For Students with an IEP – BEC Manhattan

Important Announcement (March 2026)

The Bard High School Early College campuses of NYC (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens) are looking for more current 8th grade students in the “SWD Applicant” or “DIA SWD Applicant” MySchools priority groups interested in sitting for our assessment.

Please note: students must be eligible to enter Fall 2026 as 9th graders. They should NOT have taken our assessment in the Fall of 2025.

As a reminder, our assessment is an in-person, written exam that includes the following:

a math test (skills through the end of 7th grade)
a humanities test (read and writing)
a brief interview with a BHSEC staff member

Once students sit for an assessment and add themselves to BHSEC MySchools waitlists, we will upload their scores and be able to consider offering them a waitlist seat. Each BHSEC campus must be listed as a separate school.

All interested applicants should fill out the following form (due March 27th, 2026 at 5 p.m. EST). If you are eligible for admission, we will contact you in late-March or early-April to schedule an assessment.

Spring SWD Assessment Interest Form: https://form.jotform.com/260645765024155

Thank you so much!

Information Sessions

For parents and students with an IEP or who receive special education services for 20% or more of the school day. Students with 504’s or English Language Learners should attend a General Open House.

These sessions will cover how we support students with IEPs. You will hear from our Assistant Principal for Special Education, have a chance to ask questions, and can tour the building. We will try to comprehensively cover our general programming in these events as well, but you are more than welcome to register for an Open House or General Information Session in addition. If you have questions about special education at BHSEC please email, [email protected].

Students Eligible for Special Testing Accommodations

Students with disabilities who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), 504 Plans, or who have qualified for SHSAT testing accommodations are eligible for supports and accommodations on our assessment.

SWD Testing Date BHSEC Manhattan

October 18th, 10 a.m. – FULL
November 21st, 1 p.m. – FULL
November 23rd, 10 a.m.

Please note: there remain many options for testing with accommodations at our other campuses. If there is no date/time for SWD testing at the Manhattan location that works for you, or if the dates are full, please register to test at another campus. All four NYC BHSECs share scores and as long as you list us on MySchools, you will still be considered at the Manhattan location should you need to test elsewhere.

Assessment Registration

Register to assess here.
Indicate on the form that your student is considered a student with a disability (SWD) and that they require special testing accommodations.
Select the type of testing accommodations your student qualifies for or write-in an answer using the “Other” box.
Send proper documentation (IEP Plan, 504 Plan, SHSAT ticket) to [email protected] by Oct. 19th or as soon as the SHSAT test tickets are released.

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.

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