Navigating College Board Accommodations Eligibility: A Comprehensive Guide

The College Board plays a pivotal role in connecting students with educational opportunities across the nation, primarily through the administration of standardized assessments designed to gauge college readiness. For students with disabilities, the College Board offers accommodations to ensure equitable testing conditions. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding College Board accommodations eligibility, the application process, and key considerations for students and their families.

Understanding College Board Accommodations

College Board accommodations are specific supports provided to students with documented disabilities. These accommodations aim to provide equal opportunities for students with documented disabilities to showcase their knowledge and skills. The goal is to level the playing field, allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills accurately on standardized tests such as the SAT, PSAT, and AP exams. It's crucial to recognize that these accommodations are not a guaranteed right simply by virtue of having a disability, but rather a carefully considered provision based on documented need.

Eligibility for Accommodations

Students with disabilities that functionally limit their ability to participate in College Board exams may qualify for testing accommodations. Disabilities eligible for College Board accommodations include learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia), ADHD, autism, physical disabilities, psychological disorders, and visual or hearing impairments. These students must demonstrate the need for specific accommodations and provide current documentation of using such resources on school tests.

The Role of IEPs and 504 Plans

It is important to note that eligibility cannot be determined using notes from physicians, current IEPs or 504 Accommodation Plans. While having an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan is a good starting point, it does not automatically qualify a student for College Board accommodations. Students currently receiving accommodations at school will still need to make a formal request. The College Board has its own process and criteria for approving accommodations. The College Board requires specific criteria when considering accommodation requests.

The Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for College Board accommodations can be a complex and time-consuming process. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:

1. Contact Your School’s SSD Coordinator

The SSD (Services for Students with Disabilities) coordinator at your child’s school is your primary point of contact. Start by scheduling a meeting with the SSD coordinator to discuss your child’s needs, review required documentation, and create a plan for submitting the accommodations application.

2. Gather Documentation

The College Board requires comprehensive documentation to support your request. Currently, documentation that includes the following information is required. Additional items may be needed, as requirements vary based on the type of accommodation or disability. This documentation typically includes:

A Student Eligibility Form: This paper form is used when a request for accommodations cannot be submitted through SSD Online. When a family sends the Student Eligibility Form and documentation directly to the College Board, all sections, except Section 16 (Confirming Information and Signature), must be completed. Sections 1-11 and Section 16 are generally completed (and must be signed) by the student or parent. Sections 12-16 are to be completed by the official representative of the student’s school (often the school’s SSD coordinator).
Evaluation Testing: Please indicate the type of evaluation (i.e., psychoeducational, neuropsychological, psychological, psychiatric, medical, visual, audiological, etc.) used to diagnose the disability.
Formal Educational Plan/Program: Indicate whether the student has a current (within 12 months) IEP, 504 plan, or some other type of school-generated formal plan. Indicate in the box the date of the current plan/program, even if it was created at another school. If your records do not indicate when the current plan was created, enter the date of the oldest plan for which records exist (e.g., "prior to 2005"). If there is no plan or program, leave the space blank. Indicate in the box the date of the initial plan/program, even if it was created at another school. If your records do not indicate when the initial plan was created, enter the date of the oldest plan for which records exist (e.g., "prior to 2005"). If there is no plan or program, leave the space blank.

3. Requesting Specific Accommodations

When requesting accommodations for College Board tests, include only accommodations needed for standardized tests. When multiple accommodations address the same need-a human reader versus screen reader (text-to-speech), braille versus large print-choose only one for each need. If this is a rare case in which more than one accommodation is required, please provide a detailed explanation. In most cases, the student should request only those accommodations currently provided in school. If any accommodations are being requested that have not been provided for school tests, or are not included the school plan, this must be indicated in section 13.

Extended Time: Indicate the amount of extended time the student is requesting for each subject type. If the student is not requesting extended time for a specific section, leave that question blank. All College Board exams require reading. Many AP exams require written language expression. Many College Board exams require mathematical calculations (e.g., math, physics, chemistry, statistics). Few College Board exams require listening (unless they are foreign language or music tests). World language exams require speaking. Students who are approved to test with extended time and who will take the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, the PSAT 10, or the PSAT 8/9 are also automatically approved to test with extra breaks. NEW Students no longer need to use all of their approved extended time.
Breaks: Extra and extended breaks do not count toward testing time. If approved for breaks as needed, the student will be in control of when and how long a break will occur. This type of break is provided within the student’s own school. For SAT Weekend, students approved for breaks as needed will test in one day in a test center. Students approved for this accommodation will receive a test with extra breaks.
Reading and Seeing Text Assistance: A 14-point test booklet has larger pages than the standard (8"x11") test booklet, but the same number of pages per booklet. The 20-point test booklet has standard 8"x11" size pages, which results in more pages per test booklet. A student may also request raised line drawings (tactile graphs and figures) without requesting braille. If a student requests Braille with raised line drawings, contracted (a braille test), it will include both braille text and tactile graphs and figures. Students approved for Braille Paper Testing - UEB with Nemeth Code will test with paper. Students approved for Braille Paper Testing - UEB with Technical Math will test with paper.
Recording Responses: A large-print (large-block) answer sheet (no bubbles) may be used by students who have difficulty filling in "bubbles" on an answer sheet, as it allows students to simply make a mark in the answer space. A scribe may record both multiple-choice answers and essay responses. Typically, when approved for a scribe, a student would not need another accommodation to record answers.
Other Assistance: If the student is requesting preferential seating or another accommodation not listed above (i.e., other), please specify what is being requested. For visual, physical, and other impairments, please specify the student’s condition as diagnosed. Please use the appropriate entry for the diagnosed condition. For example, any ADHD diagnoses (including ADD) fall under ADHD. Psychiatric disabilities may include anxiety, depression, Tourette’s, and OCD. Physical impairments may include cerebral palsy and diabetes. Common visual impairments include convergence insufficiency and legally blind. Use Other Impairment for diagnosed conditions that do not fall under the other categories.
Assistive Technology: Most students approved for human reader for AP paper exams are approved for Text-to-Speech (Embedded) and/or Screen Reader (Non-Embedded) for digital tests and will test digitally. Most students who use a writer/scribe for paper tests will be approved for writer/scribe or dictation for digital tests. Students will be able to take a digital test using approved assistive technology software. Students will test using the digital test. Students can use their FM system. Calculators are permitted for all test sections on SAT and PSAT assessments. Some tools are available to all test takers and don't require accommodations. Some accommodations don’t require a special format of the digital test, but still need to be approved. Examples include permission for small-group testing, for food/drink/medication, and to test blood sugar. Students approved for Text-to-Speech (Embedded) will use Bluebook's built-in text-to-speech tool. This tool reads all text and provides short descriptions of graphics. No additional set-up is needed. Students approved for a Screen Reader (Non-Embedded) for digital tests will test using the screen reader functionality available through their device's operating system or their own screen reader software.

