It all depends on what your concerns are and what information you feel you need to know about your child. If an IQ test is all you need to get her into the program you want, just start with that. You can always do the other evals later.
We started with an IQ test and eval of fine/gross motor skills for my DS6 over the summer because of difficulties he was having at school. We didn't do a full-eval by the neuro-psych at the time because we were trying to minimize cost and felt it wasn't necessary. We learned a great deal about my son, and we felt like at the time it was all we needed. Six months later we saw that he wasn't getting what he needed at school in terms of differentiation and extra assistance for his 2E, and we decided to complete the full eval. We feel like this further documentation by a professional will help us better advocate for our son. We also needed the achievement test results to apply for DYS because while my son's IQ qualifies him, his 2e makes it hard to pull together a portfolio. We just got the results last week so keeping my fingers crossed it makes a difference. My DS didn't mind the split testing at all.
I agree with apm221 that just because a school offers gifted, it doesn't make it a great program. We had considered moving to another state (not for schools, but other reasons), and they had a full-day gifted program starting in 2nd grade in a school that funds gifted ed. In the end we felt that our school where gifted ed starts in 3rd grade and is only a pull-out for LA and math may be a better situation for us. Our state doesn't mandate or fund gifted ed, but we have a good relationship with the school and feel like they are going to be willing to work with us.
Last edited by BlessedMommy; 02/11/14 05:55 AM.
