College Resources for Students with Differing Levels of Need

College, Career & Military Readiness (CCMR) College Resources for Students with Differing Levels of Need October 2020 Four-Year College Admissions for Students with Learning Disabilities Seven Things to Know: • College don’t have the same legal obligations as high schools • Your child must register as a student with disabilities to get accommodations • The requirements for documentation are changing (Some accept HS forms Some not Max years old) • There are no “case managers” in college • Different schools offer different levels of support • You’re no longer automatically in the loop • Colleges don’t provide evaluations for learning and attention issues • Source: https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/choosing-startingschool/leaving-high-school/7-things-to-know-about-college-disabilityservices Four-Year College Admissions for Students with Learning Disabilities • A student cannot be denied admissions to a college or university based on a learning disability • If the student meets the admissions requirement, the student is given the same review opportunity as any other student • Once the student is admitted to the university, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the disabilities services office to schedule an appointment (not the parent’s) Four-Year College Admissions for Students with Learning Disabilities • Colleges will not speak with parent’s unless the student has a signed FERPA waiver on file with that college or university (Federal Law) • Resources offered at the four year and two year college level are very similar (Required to follow 504/ American’s with Disabilities Act) • Some colleges and universities go above the required minimum; typically private colleges 20 Best Value Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities Beacon College, FL Landmark College, VT Mitchell College, CT Dean College, MA Lynn University, FL Lesley University, MA High Point University, NC Curry College, MA College of Charleston, SC 10 Westminster College, MO 11 Hofstra University 12 Ursuline College, OH 13 West Virginia Wesleyan College, WV 14 Westfield St University, MA 15 Marist College, NY 16 Manhattanville College, NY 17 Muskingum University, OH 18 King’s College, PA 19 Franklin Pierce University 20 American University, DC Source: https://www.bestvalueschools.com/rankings/students-with-learning-disabilities/ Transitional Education Programs • • • • • • • • Educational program for students with a higher level of need Students typically have between a 2nd- 5th grade reading level Austin Community College- STEPS West Texas A&M University- WTLC Lone Star College- CCDEL Houston Community College- VAST Academy Texas A&M University- Aggie Achieve Source: https://www.cappex.com/articles/applications/college-admissionfor-students-with-learning-disabilities Students with Disabilities Requesting ACT/SAT Testing Accommodations • • • • • • • • Must have documented disability through your high school Work with your high school guidance counselor Start the semester before you plan to take the exams Most common accommodations Extended time Extra and extended breaks Reading and seeing accommodations Must have accommodations code at time of exam registration NO CODE, NO ACCOMMODATIONS • SAT and ACT exam are NOT modified Types of Accommodations Available on the ACT • Extended Time • Standard Time with Accommodations or Support • Special Testing • English Learner Supports How to Request Accommodations? • Speak with your high school guidance counselor at least on semester before you plan to start testing • Only your HS counselor has access to the ACT system used to request accommodations • Parent/Guardian must give written consent (standard form required) before any information can be submitted to the accommodations request system How to Request Accommodations? • Student must provide documentation that they have a professionally diagnosed disability • Student must provide documentation that they use accommodations on tests in school as a result of their disability • There are two types of accommodations • National • Special 10 National vs Special Accommodations 11 Types of Documentation Required? 12 Types of Documentation Required? 13 Types of Documentation Required? 14 Types of Documentation Required? 15 Timeline for Requests • Meet with high school counselor at least one semester before you plan to take the ACT Sign-consent form • When time, register for the ACT at least two months before you plan to take the exam Be sure to indicate a need for accommodations and/or English learn supports • Select the type of accommodations and/or English learner supports you need 16 Timeline for Requests • Once registration is complete, you will receive an email from ACT regarding the need for accommodation Forward this email to your counselor Submit a request to see your counselor in person again, regarding the need for accommodations • If you wait until the last minute to register for the ACT and request accommodations, you could miss deadlines 17 English Learner Supports • Include the following: 18 English Learner Supports • Do NOT Include the following: 19 English Learner Supports • Requesting access to English learner supports is must like requesting accommodations The first step is to meet with your high school counselor at least one semester before you plan to take the exam 20 ACT Accommodation Deadlines • Complete online exam registration at least one month in advance • During registration be sure to check the box for accommodations • Student will receive an email from ACT that MUST be forwarded to the students' counselor • Counselor will complete required information • Could take two or more weeks to receive confirmation from ACT • CALL counselor in advance to ensure documentation is complete and submitted! 21 ACT Accommodation Deadlines 2020-2021 Test Dates December 12, 2020 February 6, 2021 April 17, 2021 June 12, 2021 July 17, 2021 Accommodation Submission Deadline November 20, 2020 January 15, 2021 March 26, 2021 May 21, 2021 June 25, 2021 All requests for accommodations and English Learner supports, including appeals, must be submitted by the late registration deadline through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system Accommodations and English learner supports are not available for standby testing 22 Typical SAT Accommodations • Extra breaks between test sections • Use of a computer for word processing • Tests in Braille or large print • Extended testing time • Follow all tips provided during the ACT information presentation The processes are very similar as are the required documents to have accommodations put in class • Key is to START the PROCESS EARLY! 23 SAT Accommodation Deadlines Start Early • The request process can take seven weeks and does not begin until all required documentation is received • If additional documentation is required or if a request is resubmitted, approval can take seven more weeks 24 SAT Accommodation Deadlines 2020-2021 Test Dates Accommodations Request and Documentation Must Be Received by: November 7, 2020 September 18, 2020 December 5, 2020 October 16, 2020 March 13, 2021 January 22, 2021 AP® May 3-7, 10-14, 2021 January 15, 2021 May 8, 2021 March 19, 2021 June 5, 2021 April 16, 2021 25 ... Act) • Some colleges and universities go above the required minimum; typically private colleges 20 Best Value Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities Beacon College, FL Landmark College, ... https://www.bestvalueschools.com/rankings /students- with- learning-disabilities/ Transitional Education Programs • • • • • • • • Educational program for students with a higher level of need Students typically have... Mitchell College, CT Dean College, MA Lynn University, FL Lesley University, MA High Point University, NC Curry College, MA College of Charleston, SC 10 Westminster College, MO 11 Hofstra University