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 when they feel it is warranted. 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 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 six to ten 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 to will gifted students. For non-gifted students, the normal level of differentiation in the classroom is appropriate and challenging.

If my child has been identified as having a disability, can they also be identified as gifted? Yes. A student can have both a disability and be gifted. In cases where the student has an IEP, both the disability and the giftedness will be addressed in the students IEP. Students in this situation are referred to as twice exceptional or 2E students.

How can I learn more about the rubric format and my child's scores? Please contact Mrs. Hill: hill.melissa@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, I 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 a letter in the mail. Please see the ACE Program and Identification Timeline.

If my child was in another district’s gifted program, is he/ she 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.

How can I help my child prepare for the InView test? Knowledge or skills needed are developed as a result of all school and life experiences. These are not tests you can, or should, prepare for as they are meant to measure innate ability. Do not overemphasize the importance of these tests or act in a way so as to add to any test anxiety. Make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep prior to testing and has a nutritious breakfast each morning before testing.

Once a student qualified for the ACE program, does he or she have to re-qualify every year? Yes. Students are evaluated every school year. Please see the ACE Program and Identification Timeline.

If my child is identified as gifted and talented, will he/she remain in the program until he or she graduates? Not necessarily. Students are evaluated every school year. Please see the ACE Program and Identification Timeline.

Who do I contact if I have questions regarding gifted education? - Mrs. Hill hill.melissa@cgschools.org