IQ tests needed to go into Kindergarten?

IQ tests needed to go into Kindergarten? Seems that's what Broward County School District in South Florida thinks is needed...especially if your Child happens to have Down syndrome! I don't get this anymore...WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL with this IQ stuff and our kids going into Kindergarten??

I don't ever hear of other 4 and 5 year olds NEEDING to have an IQ score just to go into Kindergarten! I get so many calls from different parents across the entire State of Florida with questions on WHY do they need to have an IQ test done just because their Child will be going into Kindergarten?

Then I get the phone call recently that asked me if I had ever heard of an IQ score being a reason why a student wouldn't be 'allowed' to get a REGULAR DIPLOMA? Guess this district wants to use IQ scores as a reason NOT TO PROVIDE something, because I have never been part of an IEP where the 'under 70' IQ score was a 'positive' for what the PARENTS WANTED for their Child! It seems the District wants to use it as the basis on why NOT...or WHERE...in my opinion I don't recommend or think its really necessary for a YOUNG Child with Down syndrome to have "the number" of their IQ tests be the basis or the reason why NOT to provide all the exact same interventions that EVERY Student is entitled to receiving...

I am so tired of parent after parent being 'talked into' having their Child IQ tested by 'school psychologist'...that HAVEN'T a CLUE on how to properly evaluate a young child with Down syndrome!

...how about the parent that calls and tells me her IEP team tells her that based on her Child's IQ test results 'they' don't THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR to allow her to take the 3rd Grade STATE FCAT EXAM, and 'they decided' that she will HAVE TO TAKE the Alternate Assessment and because of that, be on an 'alternate' diploma track...THEY made that decision...the Child's parent had NO SAY SO ON THE MATTER of HER Child!

Do you believe this nonsense that is happening everyday to family after family?!! Families are so frustrated, they feel helpless in trying to make the best decisions for and about THEIR CHILD...there are no REAL IEP TEAMS out there that work TOGETHER...it's us against them! ...and those of us that have to attend these types of meetings for the education for our Children...know what I mean here...

Something has to change...the attitude of our 'iep team experts' need training on INCLUSION and how it all works...there is this out dated mind set still with our students with Down syndrome especially...parents want what's BEST for their Child...EVERY Parent wants whats best for their Child...but seems more and more that the Parents voice if not sure of themselves will be over-ruled and their ideas, opinions and thoughts are not even considered in the educational choices of their Child!!

This is America...land of the free?

MORE FUNDING CUTS to Florida EDUCATION? Just what we need! I just wrote our Gov. to let him know we need to put of freeze on the CUTS to our education dollars! Have you written to those that need to hear from us?