Under the district's policies he does not qualify for retesting because his WISC-IV is too low (less than 125). Can anyone help me understand how these two scores can be so far apart? This kid is not exposed to anything unusual other than a generally smart and active family environment. Looking for answers and considering retesting WISC-IV with someone else. Would that change anything?
First things first - gifted is as gifted does - Reading at a 4th grade level in kindy, and getting 98% on MAP point to a gifted kid. An IQ test is just a snapshot of a child's performance on a particular day. I, personally, don't really believe in such a thing as 'overachievement' except in the limited sense of a really stressed kid who is getting unusual pressure (from a parent, from within, or from sibling competition) to spend hours and hours performing an activity not out of sense of joy, but to protect someone's ego. So unless you've been home drilling your child on Math and English worksheets for over 45 minutes a day, daily - then the MAP test isn't a fluke, it's who he is.
I would strongly suggest a meeting with the gifted coordinator to ask this very question to her or him. I would ask the coordinator to tell you where your child's scores fall in comparison with the kids in the gifted program. If there are within the middle 2/3rd of the kids in the program, ask for a temporary placement, to be evaluated in 3 months. If they are in the bottom 1/3 then I would only move him if he seems really unhappy in the regular classroom. If they are in the top 1/3, I would ask for a totally different set of accomidations.
(How many hours per week is this program? - if it's less than 3 hours a week it may not even be worth your energy)
I would also suggest testing with a private tester. Why?
1) To rule out if your son has additional learning issues that led to the first IQ scores. It doesn't seem likely, but I would want to know.
2) In case the school system is being silly.
3) So in the future if someone is trying to say that school is working for your kid and it really isn't working for you kid, those test numbers can give you that little extra confidence to stick your neck out and say, "Take another look at him, there is more that you aren't seeing."
4) In case he is really beyond what the gifted program can handle. I've heard quite a number of individuals with 'way gifted' kids who 'played with their food' during testing. (In other words, were more interested in psyching out the tester than being compliant with the test- think 'Good Will Hunting.') What if the 98% on the MAP test is an under-representation of your child's abilities, and he needs a lot more than he is getting at school, but because of a 'whily' personality doesn't fully show what's on the inside.
So that's how your post hit my brain...good luck!
Grinity
