did not test gifted

[Anonymous]

Just received letter from school stating my son did not test gifted. I was quite frankly shocked as he has always tested very high. Straight A's...Now there is a great chance he will not be in gifted cluster next year, 4th grade. It really seems like one bad day of testing is setting his path for next year. Any one else ever dealt with this type of thing. He will not be retested until next fall.

[Anonymous]

A bad reaction to this, on either your or your son's parts, will do more harm than him not being in the class.

If you're a SAHM then do a subject or two of supplemental with him -- pick his favorites. At the least, find a reading list and if he reads 2-3 books over the course of the year, all the better.

[Anonymous]

just appeal. Many do.

[Anonymous]

Just let him be a kid

[Anonymous]

What district are you in?

[Anonymous]

you can get him privately tested. Many do.

[Anonymous]

There's also nothing wrong with not being gifted. He's obviously above average and doing well. How would you handle it if you went to extremes to get him into the program and then his grades dropped to C's? Would that be a better situation?

[Anonymous]

Not every kids is going to be gifted - maybe your kid is just "normal." As children age, smaller precentage of children are "gifted" or "accelerated" etc.

It's not a failure -

[Anonymous]

I thought that Fairfax only gives one additional test after 2nd grade (if did not make it). unless you go to private testing places.

[Anonymous]

I thought that Fairfax only gives one additional test after 2nd grade (if did not make it). unless you go to private testing places.

I am the poster who asked which district. This is one reason I asked. Different districts have different policies about this. And the options for what happens if your child does not make the initial cut vary by district as well.

But I thought in FCPS you could ask for school based testing (generally the CogAT) through grade 7?

[Anonymous]

here is a copy from
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/gt/faqs.html#testing

What tests are used to screen students for Advanced Academic services?
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAt) and the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) are administered to all FCPS second grade students during September/October. Students in grades 3-8 who are missing an ability test score are also tested. Parents of students in grades 3-8 may request a one-time retest option for either theCogAT or the Naglieri by informing the school at the start of the school year. Parent/guardians of students not enrolled in and attending FCPS are responsible for obtaining test results. Group ability test results will only be accepted from George Mason University (GMU), FCPS, and/or other school districts. Individual intelligence assessments administered by private psychologists will be accepted if conducted by a state licensed psychologist and the report is accompanied by a copy of the license. Please note that results must be reported as standard age scores.

Testing may also be obtained from George Mason University Psychological Clinic (telephone [phone], website http://cap.gmu.edu).


Can students be re-tested?
Parent/guardians of students enrolled in and attending FCPS may request one re-test in grades three through seven. This test may be administered during the fall testing cycle. Please let the testing coordinator and Advanced Academic Resource Teacher at your local school know at the start of the school year if you wish to have your student re-tested. Additional testing may be obtained from George Mason University Psychological Clinic (703-993-4200, http://cap.gmu.edu/). Students must wait at least 6 months before retaking any group ability test or individual intelligence test. Students may take a different approved group test or individual intelligence test administered by a state licensed psychologist within a 6 month period.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I didn't realize they lmited it to one re-test. Although I suppose it does make sense. And if your child didn't do well on the CogAT the first time, I guess it makes sense to do a different test, if you can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Op is clearly not in fcps, at inthe 3rd grade, you get o,g,s or n, not a-f. Since each district is different, we can not advise you. In fcps, for example, you do not test gifted, but rather end up in an automatic pool for consideration. If not in the pool, you can do a parental referral.

In some places, it us 100% based on test. For example, I moved around a lot as a kid. Usually, I scored above 99%, but when I entered the 8th grade, they gave me a test...I was having a bad day, and scored low...in the 60th percent. They placed me in a non academic track, and the guidance counselor suggested vocational training. Based on one bad day.

Fortunately when we moved away from Doylestown, Pa the score did not follow me.

[Anonymous]

This subject and responses sum up DCUM.

I'm sorry your child is not the genius you thought he was.

[Anonymous]

OP, I agree with advice that you should have him tested elsewhere and submit those results. You don't want your son placed on an academic track that will potentially leave him frustrated and under stimulated.