In "Re-forming Gifted Education," the author talks about the mis-match between tests used and the gifted program. My friend and I have discussed this often. Our kids have similar IQs but the VCI and PRI are flip-flopped. My son is Higher in VCI and her DD is higher in PRI. They need very different programs. Now this could be differences in personality. I can't draw any conclusions from n-2.
Most schools use non-verbal tests for their gifted program selection but the program is often highly verbal in nature. But highly verbal kids can miss the cut-off on these non-verbal tests. I know of 4 kids who scored 90s% on CoGAT but then 145+ on FSIQ w/ WISCIV. They wouldn't have qualified for gifted programming based on CoGAT scores.
I wonder if VCI best fits academic achievement in a school setting but a child with an equal PRI would do just as well in the appropriate environment.
I have a friend whose district has a 4-tiered system. I know St. Louis is moving to a similar 3-tiered system. The lowest level is in class differentiation. the next tier is pull-out for enrichment. the 3rd tier is a gifted cluster. The 4th tier is a gifted magnet school.
