How would you approach this with a teacher?

[JayGee]

We just moved to a state with no funding or mandate for gifted education (Illinois).  On Friday I found out that DS qualified for the gifted program at his old school (it would have been a full-time pull out at a different school where they pool together all the children from all the elementary schools who qualify and want to attend).  I'm not sure what his teacher can do given the lack of support for gifted education in our new district, but feel that I should at least make her aware of his abilities.  As of this point, the school does not have any of his testing scores from his old school, just his grades from the first half of 3rd grade.

Ideas on how to approach this with the school?

[bec]

Even though there is no mandate for gifted education in Illinois, some districts do have a gifted program.  I know ours has a once a week pullout, as well as other services available with advocacy (they don't advertise).  Does your school/district have anything like this?  I think a conference with the teacher, and perhaps the principal to address this might be really helpful.  Also, I would work to get copies of the test results from his old school, as well as any teacher recommendations you might find.  I know that the new school may very well not pay any attention to it, but it is a good tool to have on hand when you start advocating.  Even if they don't pay attention to it, they will know that it isn't you just bragging. 

[ecoteat]

I agree that you should have the paper trail from the old school in hand before scheduling any kind of meeting with the teacher. I would suggest having the principal there too and anyone who might be in the position of providing any kind of enrichment. I would go at it from a "this is what his old school was going to provide, what can you do that is comparable?" approach.

[lindberg99]

That same thing happened with me. We were in Colorado in a HUGE school district and my 2nd grader qualified to go to some kind of gifted public school. I think from COGAT results? (This was over 5 years ago.) I had the test scores so when we moved back to OH, I told the secretary. She said they needed to get them directly from the other school so I gave her the info and she contacted the school and took care of it all.

I wouldn't try to set up a conference until the school has the info. Give the office a copy of the letter and info and they will get in touch with the other school if they need to get it, hopefully. I think you could also give his teacher a copy.