Maybe just general conversation, as I'm not sure what I'm looking for here.
Our HiCap program has started IDing kids in Kinder, using NNAT2, school-wide screening. In 1st grade, they begin using NNAT2 or OLSAT based upon age/grade for all new students and by nomination. I'm unsure of the cutoff, but I believe it may be 90-95th percentile for acceptance into the HiCap program.
My DS9 (almost 10) is in grade 4...
In this elementary school only there are 4.5 grade four classes (one is a 3/4 split). Enrollment in grade 4 was shown at the last school board meeting to be at ~120, including projected new students. I don't know the actual count, but let's go with this as it's likely correct +/-5.
There are 17/120 kids identified in HiCap in grade four. This means they have identified and are attempting to offer services to ~14% of the population for grade four in this school.
Statistically speaking, his school might expect 16 kids with an IQ > 130 in the entire school population (2% of 800). That may look like 2-3 per grade ... ish. By now you likely see where this is going...
Is this very early testing picking up a pool of kiddos that are precocious learners, or, more likely, due to demographics (dual income families), have had multiple years of academic daycare or preschool? Can you call a program that identifies this way a "gifted" program?
Part of me believes that early screening, and whole-population screening is great. As I see this actually unfold in WA state, I'm starting to think the grade 3 screening is much more appropriate and I appreciate more the wait and let the evening-out happen from these kids with a preschool advantage.
Thoughts?
