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School: IEP & 504

Testing accommodations: state tests, SAT and ACT

Students with an IEP or a 504 plan can get accommodations on state tests and college entrance exams. The golden rule: the accommodation should already be used in class.

Updated · 3 min read

State tests

California's CAASPP, Texas's STAAR and Florida's FAST all allow accommodations for eligible students. They are decided by the IEP or 504 team and written into the plan, following each state's testing rules. Ask at the annual review which ones will apply this year.

SAT, PSAT and ACT

  • The College Board (SAT, PSAT, AP) and ACT each have their own accommodation process, usually handled by the school counselor or test coordinator.
  • Students with an IEP or 504 plan that includes the accommodation, and who use it at school, are often approved through the school.
  • Apply well before the test date: approval can take several weeks.

What makes the difference

  • Accommodations used throughout the year, not just on test day.
  • Recent evaluations describing how the disability affects reading, writing or attention.
  • Starting the request early in the school year of the test.

The process in Lumina

How Lumina helps, step by step

  1. 1

    Note the request deadline

    Create an “Other” deadline (“SAT accommodation request”) as soon as the test is planned, with reminders 1 month and 1 week before.

  2. 2

    Show the accommodation is used

    A School note each time a test is taken with the accommodation: proof it's used all year.

  3. 3

    Attach the right documents

    A summary with the School and Psych topics, the IEP or 504 plan and the latest evaluation attached.

Everything you write stays encrypted on your device: neither Lumina nor anyone else can read it.

Frequently asked questions

Do accommodations carry over from year to year?+

For state tests, they follow the current IEP or 504 plan. For the SAT and ACT, approval generally lasts, but check the rules of each testing organization.

Can a student without an IEP or 504 plan get SAT accommodations?+

It's possible with documentation, but having a plan used at school makes approval much easier.

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This guide gives general information, not legal or medical advice. Rules and timelines vary by state and district and can change: check with your school district, your state agency or the official websites. Lumina is not a medical device.