FCPS Parent Wrote:
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> I am a parent with a kid in 2nd grade that was
> just accepted into the GT Program. I have heard
> from one other parent who went through it that the
> program can be really tough and unless your kid is
> super motivtated that it becomes too much. Her
> kid ended up hataing school.
>
> Looking for other experiences.
First, take a look at Fairfax County Association for the Gifted - fcag.org. They have a mailing list & list archives that you should take a look at regarding the choice. Needless to say, there tends to be a lot of email on that list this time of year regarding the GTC choice.
Questions - Does your ES have a "Local Level IV" class (see
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/gt/centers.html)? (Local Level IV classes are classes that are for GT kids, but, depending on your ES, may or may not have a high percentage of county selected kids.) If your ES doesn't have a LLIV class, your kid ought to go to GTC unless your ES happens to have a lot of very high achievers. If your ES does have Local Level IV, that's an additional option you should consider & the FCAG list can help there.
How "GT" is your kid? (See
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org, in particular consider the test scores your kid got on the COGAT/Negleri/etc and look at
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htm)
Other basic questions to ask yourself & if the answer is yes to any of them, GTC or Local Level IV the kid -
Is your kid bored in school?
Been coming home complaining about how little he/she is learning?
Spends all of her time reading (including during school while she's purportedly being "taught" something else she already knows)?
Doesn't have a lot of friends or tends to have older friends?
Been the kid in your neighborhood the other kids ask their parents why your kid uses such big words?
Is your kid twice exceptional? - the GTCs tend to be better prepared because they see more of them.
Given you have what some consider the "magic letter," you can decide to defer & send your kid any time you want. The primary issue with this tends to be that, beyond 4th grade, it's harder for your kid to catch up in math.