Txiki1 - did you find out the name of that test?
Also, you should ask about the experience level of the tester in general and with that particular test. Sounds like it was done by the school, which can be ok, but a tester with little experience testing gifted or very gifted kids can misinterpret things like taking extra time to come to an answer as not knowing rather than knowing a lot and having to make some subtle choices (which takes longer). Also, if he was the first kid ever to take this test (?) from your school or district that might indicate a lack experience on the test administrator's side.
You might ask if he finished the test(s) - number of questions/# answered. How long was given? How long does it usually take? These and other questions can give you a picture of how your ds felt during the test (did he blow it off? Did he not have enough time because he either has a lot going on in his head or has low processing speed but good conceptual skills or really didn't know some of the answers...?)
What exactly makes his 4th grade teacher highly recommend him?
If your school would accept an appeal to the decision, and look at outside testing, you might consider this. You need to find out from them exactly which tests, if any, they would accept because you don't want to go get test xyz and find out they won't even look at it.
It does seem unfortunate that both anecdotal evidence and grades wise he would qualify, but in the end the decision was based nearly solely on the results from one test on one day. That usually doesn't really work to the advantage of the child. Further, there are usually assessments given at the beginning of each year and at the end to place kids in reading and math groups which should certainly be used to paint the fullest picture of ability - Probably some of the testing you refer to. These should likely be considered as 'concrete' too. It seems very very strange to gather all this information and then disregard most of it.
My last question - if I am reading this right...Did this one single teacher decide all by herself on this? That certainly doesn't seem correct.
"If I could just decide..."
Last edited by chris1234; 06/10/09 06:49 AM.
