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| 2007–2008 |
| REGISTERING TO TEST |
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| REGISTERING
FOR ALTERNATIVE TESTING ARRANGEMENTS |
Alternative
testing arrangements that are reasonable in the context
of this certification test and supported by documentation
may be provided for the following examinees who would not
be able to take the test under standard conditions:
- Examinees with physical disabilities (e.g., visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor disabilities,
illness, injury)
- Examinees with disabilities other than physical (e.g.,
learning disabilities)
- Examinees whose religious practices do not allow them
to take tests on Saturdays
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Documentation
Requirements and Review of Requests |
In all cases, examinees requesting alternative testing arrangements must (a) complete a test
registration and submit correct payment, (b) mail or fax a completed Alternative Testing
Arrangements Request Form, and (c) mail or fax any required documentation. The Alternative
Testing Arrangements Request Form is available to download as a PDF document by selecting “Print Bulletin and Forms (PDF)” on the
NYSTCE Web site. Write your name and telephone number on each piece of correspondence
you provide.
The deadline for submission of requests and all necessary
documentation for alternative testing arrangements is
the regular registration deadline. Because of space, staff,
and time constraints, there can be no assurance that requests
received after this deadline can be accommodated.
Some accommodations (e.g., Braille tests) have specialized production requirements associated with
them, and more time for production may be required than is available after the regular registration
deadline. Although every effort is made to process all requests in a timely manner, the earlier
you submit your request, the more time will be available for specialized production, if needed. Certain
production requirements may necessitate rolling over your registration to a future test administration.
All timely and complete alternative testing arrangements requests and accompanying documentation
are reviewed on a case-by-case basis upon receipt. In some cases, the submitted
documentation may not be sufficient to make a determination regarding the requested
accommodation(s) or may not support the requested accommodation(s). Additional information
or test results may be needed.
You must submit an Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form each time you register.
However, you only need to submit all the required documents the first time that you request
alternative testing arrangements. NES will keep your documentation on file for one year. If you
register for subsequent test dates within that year, you only need to submit your completed registration, correct payment, and a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form,
as long as your condition and the recommended accommodations have not changed. The documentation
will be kept confidential to the extent required by law.
Some alternative testing arrangements may be accommodated
at selected sites only. In some cases, you may be contacted
directly to discuss suitable testing arrangements. Before
the test date, you will receive information regarding
your request. You should contact NES at the time you receive
this information if you have any questions or concerns
about it.
 Documentation
Checklist |
Before
submitting your Alternative Testing Arrangements
Request Form and any required documentation,
use the checklist below and the information
in the sections that follow to confirm that
your documentation is complete. This checklist
does not apply to examinees registering for
an alternative test date for religious reasons
(see “Registering for an
Alternative Test Date for Religious Reasons” below).
My documentation must
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include
a signed statement by a qualified professional,
written on that person’s professional letterhead,
whose license or credentials are appropriate
to describe or diagnose the disability; |
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include a diagnosis
of the disability or disabilities; |
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include the
name, date, and actual results of diagnostic
test(s) designed for purposes other than screening,
where documentation of test(s) or evaluation(s)
is required; |
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include recommended test
administration modifications that are specifically
related to the disability and that are reasonable
within the context of this certification test; |
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be current, i.e., completed
within the past five years (with the exception
of permanent physical disabilities).
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| Documentation,
in itself, does not automatically support the
granting of alternative testing arrangements. |
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Requests for additional time. The four-hour test session is designed to allow
sufficient time to complete any of the tests in the NYSTCE
program. Examinees may find the four hours of testing time
to be more than enough to complete their test, even if they
have needed extra time on other tests they have taken in
the past.
If, however, you have a documented disability and you feel you need extra time for testing, you
may submit a request for alternative testing arrangements when you register for the NYSTCE.
Also, you may wish to register for only one test per test date, which will allow you to use the
second test session for additional time to complete the test, providing your request for additional
time is approved. Registering for two tests on the same test date limits the additional testing
time you can be allowed because testing must be completed within one test administration
day. Please note that all requests for additional time require appropriate documentation and are
subject to approval by the NYSED.
Appeal of denial of request for alternative testing
arrangements. NES will notify examinees of the
determination made with regard to their requests for alternative
testing arrangements. You may appeal the denial of some
or all of your requests for alternative testing arrangements.
Before you submit your appeal, it is suggested that you
review “Registering for Alternative Testing
Arrangements.” This section describes the documentation
requirements for different types of alternative testing
arrangements requests. If after reviewing the information in this section you
still wish to proceed with an appeal of the decision, you may do so by submitting your appeal,
in writing, to:
Alternative Testing Arrangements
Coordinator
National Evaluation Systems
P.O. Box 660
Amherst, MA 01004-9008
Telephone: (413) 256-2882
Fax: (413) 584-7340
The appeal should include the following information:
- Your name, address, and
social security number
- The date of the appeal
- The date of the test administration
upon which the appeal is based
- Any documentation, in addition to the documentation
that you submitted with your Alternative Testing Arrangements
Request Form, that supports your alternative testing
arrangements requests
- A brief summary of the reasons
why your alternative testing arrangements requests should
be granted
- Your signature
Your appeal should be submitted
as soon as possible. Please be advised that an appeal that
is received less than 30 days before the test date for which
an examinee is registered may not be processed by that date.
