SATs are beneficial for special education students too

SATS and Pre-SATS aren’t just for general education students.

That’s the loud and resounding message from RCS’ special education department, which is encouraging special education students to consider taking the exams too.

The tests open the door for students to attend college and give students an opportunity to demonstrate college readiness skills, said RCS K-12 Committee on Special Education Supervisor Elaine Griessler.

In the past three years, RCS has sent 20 special education students on to two- or four-year colleges and two on to technical schools. Fourteen of those college students were members of the class of 2007, said Elaine Dykeman, who is chairperson of the Committee on Special Education and Committee.

“Students and their parents should always keep the door open to higher education and taking the SATs is instrumental for admission into most colleges and universities,” Dykeman said.

In some instances, special education students are eligible for modifications that address their disability. High School Guidance Counselor Pete Dwyer said typically those accommodations involve simply giving a student a longer time to complete the test.

The College Board – which administers the tests – (PSAT, SAT, and ACT) use their own guidelines for testing modifications and don’t always follow the special education department’s determination of a need for testing modifications, Dwyer said.

“It is highly important that parents obtain the application form from the guidance office and submit it to The College Board at least five months prior to the exam,” said Griessler.