing instrument. However, the district apparently gets around allegations of discrimination by allowing a lower entrance criteria instead. So for example, they won't accept a 130 GAI, but they will adjust and permit a 115 FSIQ for documented conditions; similarly, they may just require lower scores on the SCAT. In your DS' case, it seem that the district has chosen a screening test and a final test that strongly emphasize speed. (I know that you don't need to actually do most of the calculations on SCAT to figure out whether it is <, > or =, but speed is still a big issue per my kids). Access to accelerated math shouldn't be so dependent on speed in the first place. Good luck.