northwesty3410 replies9 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 3,419Senior Member
edited May 23
"Not cost effective, so not a realistic "solution"."
Very easy and cheap actually.
Give everyone 6 hours for the ACT instead of four. That would eliminate the vast majority of accommodations (since the most typical accommodation sought and received is 1.5X time).
While the raw scores might change due to the lessened time pressure, the top 1% of scores will still be the 99th percentile.
lookingforward32674 replies349 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 33,023Senior Member
edited May 23
6 hours is a burden for some. Our GC advised parents that sitting 4 hours instead of 3 is no favor, if you don't truly need it.
In my day, we sat for Iowa Tests from about 2nd grade on, not sure if every year or every other, through maybe 6th. Something in jr and sr high. Many kids today have never sat for even a 3 hour test.
northwesty3410 replies9 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 3,419Senior Member
Give everyone six hours and let kids leave when they are done.
The only reason why you have the accommodation issue is because the test bakes time pressure into the equation. So kids/parents strain to get extra time because it is an advantage. And many kids who deserve accommodations can't get them. Give everyone the opportunity to have up to 1.5X time and that all goes away. The smartest kids will still get the highest scores. The kids who don't need the extra time don't have to use it.
Speediness is certainly a relevant factor in some lines of work -- 100 meter sprints and hitting fastballs -- but to me it seems pretty unrelated to being able to do college level academics.
LittleStitious26 replies0 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 26Junior Member
The most striking thing to me in the Wall Street Journal article was that the College Board approves 94%! of the requests for accommodations (most of which are for extra time according to the article) Hmmmmmm quite a contrast to the many posts on this board claiming that accommodations are usually denied or hard to get.
Cheeringsection2360 replies71 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 2,431Senior Member
Totally disagree with the idea that being able to do things quickly is not relevant to being able to do college level work or to careers in the real world. Being able to keep up as concepts are presented in a classroom or getting the reading and other homework done while still getting some sleep is relevant at the most academically challenging schools. Anyone who bills their time knows the pressure of giving their clients good value and having to write off time if they cannot. Police personnel, EMTs and firefighters must process information quickly to make life saving decisions. Being able to perform under time pressure matters.
Emsmom11000 replies72 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 1,072Senior Member
edited May 24
@LittleStitious I believe there was a lawsuit that forced them to accept more requests for accommodations. When my daughter attempted to get extra time on the SAT in 2015, she was denied despite having accomodations at school for ADHD and anxiety since she was 8. She also had a full neuropsych evaluation. We appealed but the appeal was denied.
From an article: " beginning January 1, 2017, the College Board will automatically approve accommodations for the vast majority of students who receive school-based testing accommodations through a formal school-based plan (IEP or 504 Plan for public school students and comparable plans for private school students)" (https://www.applerouth.com/blog/2016/12/15/sweeping-changes-to-sat-and-act-accommodations)
LittleStitious26 replies0 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 26Junior Member
@Emsmom1 indeed, but there continue to be many posters on this site that insist accommodations are not abused because they are so hard to get and so frequently denied. That is clearly not the case at present.
Emsmom11000 replies72 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 1,072Senior Member
@LittleStitious I agree. Surely there is some mid-point between rejecting accommodations requests for those who actually need them (and have a long, documented history of the need for accommodations) and accepting them from everyone.
epiphany8404 replies170 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 8,574Senior Member
The most striking thing to me in the Wall Street Journal article was that the College Board approves 94%! of the requests for accommodations (most of which are for extra time according to the article) Hmmmmmm quite a contrast to the many posts on this board claiming that accommodations are usually denied or hard to get.
Hmmmmmmmm. Quite a contrast to the many posts on CC over the years documenting that in the recent past well substantiated diagnoses and histories of accommodation have been ignored by College Board as a matter of routine. There have been justified lawsuits against CB for those denials of legitimate requests. Those lawsuits have resulted in a recent change of practice by CB, probably an over-correction of its previous extreme policy in the other direction. Neither practice by CB is appropriate.
bluebayou26580 replies174 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 26,754Senior Member
edited May 24
CB really has no choice, epiphany.
Once a qualified licensed provider submits a full write up after xx-day evaluation, the schools & CB are in no way capable of disproving the need. Unless the schools & CB want to start their own psych analysis program with their own approved docs, they have to rubber stamp the request.
All of this was easily foreseen (and predicted by some of us) way back with CB settled the lawsuit.
twoinanddone22099 replies14 discussionsRegistered UserPosts: 22,113Senior Member
I think CB is now doing the same as insurance companies when they get a request/claim - deny it first, then if the person appeals, grant the request.
A friend has had accommodations since K. She recently asked for the accommodations for the GRE and it was denied. Appeal. Approved. She needs not only extra time but a private room.
Replies to: Feds uncover admissions test cheating plot
Or the SAT, or LSAT or the MCAT or the GRE....
Un-needed (not really LD, but purchased a certificate) extra time on the ACT is huge, particularly for the math and science sections.
Not cost effective, so not a realistic "solution".
Very easy and cheap actually.
Give everyone 6 hours for the ACT instead of four. That would eliminate the vast majority of accommodations (since the most typical accommodation sought and received is 1.5X time).
While the raw scores might change due to the lessened time pressure, the top 1% of scores will still be the 99th percentile.
Done!
In my day, we sat for Iowa Tests from about 2nd grade on, not sure if every year or every other, through maybe 6th. Something in jr and sr high. Many kids today have never sat for even a 3 hour test.
The only reason why you have the accommodation issue is because the test bakes time pressure into the equation. So kids/parents strain to get extra time because it is an advantage. And many kids who deserve accommodations can't get them. Give everyone the opportunity to have up to 1.5X time and that all goes away. The smartest kids will still get the highest scores. The kids who don't need the extra time don't have to use it.
Speediness is certainly a relevant factor in some lines of work -- 100 meter sprints and hitting fastballs -- but to me it seems pretty unrelated to being able to do college level academics.
From an article: " beginning January 1, 2017, the College Board will automatically approve accommodations for the vast majority of students who receive school-based testing accommodations through a formal school-based plan (IEP or 504 Plan for public school students and comparable plans for private school students)" (https://www.applerouth.com/blog/2016/12/15/sweeping-changes-to-sat-and-act-accommodations)
Once a qualified licensed provider submits a full write up after xx-day evaluation, the schools & CB are in no way capable of disproving the need. Unless the schools & CB want to start their own psych analysis program with their own approved docs, they have to rubber stamp the request.
All of this was easily foreseen (and predicted by some of us) way back with CB settled the lawsuit.
A friend has had accommodations since K. She recently asked for the accommodations for the GRE and it was denied. Appeal. Approved. She needs not only extra time but a private room.