PreACT 9 Accommodations: IEPs, 504 Plans, and CPS Testing Supports

Students with disabilities may be eligible for testing accommodations on the CPS HSAT, but families should verify that the correct information and documentation are in place before the testing session.

What CPS currently says

CPS directs students with IEPs or 504 Plans requiring testing accommodations to confirm those accommodations before the session. CPS also states that an IEP must be current within one year of the testing date for accommodations to be provided.

Do not assume the process is automatic

A student may routinely receive extended time, small-group testing, breaks, or another support at school, but the family should still check the GoCPS application and official testing communication. Private-school families may need to submit documentation through a different workflow than CPS families.

Practice with the approved timing

Once an accommodation is confirmed, practice should reflect it. A student with extended time needs a pacing plan for the extended schedule—not simply the standard-time plan stretched longer. Extra time can create fatigue when it is not used intentionally.

Preserve access, not advantage

Accommodations are designed to give the student access to the test construct. Preparation should help the student use approved supports confidently and independently.

Ask the testing team

CPS lists its testing team contact on the official HSAT page. Families should direct case-specific eligibility and documentation questions to CPS rather than relying on another family’s experience.

PreACT, ACT, CPS, GoCPS, HSPT, and the Archdiocese of Chicago are referenced for informational purposes. Elevate Academic Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACT, Chicago Public Schools, Scholastic Testing Service, or the Archdiocese of Chicago.