Please contact Megan Bruce at mpbruce@dcsdk12.org or 303-387-6489 to learn more about Bear Canyon Elementary's Gifted Identification process and programming for Gifted students.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As part of the DCSD Universal Screening process and our commitment to equitable identification for gifted programming, DCSD will administer the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT 7) during the weeks of Feb. 8 - March 5, 2021. This assessment indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates. Please see below for specific information based on your child’s current grade.

2nd Grade Universal Screen

• As part of this process, ALL students in 2nd grade who have not been identified for gifted programming will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) in February (specific dates to be posted by January 22). This assessment 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 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.

Gifted Identification Referral Testing

• If your child is in grades K, 1, 3, 4 and 5 and you believe he/she needs evaluation for Gifted Identification and Services, you may refer your child for testing by initiating the Gifted Identification Process.

• NOTE: Requesting this assessment automatically initiates the process to evaluate for Gifted Identification.

• Please request CogAT testing for your child by completing the Referral for Gifted Identification linked HERE.

• Upon receipt of this form the Gifted Education Facilitator will connect with you to discuss next steps in the gifted identification process.

6th Grade Universal Screen from November 2020 - Makeups

• Students who were not able to take the test in November will take the CogAT during this February window

• Students who started the CogAT but were not able to finish will have the chance to take the portion(s) that was not completed during this February window.

eLearners

Families with students currently enrolled in eLearning will receive detailed information about their CogAT testing options and logistics directly from the DCSD District Team/eLearning Administration. If you do not receive this information by Jan 22, 2021, please contact the DCSD Gifted Education Team at: gifted.education@dcsdk12.org.

Please see the following for additional information linked below:

2020 - 2021 Spring CogAT UNIVERSAL Screening Letter

DCSD Gifted Education News

Conversations with CAGT

CAGT is excited to announce our new FaceBook Live - Conversations with CAGT...

Each Tuesday at 5:00 pm MDT, we will live streaming a 20 minute presentation, followed by a 20 minute Q&A, with a local or national expert about a topic relevant to our CAGT community and the current times we are living in.

We hope you can join us for this first, of many, Conversations with CAGT streaming live on our CAGT's FaceBook page.

Join DCAGT (Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented) on their Facebook page on Wednesday, November 11 from 6:00 to 7:00pm