Hello LHP Mom -
You should speak with guidance asap on this, if your guy is a 2012. The College Board (SAT) and the ACT both have very specific criteria and strict guidelines for this. One of the criteria is that the student had been getting special accommodations in high school for a specific period of time. If your son is not already getting extended time now in school it is very very unlikely that he will qualify for extended time for SATs this spring.
Regarding pyscho-ed evaluation testing (required by the college board to document a legit learning disability, such as ADHD or dyslexia or other specific LDs), I suggest you don't need to go outside the district and pay all that money, at least not right away, as testing can be done by the district staff. However, there needs to be a demonstration that your son is not accessing the curriculum, is not successful as a student right now before the wheels will be set into motion for testing and accommodations. If he is a B student, chances are they will say he IS accessing the curriculum just fine, and doesn't need accommodations, but it might be worthwhile having that conversation with guidance. You can request a meeting to begin the conversation.
It might be that he is just not a good test taker' or that he has test anxieties. Extended time is not really a solution for those kids.
He should also be sure he tries the ACT, which is sometimes a better test for kids.
Take a look at the growing list of colleges that do not require SATs. That list can be found at
www.fairtest.org
