Assessments with Purpose
Families often approach assessment with a mix of hope and uncertainty. Some are seeking documentation for a specific decision, such as grade acceleration. Others are trying to understand why a child with advanced reasoning and deep interests may still struggle with consistency, output, or engagement. In either case, the central question is rarely about a score alone. It is about what the information means, how it fits with what you already know about your child, and how it can be used to make thoughtful next-step decisions.
Sequoia offers three distinct assessment pathways, each designed to answer different questions. The Strength-Based Learning Profile provides a comprehensive, integrative analysis of a learner’s strengths and barriers. The Iowa Assessments document academic achievement and grade-level mastery. The Cognitive Abilities Test (CoGAT) provides standardized reasoning scores. These options serve different purposes and may be used independently or in combination depending on a family’s goals.
Strength-Based Learning Profile
Research consistently demonstrates that gifted and twice-exceptional learners thrive in strength-based, interest-focused educational environments that encourage deep curiosity, provide appropriate challenge, and align with their cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and creative needs. When education is intentionally designed around how a learner processes, retains, and demonstrates understanding, strengths become entry points for growth rather than isolated talents.
The Strength-Based Learning Profile is Sequoia’s most comprehensive assessment pathway. It is grounded in the Suite of Tools® framework developed by Dr. Robin Schader and Dr. Susan Baum. Lisa Jobe is fully trained and licensed by co-author Dr. Susan Baum and the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education to implement this methodology with gifted and twice-exceptional learners.
The Suite of Tools® is a strengths-based, interest-focused set of evidence-backed assessment instruments that, when utilized by a trained gifted/2e specialist, provides a structured way to identify and understand a learner’s unique profile.
Core Assessment Components
My Learning Print
Explores how the learner prefers to learn, areas of deep interest, environmental conditions that enhance understanding, and experiences that foster engagement.
Quick Personality Indicator (QPI)
Helps clarify patterns in how a learner approaches thinking, problem-solving, and interaction by identifying tendencies such as People Person, Learned Expert, Creative Problem Solver, or Practical Manager.
CLUES Form
Invites parents and other adults familiar with the learner to reflect on observed strengths, needs, and environmental influences.
These tools are integrated with parent interviews, learner conversations, and review of existing evaluations to build a comprehensive understanding of the student’s profile.
Process
This learning profile assessment is structured yet conversational. It includes:
Parent or caregiver interviews (typically 1–2 hours)
Warm, developmentally appropriate interviews with the learner (typically 2–3 hours, divided as needed)
Input from 1–2 additional educators, coaches, or adults familiar with the learner
Review of prior assessments or relevant documentation
Structured evaluation of the Suite of Tools® instruments
Creation of a comprehensive portfolio presentation outlining findings
A one-hour consultation to review results, clarify recommendations, and determine next steps
Families using the profile for school advocacy receive an additional written report that includes research-informed recommendations aligned with best practices.
How the Profile Informs Advocacy and Instructional Design
The purpose of this assessment is not merely descriptive. Findings are synthesized to inform strategic decision-making. This may include guidance regarding acceleration, subject placement, environmental adjustments, talent development opportunities, executive functioning supports, and long-term pathway planning.
When used in advocacy contexts, the profile provides structured documentation of strengths and clearly articulated patterns, supporting more focused and effective conversations with schools. When used for homeschool or alternative planning, it informs instructional design decisions that align challenge with capacity and nurture both potential and well-being.
The Suite of Tools® also serves as a valuable complementary lens alongside cognitive or psychosocial evaluations.
Investment
Complete pricing for the Strength-Based Learning Profile and Portfolio is $1500.
Academic Achievement Assessment
The Iowa Assessments measure academic achievement relative to grade-level expectations. At Sequoia, Iowa testing is most commonly used for two distinct purposes: documenting full-grade mastery when grade acceleration is under consideration, or identifying areas where additional academic challenge may be appropriate.
Families may use Iowa results to support acceleration advocacy, clarify placement decisions, or guide homeschool planning. Iowa results measure learned academic skills rather than cognitive ability and are interpreted within the broader context of the learner’s goals.
Investment: $150
Includes administration of the Iowa Assessments and a 30-minute private consultation to review scores, interpretation, and recommended next steps.
Cognitive Reasoning Profile
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CoGAT) provides standardized reasoning scores across verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal domains. Families often use CoGAT as an initial snapshot of cognitive reasoning strengths or to obtain widely recognized scores requested by organizations such as Mensa or certain school-based gifted identification processes.
CoGAT is a targeted reasoning measure and does not replace a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation. It may be used independently or in conjunction with the Iowa Assessments or the Strength-Based Learning Profile, depending on a family’s needs.
At Sequoia Gifted, CoGAT administration is provided in conjunction with the Iowa Assessments to ensure a balanced view of both achievement and reasoning data.
Investment: $225
Includes CoGAT administration in conjunction with Iowa and a 45-minute private consultation to review results and implications.
Availability
Formal administration of the Iowa Assessments and CoGAT through Sequoia Gifted is available to homeschool students. The Strength-Based Learning Profile and consultation services are available to all families, including those enrolled in public or private school.
Working Alongside Independent Evaluations
Many families come to Sequoia Gifted with psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluations already completed. These reports often include valuable insights into cognitive patterns, processing differences, attention, executive functioning, and social-emotional factors. Sequoia Gifted’s role is not to replace clinical evaluation, but to complement it by integrating assessment data into educational decision-making.
Using a strengths-based framework, results from independent evaluations can be translated into practical next steps—pacing, placement, environmental fit, supports, and long-term learning pathways.
Next Steps
If you are seeking clarity about which assessment pathway best aligns with your learner’s needs, begin with a focused consultation. This conversation allows us to discuss your learner’s current situation, review your questions, consider any existing documentation, and determine whether a Strength-Based Learning Profile, Iowa assessment, CoGAT, or a combination of tools is appropriate.
Strategic Consultation (60 Minutes)
A one-hour consultation designed to clarify next steps and guide assessment decisions.
Investment: $150
(Consultation fee may be applied toward a Strength-Based Learning Profile.)
Ready to Schedule Testing?
Families seeking Iowa or Iowa + CoGAT for documentation purposes may purchase and schedule directly below.
Iowa Assessment
Academic achievement testing with a 30-minute private consultation reviewing scores and recommended next steps.
Investment: $150
After purchase, please schedule a brief 15-minute coordination call to confirm testing dates and logistics.
Iowa + CoGAT Assessment
Combined academic achievement and cognitive reasoning testing, including a 45-minute private consultation reviewing integrated results and implications.
Investment: $225
After purchase, please schedule a brief 15-minute coordination call to confirm testing dates and logistics.