I think our program is a bit secretive as well. All the kids are tested in 2nd grade. It used to be the CogAT but they changed the test this year. The parents are not told the kids are being tested, nor are the parents given the results (and they can't ask if they don't know it occurred). So if the child just missed the cutoff, the parent doesn't know they can go the portfolio route. I only found out b/c of a good relationship with the teacher (and I already knew about the program so I asked her early on if she felt DS would be a candidate, so she knew that I knew about it already) so I phoned about the results of the test. The GT coord certainly seemed shock I wanted the scores but she sent them. Before I asked for the scores, all she said was that son was not *creative* enough for the program. It was only after receiving the scores I found out that he was gifted in math. Now, I wonder how many kids came out this way and a) the parents didn't know about the test, b) the parents knew about it but didn't know enough to ask for the scores, c) knew about it, spoke w/ GT and all she said is "not creative enough," and the parent asked no further questions? I know of another parent where she found out from another parent whose DC got in so she inquired why her son wasn't in it. She went the portfolio route and got him in. It all just seems shady to me, secretive, and behind closed doors. I wonder if this is to keep all the parents, of course everyone think their child is gifted according to schools, from going the portfolio route?
