BY SASHEEN JOSEPH
In the wake of the great college admissions scandal, the integrity of standardized testing was questioned by practically every student and parent in America.
The majority were also left in shock at the lengths the accused had gone in order to ensure that their children succeed instead of simply hiring a tutor. However, the idea of parents pursuing a roundabout way in order to get an easy way in for their child is unfortunately pretty common.
Usually, at the elementary school age, students that show potential are pulled to take the gifted certification test. The word “gifted” means students who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intelligence, creativity or leadership.
This is usually done through the school guidance counselor, which is free of charge. But some parents pay an average of 500 to 600 dollars in order to have their child tested with a private psychologist. Although they’re not guaranteed a gifted certification, parents will go through this private route to give their child a better chance.
Along with gifted certifications, many parents also apply for their child to get time accommodations on standardized testing. Some even going as far as to go and have their child diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Flocking to or even paying a medical professional in hopes of having a child be diagnosed with a disorder just so that they can have 30 more minutes to finish the math section of the SAT test is a terrible method of parenting.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “in 2018, some 25 percent of students at elite American universities are now classified as disabled, largely because of mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.”
Students and parents have been taking advantage of the extra time practice since at least 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, which created a framework for more flexibility.
Flocking to or even paying a medical professional in hopes of having a child be diagnosed with a disorder just so that they can have 30 more minutes to finish the math section of the SAT test is a terrible method of parenting.
Not to mention that the amount of money these parents spend may not even guarantee their child being granted these accommodations, and frankly is a waste of money.
When applying for accommodations, CCHS ESE specialist Kelle Carlisle will submit the student’s case to College Board and they have the power to approve or deny the student. Additionally, there is an extensive process that precedes this College Board approval.
“So when I go into the classroom and I see the child on the phone, they’re not getting accommodations because they’re not plugged into learning and they’re not requiring some kind of accommodation on a daily basis.”
CCHS psychologist Stephanie Fox
Before the application, the case undergoes the response to intervention (RTI) process. This involves a team, along with a teacher if needed, that will review and evaluate the student to see if an accommodation is even needed. This means that if the student’s physical or medical ailment is constantly inconveniencing their attempts to be successful in a classroom setting, they will be granted the necessary privileges of extra time and other special accommodations that could benefit them.
“When parents bring [an accommodation request] in, we often send out rating scales, or I go do an observation to see if there is some kind of an impact,” CCHS psychologist Stephanie Fox said. “So when I go into the classroom and I see the child on the phone, they’re not getting accommodations because they’re not plugged into learning and they’re not requiring some kind of accommodation on a daily basis.”
Having a parent finesse more time for their child is a large feat in itself and it may not even pay off. Even if the accommodation is given to their child, it can be removed at any point in time, no matter the case, at the team’s discretion.
In the college admissions scandal, qualified students were denied admission to the involved colleges. These students were victims without even knowing and this all resulted from certain parents abusing programs for their own intentions. A truly selfish act.
Photo courtesy of CNN
