Embedded Files
All Douglas County Schools adhere to the guidelines put forth by the Colorado Department of Education regarding identifying students as gifted learners. Once a student is identified as a gifted learner in a particular area of learning, we work collaboratively with the parents and student to write an Advanced Learning Plan for the student.
It is important to note that we use a body of evidence to identify students as gifted learners. The CogAT test is just one of these pieces of evidence. We need to have evidence from 3 of 4 categories:
Student Achievement (consistent achievement at 95th percentile or above) e.g iReady scores, CMAS scores
Student Aptitude (scores at 95th percentile or above) e.g. CogAT
Student Performance Evaluation (Advanced/Distinguished or above) e.g. advanced classwork, achievement in state/national competitions, etc.
Gifted Education Scale: SIGS- a Nationally Normed Teacher Observation Scale (scores at 95th percentile or above)
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) - Universal Screening
DCSD is committed to implementing equitable practices to increase access to advanced/gifted learning opportunities. Based on state and national recommendations and requirements, we implement Universal Screening for students in 2nd grade (February) and 6th grade (November).
This assessment - CogAT - indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates. These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.
If you would like your 2nd or 6th grade student to opt out of the CogAT assessment, please reach out to your classroom teacher or Heather Stinnett @ hlstinnett@dcsdsk12.org.
If your child is already identified for gifted programming, they will not participate in this universal screen testing. Your Gifted Education Facilitator will contact you directly with more detailed information about this process.
Please see the following for additional information linked below:
DCSD Universal Screening Letter to Families_Fall
Gifted Identification Referral Testing
Copper Mesa - DCSD Gifted Identification Referral Form -
Consent to Evaluate, Parent/Guardian Survey & Student Survey
If your child is in a grade other than 2nd or 6th, and you believe he/she needs evaluation for Gifted Identification and Services, and you have not done so already, please initiate the Gifted Identification Referral Process by completing the referral form linked above & here. Here is the form in Spanish. Reach out to Heather Stinnett with any questions.
Be advised, you will need approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete the entire document. At the end of this form there is a section for the student to complete. Please have them take their time as they answer these questions. If your child is not old enough to type, please transcribe their responses for them. There is not a way to save your progress in this form. You need to be ready with your child to fill it out. Please reach out to Heather Stinnett with questions. Upon receipt of this form the Gifted Education Facilitator will be connect with you to discuss next steps in the process.
*If you are a student nominating yourself, fill out the referral portion of the form and the student survey. Please ask your parents/guardians to fill out the parent survey only.
We are very proud at CME that we differentiate to meet the needs of all learners.
~ High Achiever, Gifted Learner, Creative Thinker ~
Kingore, B. (Spring 2004). High Achiever, Gifted Learner, Creative Learner.
Understanding Our Gifted.
www.bertiekingore.com
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