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aubrem (aubrem) wrote,
@ 2007-11-28 11:04:00

GATE
I have a question for Calif parents or anyone who might know something about this. The most bizarre thing just happened to me. I was cleaning out our study and ran across a letter from the school I hadn't seen. How I missed it I don't know since I'm usually all over anything from the school. Anyway, it was dated last March saying that Michael had been recommended for GATE testing, that he'd be tested that month and I'd be mailed the results in August. I knew nothing about this. I assume he didn't get in since he's not in. I'm not sure he even took the test since I never got mailed any results (that I know of : /). So, I have a call in to the head of the program with questions. Who knows how long until I get an answer though. Anyway, I'm curious as to why he was even recommended. He's a very average student who struggles a bit with math. His one standout area is writing - all his teachers say his writing is pretty sophisticated but not the technical side - grammar and spelling of no interest to him. I can't see why they would rec him. I think he's smart but not in any way that would interest a school. So, what's the scoop, do they test as many kids as they can for some reason? Do they get extra $ for GATE kids?

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fodirteg
2007-11-29 01:32 am UTC (link)

I do know that Gifted and Talented Education includes kids who are standout in various areas, not necessarily only those who are across-the-board academically brilliant.

The program is supposed to nurture the students' special abilities, whatever they may be. Your son's creativity and sophisticated writing abilities may well make him an obvious choice for recommendation.

I don't know if there is a "quota" or reward of any kind mandated to/by the school. I wouldn't be at all surprised if there is, with a state budget allocation to be used for the program; there well may be a "goal" set. Depending on the school, though, the program may be a real benefit to the student.

I'd recommend looking into the program offerred. Our area has "magnet" schools to which they suggest the GATE students be transferred. We chose to keep our daughter at her neighborhood school, because we particularly liked some of her teachers. Her school still was able to enter her into the GATE program, and there were other kids there in the same situation.

She's done well. I give some credit to the program in encouraging and motivating her to push herself to do her own best. She managed to get her BS in PolySci in 3 years, even taking one semester out to work as an intern in DC.

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	fodirteg 2007-11-29 01:35 am UTC (link)
	I don't know about any test that may have been given, but here, anyway, if a child is identified as having GATE potential, teacher or teachers may simply suggest the student be part of the GATE program. If the program might benefit your son, I'd consider calling and asking for more information. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	summerborn 2007-11-29 03:24 am UTC (link)
	I don't know about the money, but when I was in school in CA I got tested one year, didn't make it, and tested again the next year at which point I did make it. So I might speculate that they are pretty interested in getting kids into the program. (Reply to this)

laurelwood
2007-11-29 06:03 am UTC (link)

Every one of Brooke's teachers from 2nd grade on recommended Brooke for GATE testing, so I think she took the test 3 or 4 times but never made it in. No big deal, though, because at our school, the only programs available to provide enrichment for GATE kids are grass-roots parent-driven ones because there's no room in the budget for school-funded amenities.

The kids I've known who've tested GATE-positive have always been very science/math-inclined. Teachers (Brooke's, anyway, and looks like Michael's, too) get really excited about writing ability; I think it's rare. For us, though, it didn't translate into GATE status.

I wish I knew about the whys and wherefores of schools conducting testing, and whether they get any extra status/$$. It'd be fascinating to have behind-the-scenes knowledge!

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alchemine
2007-12-01 02:30 pm UTC (link)

TC's school gives all third-graders the option of being tested for GATE. You have to sign a consent form, and then they do the testing around February/March.

In my case, I moved to California in 1981, when I was halfway through fourth grade, and went into my school's GATE program on the strength of my classroom teacher's recommendation. Toward the end of that year, she asked me if I'd like to go to the district's special GATE magnet program at another school; I said yes, and she arranged for the school psychologist to give me an IQ test. (You had to score above a certain level to get into this program -- to this day I don't know what it was.)

Being gifted and being a standout student don't always go hand in hand, BTW. A lot of gifted kids are severely under-motivated and get average grades at best, and a lot of straight-A students are what they call "high achievers" who are bright and work hard, but aren't gifted per se. And even within giftedness, there are gradations -- a highly gifted kid is different from a profoundly gifted kid, etc.

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