Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Testing 101

Wow! I found this book "preview" -- can just anyone read this?

Link

I'm not sure exactly where this links to, but for a great, comprehensive discussion of testing, methods, tests and ceilings, start on page 59, Chapter 3: Testing Considerations.

Very interesting read! I'll have to check out the rest of it.

all I can say is wow

and thanks for posting this

Thanks! I had the book sitting on my bookshelf and hadn't gotten to that part yet. You inspired me to dive deeper into it.

I reviewed this book recently: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art40135.asp

I'm not sure if this is the right post for this question, but it is a testing 101 type question.
DD6's school has agreed to have the district person give her an IQ test in May. As far as we know it will be the WISC IV.
My concern is that the woman adminstering the test has very little experience dealing with gt kids. (She may even have no experience, I'm not sure.)
So, should we be concerned about her lack of experience with gts? We have no other options locally, and can't really afford the price they charge at the center 3 hours from here (the closest one that I know of.)
Or, is my concern silly because as long as she is given the "right" test it doesn't matter who administers it?

We had a similar situation with DS. The woman who administered the test had never come across anyone like him. She took his results to her supervisor for translation. It did what it needed to do for now, as far as getting him services and DYS, but it wasn't complete. At some point he's going to have to re-test (if I can ever afford it!)

I have read that if the tester is unfamiliar with giving the test to GT kids, especially if there's any sort of 2E going on, the resulting scores will probably be lower than they should be. Perhaps even much lower. You should press the district to provide an experienced tester, but I don't think you have any real leverage. There are prep courses for testers to take on how to test GT kids, I think.

No expert,
Jon

Jon Z, I'd love to press the district for an experienced tester, but she is the only one with in about 50 miles that does the testing, and is the only one in the district! I know we're not dealing with 2E, but I'm worried that DD's results will come out lower than if we had better resources available to us.

An update on the testing the district agreed to do for DD6....the good, the bad and the amazing next chapter. I feel like this is turning into a soap opera.
I shouldn't have been surprised, based on what everyone around here has been telling me, but after the district agreed to let their ed. psych test DD, we hit a few snags. The local woman is out on emergency medical leave, so DD's principal said she would ask if the woman from the next district over would come and test her. Well, she left emails, and phone messages for this other woman and this woman's boss and none were returned! Finally today she called and got a hold of a real, live person. (Now the fun begins...) The principal was told that "no, we won't give your student an IQ test because that would open the flood gates and everyone who thinks their kid is smart will want them to be tested."!!! Well, the principal was stunned at this response. She explained that we needed the test to be given so we could apply for gt programs, etc. They refused to even consider it!
So, I printed off the requirements list for DYS and she called the superintendent of the town's schools (here the district is determined by BOCES, and they have area power, but the super. has local power). She explained what was happening and asked if they had a WISC lll that she could use to test DD. (She is a licensed ed psych). He said, of course we do, and of course you can test her - why wouldn't you be able to? Come on over tomorrow and pick up the test!!!
Why is the district so obnoxious and the super. is not? Who knows, but my friends here who have been trying to get their kids tested through the district for years have constantly heard that yes, it would be appropriate for your child to be tested, but then nothing ever happens. I can't imagine their frustration. (The super has only been here for 2 years and he is very pro GT)
So, at the moment it now looks like DD will be tested next week! And that her principal will be willing and able to test my friends' children too. I am hoping that I am not getting too excited here, and that it will all actually happen.
Keep your fingers crossed for us

Will do!