Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments I Don't Agree with Recommendation for Son

morgans-mommy, you are absolutely right about this school district not caring about "fit". It was very apparent to me that my son's best interest was not what was being discussed yesterday, and my input was not welcome at all. It was all about what the district mandates.(At least after my meeting with the principal last year she knows that she should never say the term FCAT to me as justification for anything). After you sent me additional information about your experiences with the full-time program, I wasn't even convinced that it was the right fit for him anymore. I'm just not sure what that "right fit" is. It would have been nice if they would have been willing to at least answer my questions, but I think that was expecting too much.

Ugh. I'm sorry you had such a miserable meeting. How frustrating and ridiculous. I think it may be true that a full-time GT program in itself is not always great for HG+ kids. My kiddo thrives in one, but he also has skipped a grade. (And the teachers really do get HG kids in my son's program.) I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

I would recommend pursuing the appeal, just to give you some options. You have an excellent argument that your son belongs in FT GT. Also, if you have any possibility of homeschooling, I recommend that you at least consider it. It makes advocacy a lot easier if you have a decent backup option. Much less stressful.

That's actually what I was angling for with my DD's school, though I was willing to go in stages with a "skip now, g/t later" sort of idea. It apparently never occurred to them that the real problem is that she's a fast learner, and skipping her a year couldn't possibly change that.

So is having a gifted programme which isn't always successful and seems aimed at the wrong people still better than the nothing my son's school has? My best case scenario is a private government approved one day a week programme which would cost more money than I know how to find at present.

I'm starting to feel like not having anything may at least prevent a lot of stress.