If you believe your child performs exceptionally well for their age and grade level, you can request an assessment to determine if your child is eligible for placement in Gifted programming. This assessment can be completed by a qualified professional either through the school board or independently. To be qualified for gifted placement, a child typically has to have an IQ score of 130 or above (115 for students in underrepresented populations); show common characteristics of a gifted learner, and demonstrate a need for programming that is beyond what is offered in the standard educational classroom. Eligibility criteria may vary based on school district, and the school board makes the final determination in which students qualify for gifted placement.
To be considered for placement in gifted programming, testing can be initiated by either the parent or by the public school system. There is no cost for gifted testing to be conducted through the public school system; however, there may be a long waiting period before a psychologist from the school board is able to perform the testing. Additionally, when completed by the public school system, this assessment becomes part of your child’s permanent education record.
If you would like your child to be tested sooner, you have the right to have the assessment completed privately by a licensed psychologist. When testing is completed privately, the testing report is given directly to the parent and a feedback session explaining the results is provided. Upon request, the report can be sent to your child’s school for review to determine eligibility for placement in gifted programming.
Contact Dr. Toni Falcone for additional information or to schedule an IQ assessment for your child.
More information on Gifted Education can be found at:
Broward County Schools- Gifted Program FAQ