Does having private testing help break a really recalcitrant school into action?
Jenny
I don't think that the numbers make much difference to a recalcitrant school, but sometimes the tester themselves can make a big difference.
If gifted starts in 4th grade, your friend's son happen to be in 3rd?
What about homeschooling while he waits for 4th grade?
Is the gifted program full time or a 90 minute/week pull out?
'above average' and even 'well above average' don't nescessarily equal 'needs individualized curricula' - except in the very idealist sence that maybe every child needs individualized curricula. The only way to know if a score means he needs more is to compare how many other kids in his grade (and the grade above and the one above that)have done. It may be that he is in the top 10% and a little bit of cluster grouping would solve his social-emotional problems. That's the benifit of testing by someone outside the system.
BTW - if there is a gifted program in 4th grade, that means that there is some kind of system in place to decide who get into it, and that means that there are testers within the school system who do these tests (unless they do group tests, also a possiblity) without direct cost to the parent.
Play the 'misery' card. Emails are the easiest to over look. Phone calls might be good unless the staff blocks for the principle. Let the tears flow! Better a crying parent than a crying child.
Love and More Love,
Grinity
