Comprehensive testing

Many gifted children reach a point when further information about their educational needs is important. A child who couldn’t wait to enter school may soon complain that schoolwork is too easy. Students whose math knowledge has eclipsed their instruction in school may want to move forward. A twice exceptional child, viewed as bright but “lazy” by teachers, is seen by parents as working far too hard to complete homework. A school or program for the gifted—with or without additional accommodations for weaknesses—seems warranted, but testing is needed to prove it. Most schools use achievement testing to measure growth and offer brief intelligence screening for gifted identification.  Is that enough? 

It may not be. We see a reasonable number of gifted children who fail to be identified for gifted programs based on IQ screeners at school. This is common if the child is asynchronous and earns variable scores, is twice exceptional or highly gifted. Even an untreated visual processing weakness that would benefit quickly from vision exercises can lower scores and fail to document higher visual reasoning strengths. Achievement tests at school often have low ceilings.  What about the elementary-aged child who already has a high school graduate reading level?  What should teachers know to ensure continuous learning?

Parent advocates generally find that sharing a child’s assessment on a comprehensive individual intelligence test greatly improves understanding of the gifted child’s learning needs.  Achievement testing allows a consideration of current achievement levels and how fast a very bright child is progressing academically. Diagnostic tests for a disability, when needed, are invaluable to clarify a confusing struggle, and initiate early intervention. Such testing can change the trajectory of a child’s educational life by ensuring that strengths are emphasized and developed, and weaknesses are gently supported.

When you come to GDC, our child-centered atmosphere enables your child to show us what he or she really knows. After contacting us, you will have a diagnostic consultation with a senior staff member to explore which tests would be most beneficial in our comprehensive evaluation. Our assessment includes evaluation of all the material available to us, including previous test results. We provide options for testing for all families - regardless of location.

Post-Test conference

The heart of our work is our two-hour post-test conference in which we create an optimal development plan uniquely designed for your child. This plan may qualify your child for scholarships, enrichment opportunities, special programs or schools for the gifted or accommodations in the classroom and on standardized tests. The process results in a detailed report that will serve as the template for your child’s educational career and intellectual needs.

ongoing support

Consultations are available for understanding your child’s giftedness, learning how to support strengths and weaknesses, re-interpreting prior test results, locating an appropriate school, designing a homeschooling curriculum, or understanding your own giftedness. We also have partnerships with practitioners who understand the unique needs of gifted individuals and can provide in-person or virtual counseling.