From the time my son entered school, all of his teachers have said what a bright boy he is. He will get some challenging assignments, but most of the work is very easy for him. He's in third grade now. I would like to have him tested so that he could be placed in a gifted program because the school is so slow in helping him. - Impatient
Answer: It is often a slow process, especially for parents, when a child is being considered for a gifted program. Besides testing, many teachers and other professionals are often consulted, and a child's work might be studied.
You need to talk to the school about what testing, if any, is planned to admit your son to a gifted program. If the school is not convinced that your child should be in a gifted program or is taking too long with the process, you might want to have him evaluated. Be sure to choose a qualified individual whose credentials the school will recognize and who will work well with the school personnel. Typically, this will be a psychologist who specializes in identifying gifted children. Because such testing can be expensive, see if a local college offers this type of testing at a reasonable price.
Caution: If you are too strong and pushy an advocate for your son, the school could begin to see you as an adversary rather than a partner in getting the best for your child. Nevertheless, you should find out what special services for the gifted are prescribed by the law in your state as well as what the official policy is at your son's school for identifying the gifted.