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Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements

According to Rule 6A-4.0021(6)(a)(b), FAC, a person with a disability means any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 35,104(1)(2)(3)(4). Examinees requesting alternative testing arrangements must be certified by a licensed psychologist or physician as having a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Any documentation presented must describe the examinee's disability.

Alternative testing arrangements, such as extra time, may be made for examinees who have visual impairments, hearing impairments, physical disabilities, or specific learning disabilities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided where possible.

Some alternative testing arrangements may be accommodated at selected sites only. You will be notified about test site availability when you are contacted to schedule an appointment.

If your test(s) or evaluation(s) were administered prior to the past 3 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.

How do I make a request?

1. Indicate that you intend to request alternative testing arrangements during registration. If you do not indicate that you plan to request alternative testing arrangements at this point in the registration process, you will not be able to proceed with scheduling an appointment with alternative testing arrangements, which could result in a delay of your desired testing date.
2. Submit an Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form, stating the specific alternative testing arrangements you are requesting. (You must submit a new form every time you register to test.)
3. Submit all required documentation, on official letterhead stationery (including physician name, address, and telephone number), from a medical doctor or licensed psychologist (including license number). The documentation must
   • describe and attest to your specific disability and how it substantially limits one or more major life activities.
   • contain an interpretation and summary of test data used to document the disability, dated within the past 3 years.
   • be dated within the past 3 years when first presented. FTCE/FELE Customer Service keeps your documentation on file for 3 years after it is received.
   • contain recommendations for alternative testing arrangements specifically related to the disability.
4. Complete the registration process. When your request has been received and processed, you will be notified about the next steps for scheduling your appointment with any approved accommodations.

When should I submit my request?

Plan to register and submit the Alternative Testing Arrangements Form along with any required documentation as early as possible. You should allow sufficient time for the review and processing of your request. You cannot schedule your test appointment until your request has been resolved.

A general timeframe for each step in the process is provided below:

• You will be notified about a decision approximately 1 week after receipt of your complete request.
• Two to five days later, you will be contacted to schedule your appointment.
• You will select an appointment approximately 1–3 weeks from the date you schedule and pay for your appointment. Some accommodations have specialized production requirements and therefore may require more time to implement. 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 to make arrangements for necessary staff, space, and specialized materials, if necessary.

Note: Your request form and supporting documentation may be shared with the DOE in order to process your request.

How do I appeal a denied request?

You may appeal the denial of some or all of your requests for alternative testing arrangements. Before you submit your appeal, please review "How do I make a request?" above for required documentation. If after reviewing the information in this section you still wish to appeal the decision, you may do so by submitting your appeal, in writing, to:

Alternative Testing Arrangements
FTCE/FELE Customer Service
Evaluation Systems
Pearson
P.O. Box 660
Amherst, MA 01004-9018

Telephone: (866) 613-3281 (toll free) or (413) 256-2893
Fax: (413) 256-7075

The appeal should include the following information:

• Your name and address
• The date of the appeal
• 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 within 30 days after you receive notification of the denial of your requested accommodation(s). Appeals must be resolved before an appointment can be scheduled. 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 Florida Department of Education, and all appeal determinations are final.

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