2008–2009
REGISTERING TO TEST
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REGISTERING
FOR ALTERNATIVE TESTING ARRANGEMENTS
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Alternative testing arrangements
that are reasonable in the context of this licensing test
and supported by documentation may be provided for the
following examinees who would not be able to take the
test under standard conditions:
- Examinees with physical disabilities (e.g., visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor disabilities, illness, injury)
- Examinees with disabilities other than physical
(e.g., learning disabilities)
- Examinees whose religious practices do not allow
them to take tests on Saturdays
Procedure for Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements
In all cases, examinees requesting alternative testing arrangements must (a) complete a test registration and
submit correct payment, (b) mail or fax a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form, and (c)
mail or fax any required documentation. The Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form is available to download as a PDF document by selecting “
Print Bulletin
and Forms (PDF)” on the New Mexico Teacher Assessments
Web site. Write your name and telephone number on each piece of correspondence you provide.
All timely and complete alternative testing arrangements requests and accompanying documentation are
reviewed on a case-by-case basis upon receipt. In some cases, the submitted documentation may not be sufficient
to make a determination regarding the requested accommodation(s) or may not support the requested
accommodation(s). Additional information or test results may be needed.
You must submit an Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form each time you register. However, you only
need to submit all the required documents the
first time that you request alternative testing arrangements.
Evaluation Systems will keep your documentation on file for
one year. If you register for subsequent test dates within that
year, you only need to submit your completed registration, correct payment, and a completed Alternative Testing
Arrangements Request Form, as long as your condition and the recommended accommodations have not
changed. Please be aware that your request form and supporting documentation may be shared with the PED in order
to process your request. The documentation will be kept confidential to the extent required by law.
Some alternative testing arrangements may be accommodated at selected sites only. In some cases, you may be
contacted directly to discuss suitable testing arrangements. Before the test date, you will receive information
regarding your request. You should contact Evaluation Systems at the time you receive this information if you
have any questions or concerns about it.
Requests for additional time. The four-hour test session is designed to
allow sufficient time to complete any of the tests in
the New Mexico Teacher Assessments program. Examinees
may find the four hours of testing time to be more than
enough to complete their test, even if they have needed
extra time on other tests they have taken in the past.
If, however, you have a documented disability or if English is not your first language and you feel you need extra
time for testing, you may submit a request for alternative testing arrangements when you register for the New
Mexico Teacher Assessments. Also, you may wish to register for only one test per test date, which will allow
you to use the second test session for additional time to complete the test, providing your request for additional
time is approved. Registering for two tests on the same test date limits the additional testing time you can
be allowed because testing must be completed within one test administration day. Please note that all requests
for additional time require appropriate documentation and are subject to approval by the PED.
Deadline for requests. The deadline for submission of requests and all necessary documentation for alternative testing arrangements
is the regular registration deadline. Because of space, staff, and time constraints, there can be no assurance that
requests received after this deadline can be accommodated.
Some accommodations (e.g., Braille tests) have specialized production requirements associated with them,
and more time for production may be required than is available after the regular registration deadline. Although
every effort is made to process all requests in a timely manner, the earlier you submit your request, the more
time will be available for specialized production, if needed. Certain production requirements may necessitate
rolling over your registration to a future test administration.
Documentation Requirements and Review of Requests
The following alternative testing arrangements
may be requested because of a disability (e.g., visual
impairment, hearing impairment, motor disability, illness, injury) and
can be accommodated at all test sites:
- Wheelchair-accessible
facilities
- Frequent breaks (e.g.,
for those with hypoglycemia or diabetes)
- Use of a magnifying
glass, color overlays, or a straightedge (e.g., for
those with a visual impairment)
- Use of a pen for a written assignment (e.g., for
those with a motor impairment)
- Written copy of the
oral directions (e.g., for those with a hearing impairment)
To request any of the alternative testing arrangements listed above, you must
- complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
- submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form indicating the nature of and reason for the request.
If you wish to request arrangements other than those listed above, please review the instructions that follow.
