Should my teachers reveal that I had extra time on tests (for ADD) in their comments?

[bushka5]

<p>I go to a top-notch private prep boarding school. I also have ADD (diagnosed 5 years ago). Extra time really helps me -- if I know everything on the test, inside and out, but have to complete the test in the normal amount of time, it's very unlikely that I will get an A (which would reflect my knowledge of the material). If, say, I get a half hour or an hour extra, (50-100%), then I can complete the test (and receive a grade which fairly reflects my knowledge of the material). </p>

<p>For example: On one math test, which I felt prepared for, I got a 38% (out of 100). Then I prepared for the next test, requested extra time (maybe 30 min extra), and I got a 98 (our tests are notoriously tough, and anything above a 90 is an incredible accomplishment. 60 points in 30 minutes <-- obviously, I need the extra time.. I was equally prepared for both tests.</p>

<p>I started getting extra time a little after mid-terms (hadn't thought of it before then). It was rather unofficial and undocumented (I went to the teachers to ask for extra time, not through the school psychiatrist or someone). In my last class of the day (physics), the teacher would leave when the period ended and just let me stay in the classroom and finish the test (and leave it on his desk and shut the lights off when I was ready to leave) when I was ready. He didn't know I actually had ADD until the last test -- he was just giving me extra time to complete the test.</p>

<p>In French, my teacher let me make up a test I missed at night (at her apt), and I ended up spending 2 hours on it.. got a 92 (accurately reflected my understanding).</p>

<p>In math, I did tell the teacher I had ADD (was talking with her about why I see things differently than others, and why I learn differently and I mentioned that I was diagnosed, and we talked about how this explains in part why i do things differently).</p>

<p>In English and art, it was irrelevent because there were no in-class tests, just papers and projects. (Which, actually, I ended up taking longer to complete than others because I take both subjects very seriously and don't want to turn in something which is not a challenge or the absolute best it could be... I put a LOTTTT of thought into these... I admit to being an overthinker when it comes these.. but it's because I'm passionate about them.)</p>

<p>Anyway, I got my grades back the other day, which always include a few paragraphs from each teacher of commentary on you as a student. </p>

<p>Here's the problem: in those comments, they talked about my taking a long time to complete tests.</p>

<p>My French teacher, from whom I received extra time from twice (when making up tests), said "it should be noted here that bushka5 was allotted extra time on all of her tests, sometimes up to a full extra period". I don't believe she made this mistake on purpose, but it is not true, and because I'm supposed to get extra time for my ADD, isn't that confidential??? It's not like I'm a dumb student who needs 2 hours to take a test to guess answers.... and this is what it will seem like to someone (ie COLLEGE ADMISSIONS) who reads it. should it be "noted"?? is that fair?</p>

<p>my physics teacher wrote "i worry about her need for what seems to be near limitless time on tests" and "she spent 3.5 hours on the final exam -- an unusually large amount of time for one test"..... 1) for the vast majority of that time, i was sitting in his room, waiting for him to come back so he could clarify a few questions.. when he didn't show for a while, i started to write out long explanations (maybe 5 full pages of writing -- I'm very tenacious, and want my grade to accurately reflect my ability, whatever that may be.... and i KNEW this stuff inside and out, but sometimes his phrasing is incredibly ambiguous) for the problems for each possible explanation he could give. ie, if he said X is what he meant, then here is my answer and explanation, if Y is what he meant, then here is my alternate answer and explanation.. etc. this is why it took me 3.5 hours (the final exam was a 1.5 hour test). i was complete with most of the test in under an hour, but his phrasing on a few (5 maybe) was very ambiguous, so i waited so i could clarify.</p>

<p>my english and art teachers talked about how my projects were late (and art teacher said i was too much of a perfectionist and english said i was disorganized), but they both noted that i was one of the most "brilliant" students they've ever come across in their 60+ years of teaching at this top school... but they didn't give me a's due to me being late and disorganized.</p>

<p>^these 2, i suppose, were rather fair, but the reason i take so long is because i'm incredibly thorough, and it takes me a while to be thorough with ADD.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that I am officially diagnosed with ADD.... and that when you take, say, the SAT's with extended time, it's not mentioned in your score report.</p>

[rodia]

<p>No!! I can't believe they would do that - I'm especially bothered by your French teacher's remarks. "It should be noted"? Um, why? You are SUPPOSED to receive extended time - it's not your fault and they're being discriminating by bringing it up in official comments as if you were abusing the system or something. That is so sickening. I've had similar issues in the past. I use extended time on every single math quiz, test, and exam that I have because I have a freaking DISABILITY. I'm not getting an advantage. Every other student in my class is able to finish on time and get the proper grade to show their mastery of the material - but I'm only half-way done with the assignment at that point (I'm also the only one with an LD). If I don't have extended time, I don't pass. Only with extended time am I able to receive grades that are equal to my peers. My school now is very accommodating because they have a lot of experience with LD issues, but my old school was not. It was never mentioned on any transcript, comment, recommendation, etc. from any teacher at my current school.</p>

