Reasonable Accommodations in Certificate Examinations (RACE)
The scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (RACE) facilitates access to the certificate examinations by candidates who would have difficulty in accessing the examination or communicating what they know to an examiner because of a physical, visual, hearing and/or learning difficulty. The scheme assists candidates who have additional educational needs to demonstrate what they know and can do in certificate examinations, without compromising the integrity of the assessment. The focus of the scheme is on removing barriers to access, while retaining the need to assess the same underlying skills and competencies as are assessed for all other candidates, and to apply the same standards of achievement as apply to all other candidates.
The scheme provides accommodations for students with a variety of complex additional educational needs including learning difficulties as well as permanent or temporary physical, visual, hearing, medical, sensory, emotional, behavioural or other conditions.
Applications for reasonable accommodation in the state examinations will be processed by the AEN-Coordinator in consultation with staff /students/parents and NEPS Psychologists. School staff operate within State Exams Commission (SEC) and Department of Education and Skills (DES) eligibility criteria. Parents and students will be informed of the outcome of the application.
Applications that are provided at Junior Cycle can be reactivated at Leaving Certificate subject to confirmation by the school authority of an identified and continuing need. Further testing at Senior Cycle is not required.
Where resources permit and when deemed appropriate, readers, scribes, spelling and grammar waivers and other accommodations are available to students who qualify for such accommodations at mock exams and other in-house examinations.
Additional Educational Needs (AEN) (padlet.com)
Additional Educational Needs (AEN) (padlet.com)