How to How to Get a School to Help You Get a Gifted Child into a Better School

Some children, whether it is through their having been exposed to an early childhood education program, receiving learning and literacy at home, or demonstrating better retention skills can be classified as "gifted" as early as kindergarten. Here are some strategies that will help you to make sure your gifted child is placed in the right program at his school.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phone number for the school district Name of the Special education director

1. Let your child's teacher and school principal know that you understand the importance of linking school performance to individual students and explain that the school has an obligation to provide the best education possible to all children.

2. Ask the teacher and principal to work with you in helping find the best school for your child's educational needs.

3. Let the school and school district staff know that you are aware of your rights as a parent in pursuing the best educational opportunities for your child.

4. If you cannot get your child's school to help, contact the school district's Director of Special Education Services. Request that your child be tested for IQ, memory retention, and skill level.

5. Provide documentation and test scores from therapists or early childhood or Pre-K programs.

6. Take your child to a therapist or college and have the child tested for IQ, knowledge, and current abilities in English, reading, math, science, and memory. Make sure anyone who tests your child is a credentialed professional.

7. Inform the special education director that you will take copies of all the documentation at your disposal to a local school board meeting and ask the school board to take the matter under advisement.

8. Let the local school board know that you would like to get your child into the right school and would like their help in making that possible. Also, let board members know that you will go to the state school board if they cannot, or will not help you.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use a calm professional sounding voice when speaking. Give the teacher, principal, and school district staff the benefit of the doubt when first approaching the matter. Find out if your school district or the state school board has an ombudsman. Their job is to help a parent who has issues that cannot be resolved easily.

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