Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements
MTEL-Flex candidates may submit a request for alternative arrangements due to a diagnosed disability.
Requesting Alternative Arrangements due to a Diagnosed Disability
Alternative arrangements that are reasonable in the context of MTEL-Flex and supported by documentation may be provided for candidates who would not be able to complete MTEL-Flex under standard conditions, including examinees with diagnosed disabilities.
All MTEL-Flex candidates are required to attest to the originality of their material at the time of submission, including confirming sole authorship of written or oral responses, and appropriate citation of sources. However, this is not intended to preclude candidates from using assistive technology or other supports to physically produce the materials they author. Therefore, it is acceptable for a candidate to use screen reading software and/or a scribe to complete required MTEL-Flex documents. Notification of such arrangements in advance is not required because they do not impact the submission and scoring process (provided the candidate is able to attest to the originality of his or her submission).
If you wish to request alternative arrangements for MTEL-Flex, contact Customer Support to discuss your request. Please be aware that because of the nature of MTEL-Flex, alternative arrangements that might be provided for other standardized licensure or certification tests may not be appropriate for MTEL-Flex (e.g., extra time). After you have discussed your request, you will be instructed to submit a letter detailing your specific requests for alternative arrangements and supporting documentation (see Required Documentation) to Pearson for review.
All timely and complete alternative arrangements requests and accompanying documentation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis upon receipt.
Some alternative arrangements have specialized production requirements associated with them. 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 for specialized production, if needed.
You must submit directly to Pearson appropriate documentation for review in support of a request for alternative arrangements. All documentation must meet all of the following requirements:
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It must include a signed statement by a qualified professional, written on that person's professional letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate to describe or diagnose the disability.
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It must include a diagnosis of the disability or disabilities.
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It must include recommended alternative arrangements that are specifically related to the disability and that are reasonable within the context of this assessment, or verification that the examinee has received the requested alternative arrangement(s) at the high school or college/university level.
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It must be current, according the Documentation Currency Policy.
Additionally, if you are requesting alternative arrangements because of a learning or cognitive disability, your documentation must include:
- A full educational history with complete documentation of special education services, including other disability-related testing modifications, received within the past five years, along with the name, date, and results of the diagnostic test(s) or evaluation(s), designed for purposes other than screening, administered within the past five years*, used to document the disability (test results should demonstrate the current functional impact of your disability)
OR
- Results of a psychological, neuropsychological, or psychoeducational diagnostic test battery, designed for purposes other than screening, administered within the past five years*, interpreted by a qualified professional whose license or credentials are appropriate to diagnose the condition (test results should demonstrate the current functional impact of your disability)
OR
- Results of an evaluation interpreted by a licensed professional verifying physical abnormalities as evidenced by a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalogram (EEG), or brain topography mapping test administered within the past five years*
Documentation, in itself, does not automatically support the granting of alternative testing arrangements.
*See the Documentation Currency Policy below for exceptions.
Documentation Currency Policy
Documentation must be considered current in order for it to be reviewed in support of a request for alternative arrangements. If you submit documentation that is older than five years, it should:
- provide confirmation of a permanent physical condition
OR
- (for documentation associated with learning or cognitive disabilities) include test or evaluation results from an instrument designed to be administered to adults, that is normed for adults AND conducted no earlier than at the high school level.
While it is recommended that documentation be dated within five years, all requests and related documentation will be reviewed on an individual basis.
Evaluation Systems will notify examinees of the determination made with regard to their requests for alternative arrangements. You may appeal the denial of some or all of your requests for alternative arrangements. Before you submit your appeal, it is suggested that you review the information on this website about alternative arrangements, including the documentation requirements for different types of alternative arrangements requests.
If after reviewing this information you still wish to proceed with an appeal of the decision, you may do so by submitting your appeal, in writing, to Pearson. 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 original request, that supports your alternative arrangements requests
- A brief summary of the reasons why your alternative arrangements requests should be granted
- Your signature
- Your appeal should be submitted as soon as possible. After your appeal is reviewed, you will be notified as to whether your appeal has been granted or denied. All appeal determinations are final.
Nursing mothers who need to make arrangements for bringing specialized equipment or storage materials should follow the Alternative Testing Arrangements process outlined below to ensure prior approval and the ability of a test center to meet your specific needs. Please note the following:
- Children will not be allowed in the testing center or into the secure testing room.
- You will not be able to leave the test center once testing has begun.
- Time taken for breaks is considered part of your available testing time.
Nursing mothers who need to make arrangements for using specialized equipment or storage materials should follow the Alternative Testing Arrangements process outlined below to ensure prior approval.
Please note that children will not be allowed in the testing room.
Nursing mothers who need to make arrangements for bringing specialized equipment or storage materials should follow the Alternative Testing Arrangements process outlined below to ensure prior approval and the ability of a test center to meet your specific needs. Please note the following:
- Children will not be allowed in the testing center or into the secure testing room.
- You will not be able to leave the test center once testing has begun.
- Time taken for breaks is considered part of your available testing time.
Nursing mothers who need to make arrangements for using specialized equipment or storage materials should follow the Alternative Testing Arrangements process outlined below to ensure prior approval.
Please note that children will not be allowed in the testing room.
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