Frequently Asked Questions
My son or daughter received straight A's but they did not get into the gifted program. How is this possible?
Report card grades make up only one category used for the identification process. It is possible that your child may not have done as well in the other areas.
My child's teacher told me that they would recommend them for the gifted program. Why were they not admitted?
Teachers can fill out a gifted behavior checklist, or Scale of Performance Criteria, for all students in their class. The checklist asks them to rate the child based on a series of G&T student characteristics, classroom behaviors, and grades. In the end, a composite score from the checklist is used with the identification rubric. Even though a teacher may choose to fill out the form, your child might not have scored high enough in comparison to their grade level peers. It is an assessment NOT a recommendation. It is important to note that it is not appropriate to contact your child's classroom teacher with the intent of interrogating them about scores given on the teacher recommendation as this undermines the integrity of the process.
How can I get my child into the gifted program?
As parents, we all want what is best for our child and it can hurt when we see them not attain something they wanted, or we wanted. It is important to understand what being gifted means in order to grapple with this. You cannot necessarily study or work your way to becoming gifted, nor should you or your child agonize over not being labeled as such. Academically gifted and talented students in this country make up approximately one to five percent of the total student population, so by its very nature, only a small portion of students will be eligible for services.
Being labeled as gifted is the equivalent of saying that the normal curriculum your child experiences is not meeting their needs. Just as special education students receive accommodations and modifications to meet their needs, so too will gifted students. For non-gifted students, the normal level of differentiation in the classroom is appropriate and challenging. .
How can I learn more about the rubric format and my child's scores? Please contact the Director of Special Services: Mrs. Jessica Pignatello pignatello.jessica@cgschools.org
“I have a friend whose child…” “Brandon from Miss Q’s class is in ACE…” “I know someone who’s kid is in ACE…” “How come that kid made it and mine did not...?”
Legally, we cannot and will not discuss other students. Moreover, it is counterproductive. Please trust that our identification process has been thoroughly vetted, evaluated, and revised as needed. The ACE program adheres to professionalism and holds high standards of integrity and confidentiality.
How will I know if my child has been identified? Parents of students who have qualified for ACE will receive an email. Please see the ACE Program and Identification Timeline.
If my child was in another district’s gifted program, is he/she/they/them guaranteed placement in Cedar Grove’s ACE program? Participation in a gifted program in another school district does not necessarily qualify a student for gifted service in Cedar Grove. We evaluate a new student’s needs in the same way we evaluate the needs of all students. We review information a student brings from a former district attended and a determination is made.
Once a student qualified for the ACE program, does he/she/they/them have to re-qualify every year? Yes. Students are evaluated every school year by state law. Please see the ACE Program and Identification Timeline.
Is there an exit policy? Yes, please refer to the following document: Academic and Behavioral Policy
If my child is identified as gifted and talented, will he/she/they/them remain in the program until he/she/they/them graduates? Not necessarily. Students are evaluated every school year. Please see the ACE Program and Identification Timeline.
Is there an appeals process? Yes, please see the Parent Appeal tab on this website.
Who do I contact if I have questions regarding gifted education? - Director of Special Services: Mrs. Jessica Pignatello pignatello.jessica@cgschools.org