Registering for alternative testing arrangements because of a physical disability. If you require arrangements
other than those listed above and the alternative testing arrangements are being requested due to a
physical disability (e.g., visual impairment), you must
- complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
- submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form identifying the disability and the specific arrangements requested; and
- submit a signed statement by a licensed professional, written on that person’s professional letterhead,
whose license or credentials are appropriate to diagnose the disability (e.g., ophthalmologist for visual
impairment). The statement must indicate the following:
- The disability for
which alternative testing arrangements are being
requested
- The recommended test administration modifications
that are specifically related to the disability
and are reasonable in the context of this licensing
test
Registering for alternative testing arrangements because of a disability other than physical. If you are
requesting alternative testing arrangements due to a disability other than physical (e.g., learning disability), you
must
- complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
- submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form identifying the disability and the specific arrangements requested; and
- submit a signed statement by a qualified professional, written on that person’s professional letterhead,
whose license or credentials are appropriate to describe or diagnose the disability. The statement must indicate the following:
- The disability for which alternative testing
arrangements are being requested, with supporting
documentation in the form of one of the following,
which must be included as part of the statement
or as separate documentation:
- A full educational history with complete
documentation of special education services,
including other disability-related testing
modifications, received within the past five
years, along with the name, date, and results
of the diagnostic test(s) or evaluation(s),
designed for purposes other than screening,
administered within the past five years, used
to document the disability (test results should
demonstrate a significant discrepancy in your
performance and your expected capability level,
and demonstrate the current functional impact
of your disability)
or
- Results of a psychological, neuropsychological,
or psychoeducational diagnostic test battery,
designed for purposes other than screening,
administered within the past five years,
interpreted by a qualified professional whose
license or credentials are appropriate to
diagnose the condition (test results should
demonstrate a significant discrepancy in your
performance and your expected capability level,
and demonstrate the current functional impact
of your disability)
or
- Results of an evaluation interpreted by
a licensed professional verifying physical
abnormalities as evidenced by a computerized
axial tomography (CAT) scan, magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), electroencephalogram (EEG),
or brain topography mapping test administered
within the past five years
and
- The recommended test administration modifications
that are specifically related to the disability
and are reasonable in the context of this licensing
test
Please note: If your test(s) or evaluation(s) were administered prior to the past five years, a full battery of testing
may not be required. Instead, you may wish to consult with a qualified professional to determine which
diagnostic test(s) related to your disability would indicate the current functional impact of your disability.
Documentation Checklist |
Before
submitting your Alternative Testing/Assessment
Arrangements Request Form and any required
documentation, use the checklist below and
the information in the sections above
to confirm that your documentation is complete.
You may wish to share this information with the qualified professional with whom you have consulted.
This checklist does not apply to candidates
registering for an alternative test date for
religious reasons (see "Registering
for an Alternative Test Date for Religious
Reasons" below).
Your documentation must meet all of the following requirements: |
 |
It must include
a signed statement by a qualified professional,
written on that person’s professional letterhead,
whose license or credentials are appropriate
to describe or diagnose the disability. |
|
It must include
a diagnosis of the disability or disabilities. |
|
Where documentation of test(s) or evaluation(s)
is required,
it must include the
name, date, and actual results of diagnostic
test(s) designed for purposes other than screening.
The diagnostic test(s) should
- be current, i.e., completed within the past five years;
- demonstrate a significant discrepancy in your performance and your expected capability level;
- demonstrate the current functional impact of your disability.
|
|
It must include recommended test
administration modifications that are specifically
related to the disability and that are reasonable
within the context of this licensing test. |
| Documentation,
in itself, does not automatically support
the granting of alternative testing/assessment
arrangements. |
|
Appeal of denial of request for alternative testing arrangements. Evaluation Systems will notify examinees of the
determination made with regard to their requests for alternative testing arrangements. You may appeal the
denial of some or all of your requests for alternative testing arrangements. Before you submit your appeal, it is
suggested that you review “Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements.” This section describes the documentation
requirements for different types of alternative testing arrangements requests. If after reviewing the
information in this section you still wish to proceed with an appeal of the decision, you may do so by submitting
your appeal, in writing, to:
Evaluation Systems
Pearson
New Mexico Teacher Assessments
P.O. Box 660
Amherst, MA 01004-9012
Telephone: (413) 256-2884 or (866) 613-3295
Fax: (413) 256-7075
The appeal should include the following information:
- Your name, address, and social security number
- The date of the appeal
- The date of the test administration upon which the appeal is based
- Any documentation, in addition to the documentation that you submitted with your Alternative Testing
Arrangements Request Form, that supports your alternative testing arrangements requests
- A brief summary of the reasons why your alternative testing arrangements requests should be granted
- Your signature
Your appeal should be submitted as soon as possible. Please be advised that an appeal that is received less than
30 days before the test date for which an examinee is registered may not be processed by that date.
After your appeal is reviewed, you will be notified as to whether your appeal has been granted or denied. All
appeal determinations are subject to the approval of the PED, and all appeal determinations are final.
Registering for an Alternative Test Date for Religious
Reasons
Alternative test dates may be arranged for people whose religious practices do not allow them to take tests on
Saturdays. These alternative test dates may be arranged only for religious reasons and will be scheduled for the
Sunday following the regular Saturday test date.
To request an alternative test date, you must
- complete your test registration and submit the correct payment; and
- submit a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form; and
- submit a signed letter from a member of the clergy, written on that person’s professional letterhead, stating
that your religious practices prohibit Saturday testing.
The deadline for submission of your Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form and supporting letter is
the regular registration deadline.
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