After your appeal is reviewed, you will be notified as to whether your appeal has been granted
or denied. All appeal determinations are subject to the approval of the NYSED, and all appeal
determinations are final.
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Registering
for Alternative Testing Arrangements
Because of a Disability |
The following alternative testing arrangements may be requested
because of a disability (e.g., visual impairment, hearing impairment, motor
disability, illness, injury) and can be accommodated at
all test sites:
- Wheelchair-accessible
facilities
- Frequent breaks (e.g.,
for those with hypoglycemia or diabetes)
- Use of a magnifying glass,
color overlays, or a straightedge (e.g., for those with
a visual impairment)
- Use of a pen for a written
assignment (e.g., for those with a motor impairment)
- Written copy of the oral
directions (e.g., for those with a hearing impairment)
To request any of the alternative testing arrangements listed above, you must
- complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
- submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form indicating the nature of and reason for the request.
Registering for alternative testing arrangements because of a physical disability. If you require
arrangements other than those listed above and the alternative testing arrangements are being
requested due to a physical disability (e.g., visual impairment), you must
- complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
- submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form identifying the disability
and the specific arrangements requested; and
- submit a signed statement by
a licensed professional, written on that person’s professional
letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate
to diagnose the disability (e.g., ophthalmologist for
visual impairment). The statement must indicate the following:
- The disability for
which alternative testing arrangements are being
requested
- The recommended test administration modifications
that are specifically related to the disability
and are reasonable in the context of this certification
test
Registering for alternative testing arrangements because of a disability other than physical.
If you are requesting alternative testing arrangements due to a disability other than physical
(e.g., learning disability), you must
- complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
- submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form identifying the disability and the specific arrangements requested; and
- submit a signed statement by
a qualified professional, written on that person’s professional
letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate
to describe or diagnose the disability. The statement
must indicate the following:
- The disability for
which alternative testing arrangements are being
requested, with supporting documentation in the
form of one of the following, which must be included
as part of the statement or as separate documentation:
- A full educational
history with complete documentation of special
education services, including other disability-related
testing modifications, received within the past
five years, along with the name, date, and results
of the diagnostic test(s) or evaluation(s),
administered within the past five years, used
to document the disability
or
Results of a psychological,
neuropsychological, or psychoeducational diagnostic
test battery administered within the past five
years, interpreted by a qualified professional
whose license or credentials are appropriate
to diagnose the condition
or
Results of an evaluation interpreted by a
licensed professional verifying physical abnormalities
as evidenced by a computerized axial tomography
(CAT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
electroencephalogram (EEG), or brain topography
mapping test administered within the past five
years
and
The recommended test administration modifications
that are specifically related to the disability
and are reasonable in the context of this certification
test
Please note: If your test(s) or evaluation(s) were administered prior to the past five years, a full
battery of testing may not be required. Instead, you may wish to consult with a qualified professional
to determine which diagnostic test(s) related to your disability would indicate the current
functional impact of your disability.
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Registering
for an Alternative Test Date for Religious Reasons |
Alternative test dates may be arranged for people whose religious practices do not allow them
to take tests on Saturdays. These alternative test dates may be arranged only for religious
reasons and will be scheduled for the Sunday following the regular Saturday test date.
Alternative test dates are available only in the following test areas:
Albany
Binghamton
Buffalo
Long Island (Nassau County)
NYC (Brooklyn)
NYC (Manhattan)
Potsdam
Syracuse
Toronto, Ontario
Westchester County
To request an alternative test date, you must
- complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
- submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form; and
- submit a signed letter from a member of the clergy, written
on that person’s professional letterhead, stating that
your religious convictions prohibit Saturday testing.
The deadline for submission of your Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form and supporting
letter is the regular registration deadline.
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Registering
for Alternative Testing Arrangements for the Assessment
of Teaching Skills—Performance (ATS–P) (Video) |
Please be aware that because of the nature of the ATS–P,
alternative testing arrangements that might be provided
for other tests within the NYSTCE program may not be appropriate
for the ATS–P (e.g., extra testing time). Should you feel
that you need alternative testing arrangements, please submit
(a) a completed registration with correct payment,
(b) a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request
Form, and (c) any required documentation. A description
of the required documentation is provided in “Registering
for Alternative Testing Arrangements.” Write your name and telephone number on each piece of correspondence
you provide. NES will contact you to discuss your request. The deadline for submission of requests and any necessary
documentation for alternative testing arrangements is the
regular ATS–P registration deadline. Because of the limited
time between the registration deadline and the submission
deadline, you are strongly encouraged to submit your registration
materials and alternative testing arrangements request as
early as possible. The options for alternative testing arrangements
are enhanced when more time is available to plan and prepare
for them. Due to the time and logistics involved in providing
certain types of alternative testing arrangements, your
registration may need to be applied to a future submission
deadline.
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2007–2008 NYSTCE Registration Bulletin
Copyright © 2008
Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). All rights reserved.
Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
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