Students with Disabilities and Students eligible for testing accommodations

Admission Seats for Students with Disabilities

• As per DOE policy, students who are considered a student with a disability are ranked parallel to students in the general population.  An applicant who receives special education instructional programming for more than 20% of their academic program as indicated on their current IEP, is considered a student with disability.
• Related services, such as speech, occupational therapy (OT), and physical therapy (PT), are not considered special education instructional programming for the purposes of high school admissions.
• Please note that students with 504 accommodation plans are not entitled to seats for students with disabilities if they do not have an IEP that states the student also receives instructional programming for more than 20% of their academic program.

Students Eligible for Testing Accommodations

Students with a current IEP or 504 Plan

To receive testing accommodations, a student’s IEP or 504 Plan team must include the testing accommodations a student requires on the student’s IEP or 504 Plan. The IEP or 504 Plan must be current.

If a student’s IEP or 504 Plan includes the use of assistive technology (such as an FM system) or other approved supports (such as masks, markers, highlighters, pencil grips, slant boards, magnifying glasses, or similar aids), the student should bring these items with them on the day of testing if they are needed. Testing sites may not be able to provide these materials.

If a student’s IEP or 504 Plan includes a scribe or other testing support, families should work with their school’s counselor and IEP or 504 team to determine whether the accommodation is needed for the admissions assessment and to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made at least a week in advance of the scheduled testing date.

Bard High School Early College is committed to providing eligible students with reasonable accommodations to ensure equitable access to the admissions process.

English Language Learners (ELLs)

English Language Learners (ELLs) and eligible former ELLs may receive extended testing time, translated directions and a bilingual glossary as part of their approved testing accommodations. To receive ELL accommodations, a student’s current school counselor must provide written confirmation at least a week in advance verifying the student’s ELL status and eligibility for accommodations.

For additional information about testing accommodations, visit the Department of Education’s website.

Testing Accommodations Assessment Dates (tentative dates, subject to change)

Please EMAIL supporting documentation (IEP, 504 Plan, SHSAT Ticket with testing accommodations) one week prior to the assessment date. Register HERE (please check back in late summer).

• Fall 2026 assessment dates will be posted in LATE summer

A student who requires only extended time accommodations and can test alongside 15 other students may register for the dates provided below, as well as those specifically listed under Testing Accommodations Assessment Dates.

• Dates will be posted in late summer

Click HERE for the Department of Education’s Screened School Page.