TAG Idenficiation Process

Universal Testing/Screening

• All students are tested in grade 1 with a cognitive ability assessment. 

• All students in grade 4 who are not already identified for TAG services will be tested with a cognitive ability assessment.

• Test data is valid for two years.  PGCPS TAG Office DOES NOT retest students.

New Registrant Testing/Screening 

• Grade 2 - new registrants to PGCPS between July - October will be automatically tested with a cognitive ability assessment

• Grade 3 - new registrants to PGCPS between July - October will be automatically tested with a cognitive ability assessment.

• Grade 5 - new registrants to PGCPS between July - October will be automatically tested with a cognitive ability assessment.

• Test data is valid for two years.  PGCPS TAG Office DOES NOT retest students with valid test on file.

• NOTE: Students identified for gifted services in a different school district, must be screened using PGCPS screening criteria.  Please contact the school TAG Coordinator and provide all the testing and screening data for PGCPS review.  Students may need to complete additional testing.

Grades 5 - 7 Testing and Screening

• Grade 5, 6 and 7 students may be retested with a new cognitive ability assessment if at least one of the reading or math achievement scores (MCAP and iReady) is within eligible range (above the 89th percentile).

• Students would need to be nominated by a teacher or parent by contacting the school based TAG Coordinator between Sept. 5 - Jan. 15.

Private or Home School Students 

• PGCPS TAG Office provides testing and screening once a year for Prince George's County residents who are enrolled in private schools or are home schooled.

• The application will be available from Jan. 15, 2025 HERE. 

• Late applications are not accepted. 

• Walk ins are not accepted.

Multiple Criteria for TAG Identification

• Cognitive ability assessment (Otis-Lennon School Ability Test)

• Reading achievement assessment (MCAP district norm or MAP-Growth national percentile - grades 3 and up)

• Math achievement assessment (MCAP district norm or Math nationally normed assessment percentile - grade 3 and up)

• Characteristics and Behaviors of Gifted Learner Teacher Survey

Lottery for TAG Centers:  All TAG identified students, as well as those in the screening process, may apply to TAG Center Programs through the lottery. The lottery deadline is March 12, 2020. Applications are available from the school office or online at www.pgcps.org. 

2025-2026 IDENTIFICATION AND SCREENING DATES

2025-2026 Important Dates

August 26 – December 1  

Grades 6 and 7 teacher and staff nomination window.  Students will be tested with an Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT).  MCAP Reading and Math district percentile scores will be used in the screening process.

August 26 - January 15  

Parents/guardians may nominate students for TAG screening.  The request for TAG screening must be in writing to the TAG coordinator or professional school counselor. TAG Coordinator will review all existing data to complete the screening.  Test data is valid for 2 years.  

August 26 -  October 3  

Early Entrance to First Grade (AP 5111.11)  test request & teacher observation window. (Note:  Qualifying students should be moved to first grade by the beginning of second quarter.) and WILL NOT TAKE a second OLSAT Testing.  Contact the TAG Coordinator at the school.

November 1  

TAG Center Specialty Program Lottery Application Opens - https://pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com/

Students must be TAG identified by PGCPS and apply to the lottery by the deadline to be eligible to attend the TAG Center Program.  Placements are made based on home address.  Use Schoolfinder to identify the program boundary school.

To be considered for placement in a TAG Center Specialty Program for the 2026–2027 school year, students must be identified and coded for TAG services by March 13, 2026.

Students identified after March 13, 2026, will participate in the TAG Program at their boundary school in Fall 2026.These students may also have an opportunity to apply during a late lottery window in July/August 2026 (if available), and can apply during the December 2026 - March 2027 lottery for the 2027–2028 school year.

Please Note:Students currently enrolled in private or homeschool settings must participate in the PGCPS screening process and meet the established criteria for TAG services to be eligible for possible TAG Center placement.  

October 6-16

Grade 3 New Registrants to PGCPS will be tested with the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT)

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

October 20 - November 6

ALL Grade 1 students will be tested with the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) 

All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile on verbal, nonverbal, or total score will be screened for TAG services

Students moved to Grade 1 from Kindergarten via AP 5111.11 and tested with the OLSAT A should NOT test again

Students who take the grade 1 OLSAT are not eligible to take another cognitive ability assessment until grade 4.

November 20

AP 5111.11 Report on Early Entrance to First Grade (Attachment 2) due to the TAG Office

November 12 - 21

Grade 2 New Registrants students will be tested with the OLSAT.

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

December 8 - 17

ALL Grade 4 students (not already TAG-identified) will be tested with the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) 

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

December 8 - 17

Grade 5 New Registrants to PGCPS will be tested with Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) 

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

March 13

Lottery application Deadline - https://pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com/

Students must be TAG identified by PGCPS and apply to the lottery by the deadline to be eligible to attend the TAG Center Program.  Placements are made based on home address.  Use Schoolfinder to identify the program boundary school.

*Testing window dates are subject to change per the Testing Office Master Calendar. Each School will determine the exact testing dates within the testing window.