4. Submit the Application

The deadline to submit an application is typically several months before the test date. Your child’s school typically handles the application process through their SSD (Services for Students with Disabilities) coordinator.

5. Checking the Status of Your Request

Your request for testing accommodations to be approved by the College Board can take weeks. It is very important to be aware of the deadlines for submitting documentation.

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Checking Online Submissions: Families: If you’re a parent or student who made a request through your school, ask your SSD Coordinator to look at your request status by logging on to SSD Online. Additionally, most families who are submitting through the school may see information about their student's current and previous accommodations via the student portal. If neither are possible, then contact SSD directly. See Accommodations & Supports Dashboard for Students.
Checking Online Submissions: Coordinators: If you’re an SSD coordinator with access to SSD Online, you’ll see the request status of each student on the left column of your dashboard. Check the chart below to see how your approved accommodations will be administered on digital SAT and PSAT tests. IMPORTANT: Accommodations cannot be added, changed, or waived on test day. All accommodations must be approved by SSD.

What Happens After Approval?

Students will receive their approved amount of extended time within the digital test and will also receive extra breaks.

Digital Testing Accommodations

Keep in mind that some accommodations are administered differently on digital tests than on paper and pencil tests you may have taken in the past. For example, if you're approved to use a human reader for paper and pencil tests in school, you may be approved for a screen reader for the digital SAT. Also, some accommodations may not be needed for a digital test.

How Accommodations are Administered on Digital Tests

Here’s a summary of how certain accommodations are administered on digital tests:

Extended Time: Students will receive their approved amount of extended time within the digital test.
Breaks: Students will also receive extra breaks.
Braille: Students approved for Braille Paper Testing - UEB with Nemeth Code will test with paper. Students approved for Braille Paper Testing - UEB with Technical Math will test with paper.
Text-to-Speech: Students approved for Text-to-Speech (Embedded) will use Bluebook's built-in text-to-speech tool. This tool reads all text and provides short descriptions of graphics. No additional set-up is needed.
Screen Reader: Students approved for a Screen Reader (Non-Embedded) for digital tests will test using the screen reader functionality available through their device's operating system or their own screen reader software.
Writer/Scribe: Most students who use a writer/scribe for paper tests will be approved for writer/scribe or dictation for digital tests.

Appealing a Denial

If your request is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. The appeals process involves submitting additional documentation or clarifying the initial request. You can appeal a denial by providing additional evidence or documentation to support your request.

Important Considerations and Common Mistakes

Navigating the College Board Accommodations process requires proactive planning, thorough documentation, and effective communication with your child’s school and healthcare providers.

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Start Early

Begin the accommodation request process as early as possible, ideally in the spring of your child’s junior year. You should apply for accommodations as early as possible-preferably several months before the test date.

Advocate for Your Child

Don’t be afraid to advocate for your child’s needs.

Prepare for the Test

Even with accommodations, it’s essential for your child to prepare for the test.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Lack of Documentation: Ensure you have all the necessary documentation before submitting your application.
Tight Deadlines: Start the application process early to avoid missing deadlines.
Denial of Accommodations: If your request for accommodations is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision.
Missing Deadlines:
Providing Incomplete Documentation:
Assuming that IEP/504 Accommodations Automatically Apply:

Reporting of Scores

Scores will only be reported to colleges or scholarship agencies if your child uses accommodations specifically approved by the College Board. If your child utilizes testing accommodations beyond those specifically approved by the College Board, their scores may only be used for internal school assessments and will not be reported to colleges or scholarship agencies. This is because colleges need to be able to compare students’ scores against their peer set, and having accommodations can alter what colleges are seeking to measure on such an exam. In essence, it’s as if the student never took the test.

Accommodations Across Different Tests

While accommodations are similar across tests, the approval process and exact implementation may vary slightly.

Assistive Technology

If your child requires assistive technology, include this in the accommodations request and provide detailed documentation explaining the need.

Adjusting Accommodations

Yes, accommodations can be adjusted if your child’s needs change.

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