Gifted Identification Process

Overview of the Gifted Identification Process

Burrell School District follows a structured Child Find process to identify students who may need gifted education services.

1. Initial screening by school guidance counselors to identify students who may need further consideration:

• Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores

• Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) results

• Reading and math assessments

• Teacher referrals

• Parent referrals

2. Cognitive Screening

• If the initial data suggest possible giftedness, school counselors administer a cognitive screener, the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-2).

• Students who meet criteria on this screener are discussed by the school counselors and school psychologist.

3. Gathering Parent Input

• For students who reach this stage, the School Psychologist collects parent input and perspective to ensure we have a full picture of the child’s strengths and needs.

4. Referral for a Full Gifted Evaluation

• If the team determines that a full evaluation is appropriate, the student is referred to the school psychologist for an additional test, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC).

5. Gifted Written Report (GWR) 

• This formal evaluation is called the Gifted Written Report (GWR). The GWR brings together the findings from the evaluation or reevaluation concerning the student’s educational needs.  

• The report must make recommendations as to whether the student is gifted and in need of specially designed instruction, indicate the basis of those recommendations, include recommendation for the student’s programming, and indicate the names and positions of the members of the team.

• The GWR includes:

  • Cognitive assessment results

  • Academic achievement data

  • Rating scale

  • Teacher input

  • Parent input

  • Additional data gathered by the school counselors

Using all of this information, the school psychologist determines whether the child meets state guidelines for giftedness through cognitive, academic achievement, rating scales, parent/teacher input, and data from counselors.