Changes to the PSAT/NMSQT Program

ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER: 43
POLICY CODE: IK

The Maine Department of Education will no longer require, or cover the costs for, PSAT/NMSQT testing for all public school 11^th graders, due to budget constraints across state government. The Department will continue to pay for (and require) PSAT/NMSQT testing for all 10^th graders for the October 12, 2011 administration of the PSAT/NMSQT, using federal grant funds available from the state’s longitudinal data system grant.

We encourage school administrative units (SAUs) to continue to provide 11^th grade students with the opportunity to participate in this testing. Please note that the College Board will continue to consider fee waiver requests for the PSAT/NMSQT. These waiver requests are due to the College Board by June 15.

Details from the College Board:

• SAUs committed to providing 11^th grade students with the opportunity  to participate in the October 12, 2011 PSAT/NMSQT administration must be aware that the SAU, school, or individual student will be required to pay the $14/student test fee. PSAT/NMSQT Coordinators may request fee waivers for juniors who qualify.
• Deadline for requesting fee waivers for 11^th grade students is June 15^th; fee waivers are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and may not be available after this date.
• Qualifications requirements as well as the process to request fee waivers is available at http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/waivers/guidelines/psat

• Unused test fees are waived for all Maine public schools; the more inclusive the 11^th grade cohort, the more comprehensive the SAU (and school) data reports:
• Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS): an online report that helps improve teaching and learning by providing information about student performance on individual skills
• AP Potential™: a web-based tool that allows educators to generate rosters of students likely to succeed in AP courses

• MPO accommodations will no longer be available to 11^th grade students.
• Students with disabilities who meet the College Board’s eligibility criteria and submit the accommodations requests on time will be approved for their needed accommodations.
• Accommodations requests must be submitted by August 24, 2011 for students whose documentation must be reviewed by the College Board, and by September 7, 2011 for those students whose documentation does not need College Board review.
• More information about the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) eligibility process for all College Board programs, including when documentation is required, can be found at: http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd

• Ongoing participation in the 2011 PSAT/NMSQT will allow your 11th grade students to continue to receive:
• Valuable skills feedback: The feedback students receive helps identify skill gaps and provides suggestions for improving prior to the spring 2012 MHSA/SAT administration.
• Information from colleges: Students can opt in for the Student Search Service to start receiving free admissions and financial aid information from colleges interested in them.
• College and career planning tools: Students will have continued free access to My College QuickStart™, a personalized online college- and career-planning kit.

Should you have any questions regarding strategies for continuing an inclusive PSAT/NMSQT administration for 11^th graders, please contact Mary Ellen Auriemma of the College Board’s New England regional office at mauriemma@collegeboard.org.

For questions of the Maine Department of Education, contact Dan Hupp, director of standards and assessment, at Dan.Hupp@Maine.gov or 207-624- 6827.