Academic Percentiles It's All About The Numbers

Know your child's testing score numbers because this will determine if they stay on level and meet sunshine state standards.With Autism time is not on your side. Once diagnosed and you have the eligibility of Autism,The basis for receiving services in the public school system is all about the testing percentiles and you will need to pay close attention to these numbers whether you remain in the public school system or not. The county will test usually before an annual IEP(Individual Educational Plan) or you can do a written request for them to test (you better provide quality proof for the need of one). You must always have your own  independent academic testing. Below is a line you will live by for the rest of your child's  academic life.

                                                            Percentiles



  Weakness                                                 Average                                      Strength                                                                            
1                         25th                                           50th                                         75th
Special Services

So, if your child tests in the 1 to 25th percentile they are in need of special services and you have the right to advocate for them if the county is not providing the F.A.P.E (Free appropriate public education) that is academically necessary in order for your child to make meaningful progress. You want your child to be 50 % or above to be stable in an area and 75% or above means a strength or aptitude in the area. We have been to many "learning centers" in the area and I believe my child received something from all of them. I can tell you the lower your child's score in testing the more intense (meaning frequency and time) the academic intervention/therapy must be in order to see gains in the short amount of time you may have, this is why you must start early. "G" had a private academic tutor at four years old.

After the wonderful two years at Baudhuin just when you are starting to feel safe, secure, and are feeling great because you both have worked hard to make tremendous gains, it is time to transition to the real world called kindergarten This is where all those classes you took on the law , IEP's, letter writing, and inclusion are really going to pay off. You must know where your child stands because autism is a spectrum that can range from mild to severe but on the tour of your new school  they show you only an autism cluster  without showing you an "average" classroom(I hope this has changed to include talk of inclusion,supported classroom and where your child may fall on the spectrum). The rooms I saw were mostly gray with no pictures.One of the most outstanding features in the room was a T.V. that clung to the wall. I saw that money plays a huge factor, heard horror stories  from advocates of some clusters in the county being held in broom closets. For the most I think the county does the best with what they have but it is inevitably up to you to know the rules and laws so you can call them on their end of the bargain. the county will teach you from the beginning so be smart enough to learn the lingo ,the system,and the laws/ procedures because in most cases than not in some way or at some point you are going to have to use it.


I have come to learn over the years while advocating for my child that when  I butt heads or have a disagreement with an administrator, teacher, or professional in the field that their is something important that I am to learn from that person. So I didn't get along with the behaviorist yet what I learned from her was pivotal in "G's" recovery. My child is 10 now and this is still happening in fact just this year  I learned through butting heads with a teacher about the con's of differentiated instruction for a child on the spectrum.This is where placement in a class is based on academic testing alone and things like timing, organization, or oral comprehension scores are not even considered. My "G" is no longer in the public school system and now can be placed in an accelerated class according to academics but will fail it due to other skills being lower in percentile, so when they call it a puzzle it's extremely fitting and not just because of whats causing autism. These are some of the academic interventions we have used in the area

MSI offers Tutorial Program for Children in Grades K-5 | NSU News Center (super kid's good results)


Sylvan learning centers (least results)


Summer reading program advertised in the Public school office( zero results)


Lindamood-Bell® Learning Centers | Weston, FL (The most intensive educational therapy you will find in Broward county.) This center will provide you quality independent testing yearly at no additional charge. Our Doctor recommended it and we saw the most all around improvement out of all other academic interventions.

Educational & Diagnostic Services (EDS also recommended by her pediatrician) good testing, learned a new method of learning touch math, professional.


Boca Raton Brain Training Learning RX is brain training similar to the arrowsmith method.Executive, visual, and auditory processing speed remains the hardest things to make progress on. We did not see the results of Lindamood-Bell but we did see gains. Testing was good. Perhaps with more intensity our results would have been different. You buy the program it will be done at the center and they will teach you to do it.


http://clubztutoring.com/Broward_Miami/  Used them for years with excellent results Ramon Serrano (director) will work with you to find the perfect tutor.


C2 Education (not very intensive or understanding of special needs).


Kumon of Davie | Unlock Your Child’s True Potential Good for kid's in lower grades with not alot of homework. The director in Davie would not write us a letter of progress for an upcoming IEP meeting that we had to attend, so we left.

www.socialcommunicationstation.com The best social skills classes we have found. This is the higher level thinking skills they need for real world success. Both teachers are SPL'S!



After-school, weekend and summer camp | math classes and computer classes in FL, NC, CT and MO IMAC'S Institute for mathematics and computer science. "G" loved the computer classes and the summer camp was good. The actual program done during the school year has no pre or after testing so progress is not measured and we found it to be logic puzzle's which seemed to get less results than the brain training of learning RX.  One on one instruction is not offered here and the classes can be large. This place use to advertise to advanced children only. Again we did summer camp(5x a week but they dont do the math program in summer) and one session(meeting once a week) the frequency and intensity of a Lindamood -Bell  was just not there.

www.hwtears.com/  Handwriting without tears, google search to find a teacher in your area. Ours was done by  an extraordinary occupational therapist named laura Holmes who is trained in the program and works out of:http://specializedspch.com/Specialized_Speech,_Inc./Welcome.html We saw results in overall writing ability along with better and more confident use of her hands.

Specialized Speech Center, Inc.3335 North University Drive, Suite 5

Hollywood, Florida 33024

954-442-9422

I searched out this program after her third grade teacher mentioned her handwriting needed work. "G" always had weakness in her hand's and wrist. Look for trouble opening up doors, doing buttons, tying shoes and zipping zippers especially after you know that they  have the skill but still just dont seem to have full strength in hands to do the job right.

http://www.blastedu.com/ A good social skills class when they are young. I did not see the higher level social skills I was looking for being taught here.


http://www.theneurofeedbackinstitute.com/site/ We love neurofeedback and Rick Harris is awesome!
"G" went here for attention,certain behaviors, and anxiety. I believe this therapy helped her coping skills alot.

 http://www.amazon.com/Memorize-Minutes-Tables-Teaching-Manual/dp/0965176967 I love this manual. If you are having trouble with the times tables the Lindamood Bell visualizing and verbalizing program is the perfect compliment to this book.

As you might have guessed from the list above we could have bought a house or a college education with all the money we have spent thus far on educational therapy and the answer is yes the one we saw the most results from cost the most money but in return it continues to help still today. The public  school testing will look different not in percentiles so look for the Less Than sign like in math say for a DAR reading comprehension score, or a - negative sign in front of  understanding oral directions. Ignorance of testing scores is deadly and toxic to your child's academic future, so simply speak up and ask. To me academic testing scores should be the first thing discussed at an IEP because that determines whats academically necessary as far as services(speech,ot,accommodations,modifications). If you don't know you cant change it, this is where sometimes bad news is a blessing because time is not on your side, so the sooner you know the score the sooner you can find the appropriate academic intervention. These are only the academic interventions we have been through not including speech, OT, and of course the unconventional.. Next chapter will be "Our Story" and then you will truly understand why the numbers are so important.