Please choose from the topics listed below:
|
|
NOTE: As of September 1, 2005 the GED Testing Office will
no longer accept and process
accommodations requests on forms L-15 and SA-001.
Request made after September 1, 2005,
using forms L-15 and/or SA-001 will be returned to
the candidate unprocessed.
|
NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES─
GED TEST ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABLING CONDITIONS |
GENERAL INFORMATION
Under normal circumstances, all candidates are required to follow standard test
administration procedures when taking the tests that are required for the NYS
High School Equivalency Diploma. However, since these procedures may make it
difficult or impossible for some candidates with disabling conditions to
demonstrate what they have learned, reasonable test administration accommodations may be
authorized for candidates with disabling conditions. Candidates will not be
denied the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned solely because they
are handicapped. Eligibility for test administration accommodations is
determined on an individual basis according to each applicant’s documented
needs.
An applicant wishing to complete the GED Tests under different conditions or to
use modified editions of the tests must provide written verification, by a
competent and appropriate professional person, of that candidate’s inability to
perform test-taking skills required by standard conditions, and must include a
specific justification for administering the GED test under requested
conditions.
Detailed explanation of
specific accommodations, including a description of
accommodations that do not require pre-approval, information for deaf
candidates, and information on how to
request an alternate test date for a religious
observance can be found here.
top of page
|
REQUESTS FOR TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
Candidates who have a disability that requires a change to the usual way testing
is done must submit a GED application to the Chief Examiner along with
documentation of eligibility (if the candidate is under the age of 19). Most
importantly, the candidate must submit the appropriate Request For Testing
Accommodations form. There are currently four forms (available for download in
either MS Word© or Adobe
PDF© format;
download the free Adobe Reader):
These applications may also be obtained at your local official GED testing center. Requests for testing accommodations will be held in confidence and no record of the accommodations will be provided on the candidate’s GED score report or credential.
When requesting testing accommodations, the candidate must provide the Chief Examiner or Alternate Chief Examiner with all of the necessary documentation. The documentation should be comprehensive and must indicate how the disability substantially limits some major life activity such as seeing, hearing or learning.
top of page
|
ACCOMMODATIONS APPLICATION PROCESS
1. All Request For Testing Accommodations forms may be obtained by the candidate
from the local official GED testing center or can be downloaded (above).
2. The GED candidate will submit one original Request For Testing
Accommodations to the GED Chief Examiner at the local testing center after the
required documentation is obtained and the form signed by a certified
professional(s) where indicated.
The GED Chief Examiner or Alternate Chief Examiner will review the request to
determine if the appropriate form is complete. The Request For Testing
Accommodations form must be completed (with original signature) by an
appropriate professional stating the disabling condition(s) and the specific
accommodations requested. The Chief Examiner must sign the form, attesting to
the completeness of the accommodation request, NOT the diagnosis of the
disabling condition.
Chief/Alternate Examiners must review the following on all forms:
· Section 1 is for the candidate’s information. A candidate’s
original signature
is required, and if under 18, the signature of a parent or guardian must be
provided as well.
· Section 2 is for test center information. The Examiner should fill out
this section and review the entire application for completeness before signing
the form and sending it on to the Albany GED Testing Office for a decision.
· Section 3 is for the professional diagnostician or advocate to
complete. As long as the advocate has the documentation available, he/she can
copy the information from the documentation onto the forms. An original
diagnostician or advocate signature is required as indicated.
· Section 4 will completed by the Albany GED Testing Office; do not write
in this section. A decision will be made from a review of the documentation
submitted.
In addition, there are certain areas to which candidates/advocates/professional
diagnosticians must pay close attention on specific forms:
Request For Testing Accommodations–Emotional/Mental Health Disability;
Request For Testing Accommodations–Physical/Chronic Health Disability;
Request For Testing Accommodations–Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
· Requested accommodations checked on form in Section 3B (Please do not put
“refer to attached documentation”.)
Request For Testing Accommodations–Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities
· Section 3A–Ensure that the achievement test standard scores and date(s)
of testing are included. Grade level scores are not acceptable.
· Section 3B– Ensure that the type of test used, date of assessment and
Verbal IQ, Performance IQ and Full Scale IQ standard scores are noted. If the
WAIS test was used, make sure there are subtest scores. If the WISC-III or
WAIS-III test was used, make sure there are index scores. Do not
write "see attached" on any part of the forms. All forms must be
completely filled out or they will be returned to the candidate.
· Section 3C–Ensure that the diagnostician has marked all applicable
learning disabilities.
· Section 3D–Requested accommodations must be checked on form.
Request For Testing Accommodations–Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
· Ensure that the diagnostician has filled in the required DSM-IV code and has
attached the required letter on official letterhead.
Professionals able to make disability diagnoses:
|
Disability Type |
Licensed or Certified Professional |
|
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder |
Psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians |
|
Learning Disabilities
|
Psychologists, school psychologists, educational
specialists with advanced training |
|
Physical Disabilities |
Physicians, specialists in a particular area such as
audiologists |
|
Emotional/Mental Disabilities |
Psychiatrists, psychologists, school psychologists,
licensed professional counselor |
3. If the request is NOT complete, the GED Chief Examiner or Alternate Chief
Examiner will either inform the candidate if present, or will mail a notice to
the GED candidate or advocate stating what additional information is required.
4. When the request is complete, the GED Chief Examiner or Alternate Examiner
will complete and sign the form and mail it to the Albany GED Testing Office for
review.
5. The GED Administrator at the Albany GED Testing Office either informs the GED
candidate of approval or non-approval, and/or a request for further information
or an update on the existing information. A copy of the notification letter is
sent to the Chief Examiner and is also sent to the advocate if a cover letter
accompanies the request for accommodations.
6. When further information is resubmitted, the GED Administrator at the Albany
GED Testing Office either sends a letter of approval or non-approval, or submits
the request to the GED Testing Service (GEDTS) in Washington DC for an expert
review. A candidate may NOT test with accommodations until written
approval from the GED Testing Office stating the specific accommodation(s)
approved is received.
7. If the request for testing accommodations application does not meet the GEDTS
model specifications, it may be sent to the GED Testing Service for review.
Requests sent to the GEDTS may require an additional thirty days or more to
process. The GED Administrator at the Albany GED Testing Office will notify the
GED candidate, the school, or the advocate of this timeframe.
top of page
|
APPEALING A REVIEW DECISION
If the GED Testing Service (GEDTS) denies the GED candidate’s request for an accommodation, the candidate may appeal the decision. A clinical case review in Washington, DC is available for those cases that do not fit the GEDTS model. The request for review must first be submitted to the Albany GED Testing Office on a Testing Accommodations Appeal form, available below. The GED Administrator at the Albany GED Testing Office will then forward the review to GEDTS along with the reasons for non-approval and the reasons for appeal.
If the above review again results in non-approval, an Expert Panel Review may be requested. This review request must also be submitted to the GED Administrator at the Albany GED Testing Office, who will forward the request for Expert Panel Review at the GEDTS. The decision of the Expert Panel Review will be considered final.
Additional information on testing accommodations may be obtained by writing to:
New York State Education Department
GED Testing Office
P.O. Box 7348
Albany, NY 12224-0348
Attn: GED Testing Accommodations
Or, call (518) 474-5906 or write to
ged@mail.nysed.gov for additional information
top of page
|
|
Contact Us | Accommodations | Eligibility | FAQ | Forms
and Attachments | General
Information
Announcements for 2008 | 2008 GED Test Schedule | Scheduling Information
French Page | Spanish
Page | Map of New York | Other
Services | Prep Programs
01/08/2008 TRK
|
