The Enriching and Gifted Learning Experiences (E.A.G.L.E.) program in our school district is designed to offer students with advanced cognitive abilities the opportunity to develop creative thinking and problem solving skills, and to explore accelerated, complex academic work that goes beyond the scope of traditional grade level curricula.
Our district gifted handbook committee has been meeting since the spring of 2007 to examine our identification policies and more clearly communicate them to the school community. As we examined our policies, we made some changes that will take effect for students who will be tested for the 2008-2009 school year. You are welcome to read the working document of our
Gifted Handbook in PowerPoint form.
Recommendations for the Program
Parents and teachers may recommend students for testing for our pull-out E.A.G.L.E. program. Testing begins in March and continues through early fall. School counselors also screen students' test scores to help identify capable students who are not recommended.
Teacher Recommendation Forms are available here.
Parent Recommendation Forms are available here.
If you are a teacher with questions about recommending a student for the gifted program, please visit this link.
If you are a parent with questions about recommending a student for the gifted program, please visit this link.
When a student is recommended for the program, whether through a parent or teacher recommendation or test scores, it triggers collection of information from the other two sources. For example, if a parent completes a recommendation form, one is also given to the classroom teacher, and the student's test results are pulled. (The same forms--see above--are used to initiate and supplement parent/teacher recommendations.)
Recommendation data is collected on a matrix and examined by the Gifted Screening Committee, consisting of administrators and counselors from grades 3-8, the gifted teacher, and possibly classroom teachers, as well. The Screening Committee will compile a list of students to submit to the district psychometrist for further evaluation, based on the strength of the recommendations and test information.
Families of students who are being considered for further testing will be notified of the Screening Committee's decision, and parents provide consent before their children are tested for the gifted program. Families who submit parent recommendations for the program will also be notified if the Screening Committee decides that a student should not be tested. Families who wish to appeal the Screening Committee's decision must contact the committee chair within one week of notification.
Students may not be evaluated for the program two years in a row.
Evaluation and Placement in the Program
The district psychometrist conducts individual IQ testing, using the WISC-IV. The psychometrist or guidance counselor also gives the Creativity Assessment Packet (CAP) in small groups.
Students who are new to our district who have participated in gifted programs with similar evaluation criteria will be automatically placed in our program. Students from districts with extremely different evaluation criteria will be tested according to our criteria before they are considered for placement.
Students with special needs, such as English language learners, or students with learning impairments that may affect their ability to demonstrate their knowledge on achievement tests, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students may be asked to submit work samples in addition to test scores.
