... accelerated into middle school, skipping the transitional 4th grade (something the use of the IAS would have prevented, I think).
What informed your view, in making this assertion? In other words, do you have a source which led you to this conclusion?
The Iowa Acceleration Scale (IAS) has been discussed frequently on the forums and elsewhere. Here are just a few links which may be of interest to anyone considering partial, full, or radical acceleration:
1) roundup on
Iowa Acceleration Scale (IAS) (link to IAS description on Hoagies' Gifted Education Page)2) IAS -
Acceleration Institute3) IAS -
Gifted Unlimited, LLC, formerly Great Potential Press (GPP)
4) post discussing
tests for Ability, Aptitude, Achievement5) post discussing
aeh test insights6) post discussing
single subject acceleration (SSA), IQ cutoff7) post discussing
whether IAS forms are needed8) post discussing
older sibling in receiving grade9) link to
overview and high-level description of IAS10)
obtaining a copy of the IAS (library, purchase new, purchase used)