When a child begins acting out in school, exhibits problems connecting with peers and seems bored with the coursework, it might be time to consider skipping a grade. If you live in Texas, then you need to work with the school district and your child’s school. It is up to the individual school district or the school itself to determine if a child is ready to skip a grade.
Schedule an appointment with your child’s teacher. During the visit, discuss the possibility of the child skipping a grade. The teacher is better suited to determining your child’s skill level and if moving forward a grade would benefit the child.
Talk to the school guidance counselor and schedule any tests required for the child to skip a grade. Many school districts require that students take at least one test that evaluates how well they know material relating to their age level and the ages of students in other grades.
Complete the paperwork required by the school district. Your child’s teacher or guidance counselor may help by procuring the paperwork for you and filling out some of the areas. You often need to explain why a grade change is necessary and how your child would benefit from the change.
Study the testing material with your child. The tests typically use questions and work found in the textbooks your child uses on a daily basis. Run through the sample questions in the book and ask your child if he has any specific areas where he needs help. Remember that your child will take the test without you.
Make sure that your child can adjust to the demands of a new classroom, including older students and more advanced learning materials. Your son or daughter should have the ability to adjust well to new situations.
Tip
Not all schools offer students the chance to skip a grade. If this occurs, you may need to discuss the situations with the school board and not the guidance counselor or principal.
Begin the process earlier in the school year, as it can take some time to complete the process. If you start later in the year, the school may put off the switch until the following year.