I strongly feel he should be allowed to accelerate in math...but alas his school doesn't even acknowledge he is gifted in Math. The principal outright told me they are the EXPERTS and I should look for another school if I am not happy ! This a gifted private school he goes to and these are the educators who have made this a personal ego issue- how can we let the bright minds progress at this rate ?
Schools are typically not influenced by parental feelings but rather by research and evidence, well-presented.
Here is a brief roundup of information at links on the
Davidson Database, which may be of interest...
1- Advocacy - Working with your child's school
http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10558.aspx2- Choosing the right school for your gifted child
http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10511.aspx3- Basic educational options for gifted children
http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10270.aspx4- Guidebook - Advocating for Exceptionally Gifted Young People,
plus lists of other resources http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/browse_resources_165.aspx Other discussion threads have explored the possibility of a child taking the school's end-of-term test to
demonstrate mastery.
Does your child like school? Friends? Teachers? Curriculum placement and pacing?
If your child's school is resistant to positive, well-prepared, unemotional advocacy, is not open to discussing well-presented evidence, and does not seem like a good fit, you may wish to visit other schools, have your child shadow, and work toward choosing the learning environment with the best (or least-worst) "fit".
Regardless of the school your son attends, you may wish to read up on advocacy as those skills may be needed again.
Another thought: Many students enjoy math activities outside of school to satisfy their voracious math appetite.