<p>(What boarding school do you go to? Actually, you don't have to answer that, but you should check the school's policy on disability accommodations. When I was looking around at boarding schools, the first one that I looked at had no experience with LD/ADHD issues at all and was completely unequipped to accommodate me. The boarding school that I ended up attending really understands LD issues and the teachers/admin are not out to get me, like at my old school. haha.)</p>

<p>But it is completely inappropriate for your teachers to mention the fact that you receive extended time in their comments, as if it were a problem or as if you did something wrong. You have a documented disability and they are required to provide you with certain accommodations, since you have a DEMONSTRATED NEED. I would take to your teachers and school to straighten it out, because they are doing a disservice to you.</p>

[AnonyMom]

<p>I am so sorry you are having to go through this. It is very challenging to be a high performing student at a prep school without an LD -- the fact that you are willing to put in the extra time and effort it takes to do as well as you've been doing is a real credit to your character, determination, and intelligence.</p>

<p>Assuming your school is an accredited independent school in the U.S., the situation you are describing suggests that your school may not be following LD friendly policies that many top prep schools have adopted. I am concerned that this is very stressful for you, and also that at any moment you may be denied the opportunity to use the accommodations you need in order to function at the level of your intellect and mastery of the material.</p>

<p>Is there an administrator at your school who is the coordinator for students with LD's? In general, that person should have a copy of the test report from when you were diagnosed with ADD five years ago, and the school should have a written plan for you that outlines your accommodations. The LD coordinator (or whatever your school calls that person) should be communicating your accommodations to your teachers so they are aware that a certain amount of extra time is what you are supposed to be receivng. And no, it is absolutely not OK for your teachers to be mentioning your accommodations in their narrative reports of your progress; it would be good if the teacher reports could be redone with the improper materials deleted.</p>

<p>You mention taking SAT's with extended time. Have you already been granted this accommodation from the College Board? If not, your school absolutely, positively has to write out their plan for accommodating you and needs to document that they have been giving you extra time. Then, when you apply to take the PSAT, the person your school designates as the LD coordinator/liason between the school and the College Board will fill out a special application for you so that you can be considered for PSAT/SAT/AP accommodations. Your school needs to send in this application way before the stated deadline to apply for PSAT/SAT/AP accommodations, so that if the College Board turns you down, you will have time to appeal their decision. Also, there is a different deadline for students applying for 50% extended time and students applying for 100% extended time -- make sure your school's College Board LD liason is aware of this and has the correct applications available. If the school does not follow through on all of this, I'm concerned that you may not receive the accommodations you need on standardized tests.</p>

<p>Where are your parents? Even if you are in boarding school far away, it seems very important that they contact your head of school by telephone or email and find out:</p>

<p>1.) Who is the school's go to person for students with LD's in terms of a) their written plan for accommodations and b) their application to receive accommodations on the SAT and ACT's?</p>

<p>2.) Do you have our daughter's testing report and diagnosis and a written plan for accommodation based on that testing report on file? </p>

<p>3.) What is our daughter's written accommodation plan? Who is in charge of making sure that it is implemented? Has our daughter's LD and her accommodation plan been explained to all of her teachers? Could you please provide us with a copy of the plan? (This plan can't be some vague thing that says you can work out with your teachers that you get some unspecified amount of extra time when you need it. That is just too hard on you to have to negotiate with every teacher every time you have a quiz. The school is supposed to have a specific statement about how much time you get, and that needs to be communicated to every teacher by the school!)</p>

<p>4.) What is the school's policy with respect to revealing students' LD's in ways that could become a record with respect to colleges, schools to which the student might transfer, etc.? Do your teachers routinely reveal LD's and accommodations in report cards and letters of recommendations? </p>

<p>5.) Does the school regularly apply for accommodations for LD students on PSAT/SAT/AP exams and for the ACT? Who is the school's LD liason with the College Board and ACT? Does the school administer these exams with accommodations on site, including exams given with 100% extended time over two days? What is the school's success rate in having accommodations for which it applies granted? </p>

<p>If your parents are not close enough to be able to be advocates for you, it might make sense for them to find you a psychologist who does psycho-educational testing and is very knowledgable about LD accommodation (including the relevant laws) to work with you and your school so that your situation can be resolved in a way that meets your needs.</p>

[Mishiru]

<p>No, it is confidential. Do not let that be sent.</p>

[himroydan]

<p>Well here in Alabama it is illegal for teachers to do that or at least thats what the vocational rehab councilors told me. Its under the disability act here in Alabama. I am 29 years old and go to a community college right now and so far I havent had any problems with teachers being such asses like that.</p>