A little background, DS is 5 and in K (will be 6 in Jan). He exhibits many of Ruf's level 4 characteristics, some level 3 and some level 5. Math and critical thinking are his strong suits.
He started seeing a child psychologist in March when he was acting out in pre-K. We thought it was related to his uncle's passing, turns out he was acting out from boredom.
We moved in July and he started public K in Sept.
Within a month he hated school and was asking not to go. His anxiety was through the roof and he was having problems sleeping. His psychologist, who was against having him formally tested until he was 7, thought it was time to proceed with testing as this school enviroment was not the right one for him. And we agreed.
We made an appointment at a testing center and had the pre-test in-take conference.
Meanwhile we meet with his teacher and the school guidance consoler. Told them Ray was going for testing, etc and to watch out for any behavior changes etc.
We then had a separate meeting w/ guidance consoler and she told us we could establish an education plan for DS without having him formally tested.
This was a relief, because the next week my insurance came back and denied covering the testing.
Then the following week his school called a meeting, it was with his teacher and the guidance consoler and the assistant principal. The school principal was suppose to be there, but couldn't make it. They told us the guidance consoler was wrong and that DS needed to be tested to get gifted services. They told us to go to the special ed department pull the paperwork to have him tested and once the testing was done we could set-up meeting and go from there. They even gave us directions how to get there.
At DS's parent teacher conference a month later his teacher asked if we had returned the paperwork for the testing, when I told her yes, she said they should be coming to get him soon to do the testing as they usually acted very quickly on these things. I asked her why the guidance consoler might have lead us a stray before and she said because not many services are offered in K, but they paperwork would be handy in the older grades.
Today I come home to a form letter from the department of special ed, telling me they are also denying the testing. Reasons given:
1) The school already talked to us about this and it wasn't needed - HUNH!!!?? They told us to get the paperwork and to file it. They even gave directions.
2) The district is refusing - What does that mean??
3) State law prohibits using the special ed department resources to determine if a student is gifted. - Why would they tell us this is how to do it if it's against the state law?
4) Contact the school principal to discuss if there are other options. - The principal missed our initial meeting and the vice-principal told us to request the testing, and his teacher is asking if it was done.
Then they say to call the contacts listed below if you have questions. AND NO CONTACTS ARE LISTED.
This is the biggest most confusing mess I have ever encountered. No one seems to no anything and what people think they know is completely inconsistent from one party to the next.
We live in MA. Which is not a friendly GC state. There are no state laws that I am aware of that govern gifted eduction. We do not have a gifted department or contact person or liaison for our local school. Home schooling is not an option.
Meanwhile DS's psychologist is fighting my insurance to get DS tested privately. But I am really starting to wonder if any of this will do any good, because the school seems to be so inept.
What is my next move? Call the vice-principal, call the principal, call the school superintendent (which I think I may do anyhow because the lack of consistency and competence is alarming.)
Please help, I am at my wits end.
