The College Board has announced it will now be easier for students with disabilities to receive proper accommodations.
By Jack Berning
In an effort to increase accessibility for children with disabilities in regard to standardized testing, the College Board announced Nov. 1 that it would make it easier for impaired students to request test accommodations.
According to its website, the College Board is a “mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity.” The board has been facing increased criticism from the U.S. Department of Justice for testing practices that put students with disabilities at a disadvantage, according to Education Week.
“Parents of students with disabilities seeking admission to the University of Iowa have reported failure to obtain accommodations on standardized tests,” said Mark Harris, the UI director of Student Disability Services.
According to Disability Statistics, in 2014, 37.1 percent of Iowans with disabilities had some sort of college education, while 36.9 percent of non-disabled Iowans had some form of college education. While disabled students attend college at about the same rate as traditional students, their ability to attend the school of their choice may suffer because of difficulty taking standardized tests.
Disability Statistics is an online resource managed by Cornell University that collects national and state-level data of people with disabilities.
“We use these [College Board] tests in admission decisions, and it has been a barrier in disabled students attending the college of their choice,” Harris said. “We hope giving these accommodations to students will prove useful.”
With people with disabilities who previously were not receiving proper modifications to exams such as the SAT and Advanced Placement exams, it was nearly impossible for those students to score as well as students who do not need accommodation in their daily classrooms, Harris said.
Starting in 2017, most students who use testing accommodations at their schools through an Individualized Education Program or 504 Plan will have those same accommodations automatically approved for taking the SAT, Advanced Placement exams, and more.
The Individualized Education Program ensures that children with disabilities who are attending elementary or secondary educational institutions receive specialized instruction and related services. The 504 Plan is a similar program to ensure academic success and access to the learning environment for children with disabilities.
If students have received testing accommodations in their day-to-day schoolwork, they can now use those same accommodations when taking tests that will determine their future.
“This is a great step for students who have regularly taken advantage of specific accommodations throughout their school careers,” said Jane Fry, the interim special education director for the Iowa City School District. “It will streamline the process at both ends and enable those who know students best to identify the appropriate accommodations.”
With high schools now being able to properly administer exams, colleges can accurately evaluate whether a students with disabilities can be admitted.
“Our teams work to provide opportunities to bring together K-12 and higher-education leaders together,” said Greg Walker, vice president of the College Board Midwestern Regional Office. “It is our goal to discuss important topics to help implement practices that positively affect the transition of all students from K-12 to higher education.”