Can I opt my child out of an IQ test?

Before the school assesses your child, they will have 15 days to present an assessment plan for your consent. You can choose not to consent to an assessment.

Many families look for an alternative to standardized cognitive tests like IQ tests, especially when it comes to children from diverse linguistic or cultural backgrounds, those with learning disabilities, or children whose skills may not be fully captured in a standard IQ test setting. While alternative tests can give an idea of skills within cognition, many school districts will look for an IQ number or standard deviation from the average for finding a student eligible for an IEP under the ‘Intellectual Disability’ category.

Dynamic assessment captures a lot of those skills that are also captured in standardized testing but in more natural, school-related ways. Dynamic assessment looks at pattern recognition, problem-solving, strategizing, cognitive flexibility, changing approaches to new problems, drawing conclusions, and inductive and deductive reasoning.

For some parents, the idea of a single type of intelligence, such as an IQ test, is scientifically flawed. Others may be concerned that their child’s communication and behavioral skills are likely to impede any real assessment of their cognitive abilities. IQ tests have also been historically racist and biased toward labeling African-American/Black children with intellectual disability.

For students who don't conform to the normative sample, it is possible to utilize existing tests in a way that is culturally relevant and provides accurate diagnostic insights. A dynamic assessment approach can minimize some of the biases in standardized tests, offering a clearer picture of skill ability rather than fixed cognitive scores. One of the tests often used for families who do not want an IQ test is the Southern California Ordinal Scales, which focuses on observing a child’s learning process and adaptability through interactive, tailored tasks.