• Phone:  Orange County  949 892 9805
  
• Phone:  LA County 562 743 9520
  
• Email:    Dave@PalmerLearning.com

Achievement Testing and "Out of Level" Testing

• While many find that the standard IQ battery and report is all they need to identify their child's learning needs and start exploring educational options, parents can also elect to request a supplemental comprehensive individually administered achievement battery – the Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement III, which is one of the most widely recognized and widely used comprehensive achievement tests available.  While an IQ test informs us of a student’s learning potential or learning style, the WJ III gives parents and school personnel more objective data regarding where the student is academically - grade and age levels, standard scores, and percentiles in several areas of math, reading, and written language. Such information is particularly valuable when families are looking into the possibility of acceleration options like grade skipping or early entrance to kindergarten or first grade. When I administer the WJ III for families considering acceleration, I also include what is called an out of level evaluation.  For this purpose, I provide two reports based on the same test. One with data on where the student is as compared to others of his or her current grade or age level - and one report which compares the child to the norms of the grade into which they may be placed.  This is a form of “out of level testing” that is commonly recommended for use with the gifted population when considering acceleration options.  Children who routinely score at the extremes (95th percentile or above) in one or more areas on commonly administered school or state standardized or criterion referenced academic tests may be “topping out” on these tests.  That is, since these tests often assess only those academic areas the child has been exposed to at his or her age or grade level, when the student receives a percentile score of 95 or above it indicates that they have mastered that age or grade level material – they have topped out on the test.  But such tests do not provide information regarding what the child knows beyond that age or grade level material, or how the child performs when compared to others in a more advanced grade.  Out of level testing can provide this information. The supplementary achievement testing is done in a separate session which takes about 1 1/2 hours.  This service is offered at a flat rate of $350,  which includes the delivery of the follow up report.

• Expert Learning disability assessment is also available.  Many bright kids have specific learning or processing problems that impede their ability to learn up to their potential. Many of these kids can be helped tremendously by proper evaluation and timely remediation.  Other kids with specific learning disabilities may need accommodations in school or on state testing or SAT exams.  I have 20 + years of experience in the in this field, have trained other psychologists in learning disability assessment at the university graduate level, and understand what specific assessments to use to obtain the most valid and useful information. Through these assessments I have helped hundreds of children,  teens, and adults find the support they need to succeed.  Learning disability assessment includes a comprehensive IQ assessment, a comprehensive achievement assessment, and several supplemental assessments designed to look more closely at areas like memory, speed of processing, attention, visual perceptual abilities, and auditory processing (specific supplementary tests vary according to individual situation). A learning disability assessment can usually be completed in 2 or 3 sessions. Rates vary. Contact me if you would like more information.