Registering for 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.
If you need alternative testing arrangements for a disability, please complete the following steps:
- Begin the registration process by selecting “Register Now” and following the instructions provided. You must indicate when asked that you will be requesting special accommodations. If you do not indicate that you plan to request accommodations at this point in the registration process, you will not be able to proceed with scheduling an appointment with accommodations, which could result in a delay of your desired testing date.
- Submit an Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form (see "Print Documents and Forms"), stating the specific accommodations you are requesting. You must submit a new form every time you register to test.
- 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 meet the following criteria:
- It describes and attests to your specific disability and that your disability substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- It contains an interpretation and summary of test data used to document the disability, dated within the past 3 years.
- It is dated within the past 3 years when first presented. It will be kept on file and is valid for use by FTCE/FELE Customer Service for 3 years after it is received.
- It contains recommendations for alternative testing arrangements that are specifically related to the disability.
- Complete the registration process. When your request has been received and processed, you will be contacted by FTCE/FELE Customer Service. This notification will contain information about the next steps for scheduling your appointment with any approved accommodations.
Please note: 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.
Timeline for the alternative testing arrangements process
You should plan on beginning the registration process and submitting the form and any required documentation as early as possible in order to allow sufficient time for the review and processing of your request. Until your request has been resolved, you will not be able to schedule your test appointment. General guidelines for the time required for each step in the process are provided below; please plan accordingly.
- You will be notified regarding the resolution of your request approximately 1 week after receipt of your complete request.
- You will be contacted to schedule your appointment approximately 2–5 days after your resolution is sent to you.
- You will be able to select an appointment date approximately 1–3 weeks out from the date that you schedule and pay for your appointment. Some accommodations may require contacting the test site 2–3 weeks before your desired testing date to make arrangements for necessary staff, space, and materials.
Please be aware that your request form and supporting documentation may be shared with the DOE in order to process your request.
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, please review “Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements” above for documentation required for alternative testing arrangement 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:
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
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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