Do gifted children have explicit legal rights to an accelerated education in Texas?

Question

My 4 year old son is very bright, but his teacher bases her pre-kindergarten curriculum on how fast the slowest child learns. For example, they are only working on letter recognition, but he can already read. He becomes very bored in class and has been acting out.

I have read the Texas Educational Agengy's Parent's Rights Guide, but I can't seem to find any reference to gifted youngsters.

My questions are:

Do pre-k children have the explicit right to assessment testing?

Do they have the explicit right to an accelerated education if it is deemed necessary by assessment testing?

There are several other factors involved in this situation that are warranting an interview with the principal, and I would like to have my facts in front of me, as it were.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Speaking from experience (I am a teacher) this prek teacher should have centers that help ALL children, not just the slower learners. If your child already knows how to read or different things then she should be offering him different activities to further his own knowledge.

But I digress. First of all, you don't know whether your child is or isn't gifted unless he's been tested. So, first of all I'd recommend, asking when and if they can do a gifted screening. Just because your child can read at age four does not mean he's gifted..many children are early readers now a days.

If your child is indeed gifted, then when he enters Kindergarten, he is covered under Special Education and teachers have to tailor his learning experience to certain goals. Once in elementary and through high school, gifted students do have the right to an accelerated education. Again, though, you have to have your child tested for gifted.

If your child continues to act out though (being bored does not warrant acting out) he may be a double exceptional student...meaning that he may be gifted but may have ADHD or something else. As parents, we cannot blame everything on the teacher, our child is always responsible for his/her own behavior. Your child needs to understand that.

Another thing you could do is try a private pre-school Montessori preschools are absolutely great because everything is dependent on the child and his/her own different strenghts. I'm sure the preschool principal will guide you in the best choice for your child.

Answer 2

Public law 94-142 (federal regulation) covers gifted students as well as those with other sorts of special needs. Unfortunately, you often have to be prepared to advocate for your child rigorously to get what he/she needs.

Answer 3

You are the parent, do what is right for your child