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why is high IQ needed for skipping ?

by Mary T

Sep 21, 2010

I see *that* you must be in the top ten percent on ability, according to all the going thought, to be considered for grade skipping, but I don't know *why.* If a child has mastered 85% of the skills to be taught in a grade, why isn't that enough? Achievement should count for more. Why can't an above average IQ person, say, 65th percentile, be considered? I don't see the rationale for top ten percent and skipping. It's like saying only the very smartest kids in the population can succeed at being away from their age-mates. Is there data anywhere that supports this?

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Mary T Wow! This board is amazing when the right question comes along. Thank you all for pitching in (and for making me feel I posed a good question!) These are fantastic responses. I wanted to say, too, that I also think the social part of school figures heavily. You only have to think about the question always addressed to homeschooling parents -- "Aren...See More

Sep 23, 2010

D On 9/22/10, Mary T wrote: > I'm asking, though, > about the policy that seems to exist that requires a high IQ > despite a child's being able to demonstrate proficiency at their > current grade level work. I don't understand the rationale behind > keeping a child from skipping when they're just at an above average > IQ but have ma...See MoreOn 9/22/10, Mary T wrote: > I'm asking, though, > about the policy that seems to exist that requires a high IQ > despite a child's being able to demonstrate proficiency at their > current grade level work. I don't understand the rationale behind > keeping a child from skipping when they're just at an above average > IQ but have mastered the material.

Proficiency isn't the goal...mastery (or 'advanced' designation on my state's test) is. The hope is that the child who has proficiency will go to mastery. That can happen if the child stays in the current grade level and develops his thinking skills and broadens his knowledge base from 85 to 100%. With a skip, the child may have to work quite hard for proficiency at the new grade level, since he doesn't have mastery of the previous level. Your high school guidance office will have tons of data on this as they have ok'd moves from remedial to reg to honors to AP and can tell you what happens vs IQ.

That said, it can also be political with a nod to developmental.

>>>> I see *that* you must be in the top ten percent on ability, >>>> according to all the going thought, to be considered for >>>> grade skipping, but I don't know *why.* If a child has >>>> mastered 85% of the skills to be taught in a grade, why >>>> isn't that enough?

See above. Remember, thinking and reasoning skills count too.

Achievement should count for more. Why >>>> can't an above average IQ person, say, 65th percentile, be >>>> considered?

65th %ile is average...stanine 6. Whether that is locally above average, only your counselor can say.

I don't see the rationale for top ten percent >>>> and skipping. It's like saying only the very smartest kids >>>> in the population can succeed at being away from their >>>> age-mates. Is there data anywhere that supports this?

Your guidance dept has this info. As the psych put it to me when I ok'd my child's skip: go into it with eyes open. A child that is moving up will be competing with the top students in the next grade, many of whom are held back age-wise and are privately tutored academically. Sure he can do the work, but can he excel at that level? How will you support a child who is in the top 15% now if he drops to the top 20% and does not qualify for the honors program? That's a huge blow to the ego. A child that is in the top 5% likely won't have that problem, won't need the tutoring, and he'll be able to get to bed at a decent hour.

Sep 23, 2010

froggybee Is IQ the only factor you are using when accelerating a student? If so, that would be a travesty! There are so many more issues to look at when deciding whether or not acceleration is in the best interests of the kid!

On 9/23/10, D wrote: > On 9/22/10, Mary T wrote: >> I'm asking, though, >> about the policy that seems to ex...See MoreIs IQ the only factor you are using when accelerating a student? If so, that would be a travesty! There are so many more issues to look at when deciding whether or not acceleration is in the best interests of the kid!

On 9/23/10, D wrote: > On 9/22/10, Mary T wrote: >> I'm asking, though, >> about the policy that seems to exist that requires a high IQ >> despite a child's being able to demonstrate proficiency at their >> current grade level work. I don't understand the rationale behind >> keeping a child from skipping when they're just at an above average >> IQ but have mastered the material. > > > Proficiency isn't the goal...mastery (or 'advanced' designation on my > state's test) is. The hope is that the child who has proficiency will > go to mastery. That can happen if the child stays in the current grade > level and develops his thinking skills and broadens his knowledge base > from 85 to 100%. With a skip, the child may have to work quite hard > for proficiency at the new grade level, since he doesn't have mastery > of the previous level. Your high school guidance office will have tons > of data on this as they have ok'd moves from remedial to reg to honors > to AP and can tell you what happens vs IQ. > > That said, it can also be political with a nod to developmental. > > >>>>> I see *that* you must be in the top ten percent on ability, >>>>> according to all the going thought, to be considered for >>>>> grade skipping, but I don't know *why.* If a child has >>>>> mastered 85% of the skills to be taught in a grade, why >>>>> isn't that enough? > > See above. Remember, thinking and reasoning skills count too. > > > > Achievement should count for more. Why >>>>> can't an above average IQ person, say, 65th percentile, be >>>>> considered? > > 65th %ile is average...stanine 6. > Whether that is locally above average, only your counselor can say. > > > > I don't see the rationale for top ten percent >>>>> and skipping. It's like saying only the very smartest kids >>>>> in the population can succeed at being away from their >>>>> age-mates. Is there data anywhere that supports this? > > Your guidance dept has this info. As the psych put it to me when I > ok'd my child's skip: go into it with eyes open. A child that is > moving up will be competing with the top students in the next grade, > many of whom are held back age-wise and are privately tutored > academically. Sure he can do the work, but can he excel at that > level? How will you support a child who is in the top 15% now if he > drops to the top 20% and does not qualify for the honors program? > That's a huge blow to the ego. A child that is in the top 5% likely > won't have that problem, won't need the tutoring, and he'll be able to > get to bed at a decent hour. > > >

Sep 24, 2010

Juliana On 9/21/10, Mary T wrote: > I see *that* you must be in the top ten percent on ability, > according to all the going thought, to be considered for > grade skipping, but I don't know *why.* If a child has > mastered 85% of the skills to be taught in a grade, why > isn't that enough?

I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned the...See More

Sep 25, 2010

good luck There's so little data really to support anything...

Each school has its own way of doing things often and then they try to justify what they do. The real reasons for things done as they are is usually it's the whim of some adminstrator, the 'brainchild' of some administrator and - there has to be a line drawn somewhere, somehow and so th...See More

Sep 29, 2010

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