Chicago Public Schools Gifted Programs Testing A Capacitor
If there is a program to enrich the educational experience of talented students IN YOUR CURRENT DISTRICT it is foolish even think about spending money on 'outside testing' unless you know for certwin whether the district will/won't acknowledge / act on the results.Some districts just choose not to invest in this kind of thing, and even the ones that do take a dim view of anyone that goes outside the guidelines. The bulk of parents / taxpayers really dislikes spending on gifted programs and anything draws attention in a negative way makes it all the much easier to slash.I have had some experience with the parent's groups for this kind of thing and it is a minefield! I am trying to find out info about the gifted program for my kids.
I am looking into moving to one of the northern Chicago burbs (e.g. Northbrook, Glenview, etc) and am trying to understand the 'gifted' system.How does it work? Do the kids get evaluated by a psychologist (e.g.
Take the WISC-IV)? Some other process? I've got a 1st grader - is he eligible?One place that may have some ideas for you is American Mensa:The Chicago group/association/whatever is one of the largest in the country and is pretty well organized and run. I should know more about it since I'm a member, but since I joined life just got busy and I haven't had time to look into Mensa much at all.I do know that children can be members of Mensa and I'm sure parents of such children would know a lot about the various gifted programs in the suburbs. They actually have some pretty active forums on the Mensa website where you could probably get questions answered (you have to be a Mensa member to use the forums though). Mensa offers testing pretty regularly and it is a lot less than $500. Scores on certain standardized tests can also qualify someone for Mensa, so maybe your child doesn't need to take a test at all if you have scores available.My husband and I took the tests offered by Mensa a few years ago at a public library.
I want to say that it was $35 to do it and then after that you either qualified for Mensa membership or you didn't; we didn't get a particular score. I think that if your child was a Mensa member it would be enough proof to get them into most gifted programs though.
I have done some research in this area. As others have mentioned, gifted placement and programs vary greatly by Illinois school district. I am trying to find out info about the gifted program for my kids.
I am looking into moving to one of the northern Chicago burbs (e.g. Northbrook, Glenview, etc) and am trying to understand the 'gifted' system.How does it work? Do the kids get evaluated by a psychologist (e.g. Take the WISC-IV)? Some other process?
I've got a 1st grader - is he eligible?You may want to look through this website:The Davidson Institute has information on state policies, too. Here's IllinoisNote that the state does not have guidelines for testing, so each district decides on its own if it will test and what tests it will use.Glenview has quite a few resources.Glenview does not formally identify gifted students until the spring of 2nd grade, so your son is too young at this pointNorthbrook has more than one districtYou can probably call and get more information thereIt still looks like most identification is actually not done until the end of 2nd grade. As the other posters have stated, every district is different in how they identify and qualify children for their gifted programs. I'm not aware of any district that requires outside testing/evaluation aside from private schools for gifted kids. Most will use a combination of standardized test scores (MAP, CoGat, ISAT) in addition to parent and teacher observations and recommendations.
I would contact each district you are considering to get as much information about their gifted programs, what identification process they use, and what programs are available for those identified. Many districts will use in-class differentiation until at least 3rd grade when pull-out programs are utilized. In my district, it isn't until 4th grade that formal pull-out math and reading classes for gifted kids are available, and those are grade level advanced up through high school.Illinois does not fund gifted education, sadly. However, most (if not all) districts do have gifted education policies in place that go beyond just simple classroom differentiation, which really is only effective in the younger grades in my opinion.If you are looking for additional programs outside of school, Northwestern's Center for Talent Development is excellent. They are fairly selective and your child must have the standardized scores to apply to their classes.
Gifted Elementary Schools In Chicago
They even have online courses for when your child is a little bit older, but they have to be fairly self-disciplined to do it. The Center for Gifted is just okay in my opinion. They are not as selective, and many kids are accepted that I don't think truly meet the definition of gifted. Decent course offerings though. If you are looking for additional programs outside of school, Northwestern's Center for Talent Development is excellent.
They are fairly selective and your child must have the standardized scores to apply to their classes. They even have online courses for when your child is a little bit older, but they have to be fairly self-disciplined to do it. The Center for Gifted is just okay in my opinion. They are not as selective, and many kids are accepted that I don't think truly meet the definition of gifted. Decent course offerings though.Having previously enrolled my kids in both the CTD and Center for Gifted programs, I completely agree with your opinion on the differences between the two programs. CTD did have a more selective application process. My child has also taken the online CTD courses (called GLL).
I also heard IMSA has a good summer program, though I've never looked into it because of the travel distance. Is the cost factor, and in the way many people would see it.There are too few scholarships at ctd and cfg, and just about zero support for transporstiona ND other 'real world' issues. This makes such programs 'economically elitist' and an easy target in times of budget cutting.I wish that folks would have a little more backbone / forethought and realize that if the kids at the right end of the bell curve do not get the support they need it squashes down our societies peaks just as harshly as cutting the support for kids at the left end of the curve pulls down our valleys.Education is too important to let funding issues harm any group of kids.
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