ACT is committed to better support schools needing to request accommodations and English Learner (EL) supports for their students to meet their evolving needs. Effective for Spring 2026 testing, schools will now be able to take advantage of ACT’s new Rolling Deadline Policy.
This policy change is designed to provide greater flexibility for school officials so that they may plan more effectively through multiple submission windows based on each published test event. In addition to providing flexibility, this change will reduce deadline limitations, minimize academic pressure, and empower schools to respond more effectively to individual student needs.
What's Changing?
- One established accommodation deadline for each published test event
- For each published test event date, there is one accommodation request deadline
- Brings request deadlines closer to each test event
- Initial and reconsideration requests are included within the deadline
- Simplifying accommodation request deadlines by removing multiple, redundant deadlines to reduce deadline limitations
- Each State and District published test event date is visible to select from in TAA
- E.g., [State/District] Spring 2026 Test Event 1 – [Date]
- To select students assigned test event to their request
- Providing options to move or submit requests for future published test event deadlines
- Schools or students enrolled after a published test event deadline
- Student grade level changed after test event deadline
- Student identified as an English Learner for the first time after test event deadline
- Student diagnosed with new disability and placed on a plan after test event deadline
- Changes made to an IEP or 504 plan after a published test event deadline
- Missed desired test event deadline to submit initial or reconsideration requests
- One established Qualified Exception to the Deadline (QED) window available
- For certain qualifying events that occur after all request deadlines have passed
- Available after the final published accommodation deadline
- Window remains open until the Friday prior to the start of the final published accommodations window
- E.g., [State/District] Spring 2026 Test Event 1 – [Date]
What's Staying the Same?
- Submitting requests in the TAA database
- All requests are still required to be submitted by the published deadline for the intended test event
- Universal and Designated Supports are not submitted in TAA for ACT authorization
- Only accommodations and/or EL supports indicated in the Accessibility Supports Guide require submission in TAA
- QED window still provided
- Students must qualify for the QED window based on the requirements indicated on the QED form found within the Schedule of Events
Why the Change?
ACT is committed to equity and providing better support for our customers.
ACT wants to:
- remove barriers
- reduce administrative burdens on schools
- enable schools to respond effectively to individual student needs
- expand access to students needing accommodations and EL supports
- meet diverse and evolving needs of students
