Does Your Child Get ISEE Accommodations? What You Need to Know

Will your child need special accommodations to take the ISEE test? The exam proctors will make every effort to arrange special administrations for students who are unable to take the ISEE under standard conditions because of a documented learning difference or a physical challenge. Read on for instructions on eligibility and how to apply for accommodations. 

As far as eligibility, students with a documented disability may be eligible for accommodations such as extended time (50 percent extra time) on the ISEE. The student must: have a disability that necessitates testing accommodations; have complete and specific documentation that establishes a current need for the requested accommodations; and currently receive and utilize the requested accommodations, due to the disability, on a regular basis for school-based testing in the student’s present school environment.

The first step in the registration process is to create an online account. As you do this, be sure to select “yes” for accommodations, and then list the accommodations your student utilizes in her current school. Next you must submit the ISEE current school statement form and current supporting documentation. This may include:

1. Formal Testing – a complete psycho-educational evaluation dated within the last three years

2. An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan from the current calendar year

3. A School Accommodation Plan from the current calendar year

4. Physician Letter – a letter from a medical doctor is required if the accommodations are due to a medically-treated issue (such as a vision impairment, deafness, paralysis, ADD, ADHD [treated with prescriptions], etc.) or a physical disability

Your application will then be formally reviewed, which can take up to three weeks. Files are reviewed only when fully completed and on a first come, first served basis. If approved, you can next move on to selecting a testing location and date, and process payment. The approval will stay with your student for 15 months from date of approval, and you may register for future tests within the 15-month time frame without requesting approval for each test or working with the ERB accommodations team.

It is important to note that ISEE will review for any documented and supported accommodations offered to your student at his or her current school, but approved accommodations do not guarantee an available test site location. Each ISEE test site locations offers only specific accommodations, and most do not offer all accommodations.  If the approved accommodation(s) for your student are not offered at any available test site locations, you will need to arrange for an individual ISEE test administration with the admission office at one of the ISEE test site schools to which your student is applying.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services