Enclosure 1 - Accommodations Process for College Board Testing

To Parents and/or Guardians of Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities who have testing accommodations documented in an IEP or 504 Plan may be eligible for accommodations on the PSAT/NMSQTor SAT School Dayassessment. However, not all testing accommodations in an IEP or 504 Plan are permitted by the College Board, and not all students with Standards of Learning (SOL) testing accommodations will require these accommodations on the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day. Information about eligibility for testing accommodations for these assessments is available on the College Board website ( https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/eligibility ).  

• For the October 7, 2026, test administration, the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT School Day will be delivered digitally. Some accommodations are administered differently for digital tests than they are for paper/pencil tests. A College Board chart explains the method for using accommodations on digital tests ( https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital/accommodations-digital-testing/using-accommodations-digital-tests ).  
• If the student already has accommodations approved by College Board SSD (Services for Students with Disabilities) from a previous PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, or AP test , there is no need to resubmit accommodation requests. Once approved for accommodations by College Board SSD, accommodations remain in place until one year after high school graduation.
• For a student to receive new or amended accommodations, the College Board must approve a formal request for the student. Each high school has a designated staff member who serves as the SSD coordinator and works with the College Board to make these requests. All accommodations requests are due from the school to the College Board in August. The school may not make a request without consent from you and your student. Parents/guardians must give their input and consent to the school by August 3, 2026, using the forms enclosed here.

Below you will find information on possible College Board testing accommodations. As you and your student consider which accommodation(s) may be appropriate for the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day, please keep in mind the following:

• the content, format, and purpose of the assessment;
  • SAT ( https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/whats-on-the-test )
  • PSAT/NMSQT ( https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/whats-on-the-test )
• implications on overall testing time or setting for some accommodations (see notes on Enclosure 2); and
• duration of the accommodation approval (once approved, College Board accommodations must be used for all future College Board tests, including future PSAT/NMSQT, SAT and AP exams, unless a written refusal is submitted).

If you would like the school to request College Board accommodation(s) for your student, follow these three steps.

1. Complete the Accommodations Input Form (Enclosure 2):
   • Circle the accommodation(s) in the list that you would like the school request from your student’s IEP or 504 Plan;
   • Initial and date at the bottom of the form to confirm your input;
2. Complete the Accommodations Request Consent Form (Enclosure 3):
   • Write in your student’s name, school, date of birth, and non-FCPS email address;
   • Write in the parent/guardian email address;
   • With your student, sign and date to verify your consent for release of records to the College Board;
3. Return copies of both forms to the high school by August 3, 2026.

After receiving your forms, school staff will review your student’s IEP or 504 Plan and academic records to verify the testing accommodation(s) and collect documentation the College Board requires for each request. School staff will contact you if there are any questions about your selected accommodation(s). 

Please contact your student’s high school at ____________________________ if you have questions about testing accommodations for the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day or wish to discuss the request process. When returning accommodation input and consent forms (Enclosures 2 and 3), send or deliver to:

       ATTN: ______________________________

       _________________________ High School

       ___________________________________

       ____________________, VA  ___________

Enclosure 2 - Accommodations Input Form for College Board Testing

The College Board accommodations listed below apply to the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT School Day and are available only to students with disabilities, as documented in an IEP or 504 Plan, or to students with documented medical needs. If you would like the school to request new or amended College Board accommodation(s) for your student:

• Circle the accommodation(s) below that you would like requested from your student’s IEP or 504 Plan;
• Initial and dateat the bottom of this form to confirm your input;
• Return this form along with Enclosure 3 to the high school by August 3, 2026.

College Board accommodations are different from SOL testing accommodations. Review the notes below to understand implications for testing. The College Board website provides additional explanations of how accommodations are implemented ( https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/how-accommodations-work/about-accommodations ).  

Footnotes:

1. E xtended time: Students are no longer required to use all of their approved extended time. They may move forward to the next module or section once standard time has passed. Students who use all of their approved extended time may not be able to participate in the school’s early dismissal on test day .
2. Li mited testing time: Testing may need to be administered over two days. If this is the case, students will miss classroom instruction on the day following PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day .
3. R eader (person) - for paper tests only. Testing must be administered one-on-one, reading word-for-word for the whole test or parts of the test .
4. W riter/scribe (person) - for paper tests only.  Must be administered one-on-one with 50 percent extended time. Students dictate responses to the adult scribe. See also Footnote 1 above, regarding implementation of extended time. Dictation for Digital Tests (speech-to-text) - for digital tests only . 

Parent/Guardian Confirmation of Selected Accommodations:

By initialing, I confirm that I would like the high school to request the College Board accommodations circled above after considering my student's needs in relation to the information available about the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day assessment. 

                                 Parent/Guardian Initials: ________________   Date: __________________

Enclosure 3 - Accommodation Request Consent Form for College Board Testing

Services for Students with Disabilities

Consent Form for Accommodations Request

Student Information

Student Name: _______________________________________________

Student Email (non-FCPS email address): ______________________________________________

School: _____________________________________________________

Student Date of Birth: _________________________________________

Student and Parent/Guardian Signature

I wish to apply for testing accommodation(s) on College Board tests (SAT, SAT Subject Tests, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, and/or Advanced Placement Exams) due to disability. I authorize my school to; release to the College Board copies of my records that document the existence of my disability and need for testing accommodations; to release any other information in the school's custody that the College Board requests for the purpose of determining my eligibility for testing accommodations on College Board tests; and to discuss my disability and accommodation needs with the College Board. I also grant the College Board permission to receive and review my records, and to discuss my disability and needs with school personnel and other professionals . 

