Dear Judy,
My child is eligible for the gifted and talented program in NYC, and I have a question regarding his future. If he does not perform well or meet the criteria for the program in several years, would he be forced to change schools, or would he receive extra support/tutoring, etc.?
~ Christina
Dear Christina,
These days, the watchword at the Department of Education is "data". All schools keep track of their students' academic achievement. This applies to kids in the gifted and talented programs, as well as the general classes. If your child is struggling, the teacher should let you know and discuss with you what kind of help the school can provide. It may be tutoring or, if appropriate, counseling. If the strategies don't work, the school may suggest placing the child in a general education class in the same school, or, in extreme cases, if he is attending out of district, transferring him back to his zoned school. Chancellor's Regulations A-101 and A-450 establish a chain of events, including parent conferences and extra help before a transfer is put on the table.
At the start of your child's career in G&T, if the school has not already shared its policy with you, ask what their expectations are, what kind of help will be available to a student who falls behind, and how they will handle a child who seems to be mismatched with the program. You should also keep in touch with your son's teachers so you can be aware of any difficulties right away.
Remember, in addition to personal observations and teacher conferences, you can keep abreast of your child's progress by logging on to ARIS (Achievement Reporting and Innovation System ) from third grade on, to view state exam results. You can log on to Acuity for interim assessment results. The principal should provide you with an ID and instructions for using these databases, which have only recently become available to parents.
During the early grades, kindergarten through third grade, you will find that the best way to keep in touch is by participating in your son's school, through the Parents Association or, if you have the time, by volunteering in his classroom.
Meanwhile, enjoy the summer while looking forward to the new term.
Judy
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