Many public school systems around the country have programs for academically gifted students. Entry into these programs is sometimes determined by the results of IQ tests. Historically, there were two types of IQ tests used: the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Both tests assess cognitive processing including math and reading ability. The tests are subjects of controversy and have been criticized for being biased against girls and minorities. Test authors responded to criticism with continuing research to modify the tests to adhere to modern standards and accommodate cultural differences.
Both the Stanford-Binet and the WISC are also used to determine if a child has learning disabilities. A child's learning disabilities can be identified as young as 4 years old, claim proponents of the Stanford-Binet. The WISC, which is the most widely used IQ test for children, is used to detect attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To compensate for criticism that it may unfairly be used track minority children into learning disability programs, test authors modified the assessment to include findings of the Flynn Effect, changes in IQ scores in a population over time.
The results of an IQ test can be a life or death situation for some who are convicted of violent crimes. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS--IV) is the most used test used to determine if a plaintiff is fit for trial or to determine punishment for a crime. The WAIS-IV measures cognitive ability from 16 to 90 years old. High-profile stays of execution often hinge on the outcome of tests used to determine whether or not a criminal has a severe mental disability that impeded his judgment and perception of the world. Mental health advocates claim that citizens with intellectual disabilities may confess to crimes they did not commit. As of 2001, the Death Penalty Information Center claims that 44 inmates with intellectual disabilities were executed in the United States. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Atkins v. Virginia that "executions of mentally retarded criminals are 'cruel and unusual punishments' prohibited by the Eighth Amendment."