Student Signature: _____________________________________ Date: ____________

Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________

(Parent/guardian signature is required if Student is under 18.)

Parent/Guardian Email: ______________________________________________

Instructions to the School

This form should be used when a request for accommodation(s) is submitted electronically (via SSD Online). The form should be maintained by the school with the student’s records. It does not need to be sent to the College Board. You will be asked to verify that a signed Consent Form is on file at the school prior to submitting a request for accommodations. 

Copyright College Board, Revised 2025

Copied and translated with permission by Fairfax County Public Schools

It is helpful to understand  why these accommodations are so vital. They are not about giving an unfair advantage; instead, they level the playing field by providing equitable access to the exam. For students with documented disabilities, standard testing conditions might prevent them from accurately demonstrating their knowledge and skills. Accommodations like extended time, small group setting, or text-to-speech can remove these barriers.  

As a parent or guardian, you are your student's biggest advocate. Your involvement in the College Board accommodation request process is crucial. By understanding the requirements and ensuring thorough documentation, you can help your student access the testing accommodations they need to demonstrate their knowledge. You can also enlist support from the school in gathering documentation and submitting the application.

The College Board grants accommodations for students with documented disabilities that substantially limit a major life activity. This can include learning disabilities, ADHD, physical disabilities, psychological disorders, and more. The key is that the disability must be documented. You can work with your student’s school to gather the necessary information.  Additional information regarding accommodation eligibility can be found on the  College Board website .

If the student already has College Board accommodations approved from a previous PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, PSAT 8/9, SAT, or AP test, then no further action is needed. Once instated, accommodations remain in place for all College Board testing. Be sure to review your student’s approved accommodations and talk to your student to make sure that they understand how they will be testing.

There are two ways to request new College Board accommodations. Parents/guardians may request that their student’s high school submit the request to College Board, or parents can submit the request directly to the College Board. The College Board recommends requesting accommodations through the student’s school.  For students under 18, all College Board accommodations requests require parental consent.

Requesting Through Your Student’s High School

Parents/guardians may request College Board accommodations by submitting an  accommodation input form and request consent form to their student’s high school. The high school cannot request College Board accommodations for your student unless you have submitted a signed accommodation request consent form (Enclosure 3 in the accommodations request process). Once you submit an accommodations request to the school, the Students with Disabilities  (SSD) coordinator will submit the accommodation requests with required documentation to the College Board. Learn more about the SSD coordinator role below.

Requesting Directly Through College Board

Parents/guardians may also  request accommodations directly from College Board . Directions for requesting accommodations through the College Board may be found on their website.  

Each FCPS high school has identified a staff member to serve as the Students with Disabilities (SSD) coordinator.  When parents/guardians request accommodations through the high school, the SSD coordinator is responsible for reviewing the input and consent forms, and submitting accommodation requests to the College Board. 

When preparing your request to submit to the College Board, the SSD coordinator will consult with other staff, as necessary, to gather documentation. As part of the application, the SSD coordinator will provide information on your student’s educational history and the accommodations they currently receive in school. 

Reach out to the school’s administrator to find out who the SSD coordinator is at your student’s school. 

If you submit an accommodations request to your student’s high school, Students with Disabilities (SSD) coordinator will consult with other staff, as necessary, to gather existing documentation, provide input on your student’s educational history and the accommodations they currently receive in school, and submit the request on your behalf. 

If you choose to submit your accommodations request directly to the College Board, you will need to ensure all necessary reports are current, comprehensive, and meet the College Board's specific criteria. The seven basic criteria are:

1. The diagnosis is clearly stated.
2. The information is current (e.g., generally within the past 5 years).
3. The student’s educational, developmental, and medical history is presented.
4. The diagnosis is supported.
5. The functional limitation is described.
6. The recommended accommodations are justified.
7. The evaluator’s professional credentials are established.

Make sure you understand the deadlines for submitting accommodation requests, as these vary depending on the test and testing date. Because the approval process can take up to seven weeks, it’s best to start well before the test date. Applying well in advance is always recommended.

Once the online request is complete and all the necessary documentation is submitted, it is recommended that you keep track of the request status. 

The College Board communicates accommodation decisions to schools through the SSD portal. The College Board will notify students and families via email when they have issued a decision.  Families and students may also access eligibility letters via the  College Board Accommodations and Supports Dashboard . If your student is approved for accommodations, the eligibility letter will include your student’s seven digit SSD number. If you haven't heard back within the expected timeframe, do not hesitate to follow up with the College Board or the Students with Disabilities (SSD) coordinator at your student’s school.

Be prepared for the possibility of a denial. If your student’s accommodation request is denied, you may need to submit additional information or documentation. Be sure you understand the reason(s) for the denial, and you may work with the SSD coordinator at your school to gather any additional information to support a resubmission. FCPS is not responsible for conducting additional testing the College Board may request in the denial letter. 

For the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, or AP exams, students should tell their school counselor, test coordinator, or SSD coordinator that they plan to test with accommodations, especially if they have made the request without going through the school. This should be done as soon as possible so there is time to make arrangements and order appropriate materials. If registering for the SAT online, the SSD number will need to be entered when you are prompted if using approved accommodations.

Approval remains in effect until one year after high school graduation (with some exceptions) and can be used on the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, and AP exams.

Additional information regarding College Board accommodations can be found on the  College Board Accommodations website .