ACT Accommodations 101: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Everything You Need to Know About ACT Accommodations 

As a former special education teacher, I have sat with many parents/guardians and helped them navigate the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 process. Between educational psychologist reports and interpreting all of the data, understanding the difference between accommodations vs. modifications and goals vs. objectives, finding doctors or other qualified professionals and scheduling appointments that are often extremely challenging to come by, knowing about present levels and benchmarks and related services, trying to keep up with all of the acronyms (ADA, IDEA, IEP, BIP), etc. all in the hopes of meeting the unique needs of each student, this process can feel exceptionally daunting. Every family is at a different place in their journey and understanding of this process, but there is one ever-present commonality—everyone wants what is best for their student. 

Now that your student is in high school with eyes set on the future, navigating ACT testing accommodations might feel like yet another challenge that you have to face while advocating for your student. We’re here to help you demystify the process.

What are accommodations?

Before we dive too deep into steps and procedures, let’s start at the beginning and define “accommodation.” Where testing modifications change the content being learned or tested, testing accommodations change the way a student accesses the content. These changes are generally physical or environmental and are put in place to promote equity and remove barriers for students with unique needs ranging from learning differences and related disorders to English Language Learners. 

Accommodations do not change the content of the material, or the skills being assessed. They are meant to ensure that all students, regardless of individual needs or barriers, have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in a fair and equitable manner.

While modifications on standardized tests such as the ACT are not available, accommodations are relatively common for students who qualify. For example, students who do not speak English as their first language may qualify for translated test booklet directions and an ACT-approved word-to-word bilingual dictionary. 

Some accommodations for students with unique physical requirements, dependent on the student’s individual needs, include wheelchair accessible rooms, Braille or large print test booklets, sign language interpreters, technology devices, and assistance marking responses. 

Other accommodations are extended time (1.5, double, triple, untimed), individual or small group setting, read aloud to self, audio or reader, and circle responses in book. Extended time is the most common accommodation. This is not a comprehensive list of all accommodations available because students’ individual needs vary significantly.

What qualifies a student for accommodations?

Approval for accommodations is based on multiple qualified data sources. If your student currently has an IEP or 504 Plan that is written with fidelity, they already have met the requirements of multiple qualified data sources. According to a press release in July 2021, ACT will automatically honor testing accommodations written into IEPs and 504s for students who have registered for the ACT with accommodations. 

Previously, even if students had testing accommodations included in their IEP or 504, ACT still required a lengthy review process to determine eligibility. This change is a huge win for disability advocates and ensuring equitable access because the process for IEP and 504 eligibility already requires substantial data and are protected under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

If your student does not currently have an IEP or 504 plan but you would still like to request accommodations, qualified data sources include educational psychologist reports, medical evaluations from a physician or other qualified individual, Response to Intervention (RTI) data, functional performance assessments, previous standardized test or benchmark data, student grades, and observational data from teachers and other educational personnel. 

One thing to note is that not all data sources are considered equal. For example, observational data such as a letter written by school personnel or outside educational professional would be considered a secondary source and would not alone support the need for accommodations especially if there isn’t additional evidence of an ongoing need. Multiple sources of data are necessary to show a comprehensive need for accommodations. 

In the aforementioned press release, ACT stated that “the organization will continue to use the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standard to determine whether there is a ‘physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity’ and whether the requested accommodations are reasonable for the ACT test.”

How does a student apply for ACT accommodations?

The ACT website has a page dedicated to Requesting Accommodations and English Learner (EL) Supports, which walks you through the process of applying for accommodations and has a multitude of resources for educators and for students and parents. 

ACT uses the Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA) and requests must be submitted by school personnel who have been designated a Test Accommodations Coordinator (TAC). The ACT uses this system to ensure confidentiality and that accommodations are granted equitably and with fidelity.

For students and parents/guardians, there are several things you can do to make sure that this is as smooth of a process as possible. First, check that you have signed the ACT’s Consent to Release Information document and that it is included in your student’s file. 

Next, pay close attention to the submission deadlines for your student’s chosen test date to ensure that your student’s information is being submitted in a timely manner. The different stages of the process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so the sooner your student’s information is received by the ACT, the less stressful the process is for everyone involved. 

Finally, always be an advocate for your student and proactively communicate with their team of school personnel.

What happens after the accommodation request is approved?

Depending on the approved accommodations, your student will either qualify for National Testing or Special Testing. For either one, on testing day, your student needs to bring a photo ID and their admissions ticket, which will list their approved accommodations. They also should have a printed copy of the decision notification for their accommodations in the off chance that there was some sort of miscommunication with the testing site. In the most ideal situation, your student will be able to test at their own school where school personnel are already familiar with their needs and accommodations. 

The majority of students with accommodations will qualify to take their test at a National Testing site. This means they are testing at the same time as their peers who don’t require accommodations. These students have qualified for accommodations that don’t require specialized material or circumstances and are relatively easy to provide. These accommodations generally include 1.5 or 50% extended time, small group setting, accessibility accommodations, circle answers in the booklet, and accommodations for English Language Learners.

Special Testing is reserved for students who require the test to be administered in a specialized format or over multiple days because these require additional specific materials. Accommodations that qualify for Special Testing include double or more extended time, which will always be administered over multiple days within a given testing window. It also includes alternate test formats such as Braille, audio, technology assistance, a reader, or a scribe. Except in very rare cases that are noted by the school, Special Testing will be administered at your student’s school by school personnel.

Happy testing!