Journal

Well, this has been a long time in coming.  My High Functioning Autistic boy qualified for the GATE program.

He was originally tested for the GATE program in the 3rd grade.  Unfortunately, they used the RAVENS test which is nonverbal, presenting puzzles and such.  He did not qualify at that time.   I asked that he be tested again this year in a new school district.  This district uses the OLSAT which has a verbal and a nonverbal section.  My son placed 98% in the verbal and 71% in the nonverbal sections.  This was sufficient for him to get into the GATE program.

The reason I feel vindicated is because last year, my son had been so traumatized in school that his reading score on the STAR testing that is done for the state dropped by 100 points.  This flabberghasted his teachers as he was testing at a reading level of 10th grade.  He is only in 5th.

Needless to say, I am very happy about this.  It will not change his program as he is already in a very individualized program, but it will go into his record, and his teacher will also be made aware of this.