I was going to speak to the director of special education and see what EXACTLY that program entails. Maybe if have more knowledge, she'll be more confident.

I emailed you some, but this was going to be my next suggestion. T, I was Maddie in school, and I had two different experiences with the gifted thing...
1. In elementary school, high test scores placed me in what they called the Gifted & Talented program. This was as low-pressure as it gets - no tests, no grades, no attempts to "learn it all." It was pure enrichment. We were pulled form our regular classes one day a week to do things like science experiments, learning a play, advanced reading and art projects. It was wonderful!
2. In middle school (starting in 5th grade), high test scores put me into advanced classes. This was less a gifted program and more a separate track of studies. Once on that track, there was no getting off. I was buried in homework (easily 5 hours a night) and, though I could test high, was never strong in math; putting me in a class that moved fast was disastrous. On the other hand, being in advanced English and history classes was great. But it was all or nothing and, by the time I graduated upper school, I was a burnt out mess who could not continue academically for a long time.
I'm not saying the program there is like either of these; just that programs vary a lot in what they deliver. And while some amount of push to succeed can be good, sometimes it's too much emotionally, even when the student has the academic ability. I think knowing more about what they do, how they do it, and what their expectations are will help with your decision a LOT.
What she lacks is self-confidence and I don't know what more I can do to reassure her perfection is not "real".
As far as this perfectionist can tell, there's nothing you can say to change that, lol! Did I mention how ticked off I was that my last paper "only" earned me a 99?
