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Information for Parents About Recommending Students for Gifted Testing
Overview
The Board of Education formally approved a new identification process for gifted students on March 17, 2008. You can find an overview of this proposal and answers to frequently asked questions about it at the links near the bottom of this page. Our district is accepting recommendations for next year's gifted program for students entering grades 3-8. The deadline for initial recommendations is April 11th. Parent recommendations are available in the main offices of the primary, elementary, and middle school buildings. Teachers can get extra copies of recommendation forms from Mrs. Wright.
What Do I Do to Recommend My Child for Gifted Testing?
Complete a behavior checklist (available in the main office of your child's school) and turn it in to Mrs. Wright by April 11th. Your child cannot be tested two years in a row, so if your child was tested for gifted last year (spring, summer, or fall, 2007), s/he will be ineligible for testing this year.
Your child's homeroom teacher will be asked to complete a similar behavior checklist for your child when we receive your completed form. The school guidance counselor will also consult school records for your child's most recent achievement test data. These second phase forms are due by April 21st.
The Gifted Screening committee will meet to go over the checklists and test data and use a matrix to determine whether or not each student will be a good candidate for testing.
If the committee decides gifted testing is not appropriate at this time, parents will be informed, and there is one week to appeal the decision. The appeals process requires parents to write a letter explaining why the student would be a good candidate for gifted testing, and provide examples of exemplary student work and/or documentation of gifted behaviors within one week of receipt of the screening committee's letter.
If the committee decides testing is appropriate for a student, parents will be informed and asked to sign permission forms to test the students, due within one week of receipt of the screening committee's letter.
The Gifted Screening Committee Matrix is available here in PowerPoint format.
When families consent to gifted testing for their children, the district psychometrist, Sally Tracy, conducts individual IQ tests and small group creativity testing. This takes place from spring through fall of the next school year.
How Do I Prepare My Child for Testing?
Some parents aren’t sure how to prepare their children for testing. We hope students will give their best effort, without being overly concerned about the outcome. Parents might explain to younger children that they will take a test to find out more about how they learn. Parents might explain to older children that the purpose of these tests is to determine whether the student would be a good match for our gifted program. Intelligence and creativity are difficult entities to measure, so we are doing the best we can to collect useful data.
Obviously, it is important not to put pressure on a child with regard to the test. Depending on the child, you might also consider ways to prepare for different possible outcomes after the test. For some students, it will be important to reassure them that even if they do not qualify for the program, it simply means that their test scores don't match the program requirements, and that no matter what, they are bright and valuable people with many gifts to share with the world. For others, it will be important to consider that participating in the program will mean additional challenges and complex work.
How Does the Testing and Placement Process Work?
As soon as testing results are completed, the Gifted Placement Committee meets.
Any student with an IQ score of 130 or higher (full scale or GAI), is automatically placed in the program.
Any student with an IQ score of 125 or higher (full scale or GAI) AND a creativity score of 90% or higher, is automatically placed in the program.
Any student with an IQ score of 125 or higher (full scale or GAI) AND an achievement test score in math or communication arts of 99% (MAP or SAT-10, taken within the last year), is automatically placed in the program.
Students who are new to the district and have recently participated in their school gifted programs will be automatically placed in our program, provided their district uses similar gifted identification criteria.
Students with special needs and/or students who are English language learners will be evaluated for the gifted program on a case-by-case basis, and may be asked to submit other types of evidence of gifted behaviors and work.
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