Well I've been told by teachers and have read that the top of 10-15% of any class usually could be moved up to the next grade. Those aren't the gifted kids. The top 10-15% do just fine a grade up, working at a similar pace to before but just more demanding material. A gifted kid would need a faster pace (usually) more depth, and maybe 2+ skips. SO they are not distinguishing between those 2 scenarios.
I'm getting us OT again -- which seems to be my specialty
. I don't think that we (or at least I) are talking about taking kids whose innate ability is in the 85th-90th percentile into GT classes. We have kids whose ability is totally unknown and even kids who test at the 50th percentile on ability tests in GT classes here. Some of these kids are older for grade, some have done a lot of outside tutoring, and some got in based upon behavioral scales that indicate that they have a lot of collections and are really sensitive (which are apparently characteristics of giftedness). I would assume that kids who test in the 95th percentile on a grade level achievement test are at least above avg, but I'm not sure. Some kids who aren't unusually bright are reading above grade level by a grade or two when they are in early elementary school. Does this mean that all advanced readers are gifted? I wouldn't make that leap anymore than I'd make the leap that all gifted kids are advanced readers. Our school system, however, does make that leap and, once you're ided as a gifted reader (even if that took place when you were 8 y/o), you are tracked into the accelerated literacy classes unless your parents agree to opt you out.
