A Spirited Debate

http://burrridge.patch.com/articles/d181-parents-emphasis-on-gifted-means-overlooking-everyone-else#comments

This sounds a lot like Pleasantdale...
Educator said, "The district currently tests second grade students, pulls the top 20% - 25%, isolates them, accelerates them and gives them a gifted specialist to further enrich their curriculum...The identification tests use scan-tran answer sheets which experts agree are inappropriate for 7 and 8 yr olds. Many second grade students lack the fine motor skills and multi-step ability to complete these types of tests. Once placed on a track in THIRD GRADE, based on these out of norm tests, there is very little movement in or out. Year after year on subsequent tests students not in the program test higher than those students in the program. In one year (looking at a particular grade level) district data shows that approximately 35% of students not in the program tested higher than students in the gifted/talented program. If the district cannot accurately and consistently identify students for this type of enrichment, it is not a needs based program. You cannot have a program like this in a competitive/wealthy district like ours. It has led to parents tutoring their young first and second grade children to ensure they will be among the 20-25% given not only a better education, but a false mindset that they are smarter than the rest."