UNIVERSAL SCREENING

Based on feedback from families and the Colorado Department of Education, and our commitment to increased equitable identification practices, we have made improvements to our Universal Screening process.  In the spring of 2020, DCSD transitioned from the “paper pencil” CogAT to the online version.  The online assessment platform provides for easier administration, faster results, and access to directions in multiple languages other than English. (NOTE: Additional language options are in process.)

As part of this process,  all current 2nd graders and 6th graders, not identified for gifted programming previously,  will take the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test), as well as referral students from grades K, 1, 3, 4, or 5 during the months of November and February. 

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is designed to measure both general and specific reasoning abilities.  The development of these abilities begins at birth and continues through early adulthood. In DCSD we use the CogAT as a universal screening tool for all students in grades second and  sixth grade.  We also offer the opportunity for students in grades 1, 3, 4, and 5 to test in order to collect cognitive aptitude data as ONE piece of a body of evidence to be used for the purposes of gifted identification and programming.  Students in grades 1, 3, 4, and 5 can be referred by a teacher or parent.  

The scores will guide efforts to adapt teaching methods to the needs and abilities of the students, and will also inform placement in the district’s Discovery Program for gifted learners should parents choose to apply for the program.

*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 information about this process.

GIFTED IDENTIFICATION REFERRAL TESTING

If your child is in a grade other than 2nd or 6th and you believe he/she needs evaluation for Gifted Identification and Services, and you have not done so already:

1.   Please contact your child's teacher or  Tiffany Platt if you have questions  and interest regarding the referral testing or the CogAT test: tlplatt@dcsdk12.org 

AND 

2.   Please initiate the Gifted Identification Referral Process by completing the referral form linked at the button in the top left corner of the page.

NOTE:  Completing this referral form WILL NOT initiate the CogAT assessment.

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

CogAT Testing Schedule :

SPECIFIC DATES FOR THE YEAR TBD-COMING SOON

November - Grade 6 universal screening and referral of students from grades 3, 4, and 5

February - Grade 2 and referral of students from grades K and 1

What can my child expect on the CogAT Test?

This test is not like a spelling or math test where if you know all of the words or facts you can make a 100%.  Instead, it is a norm-referenced test and the national average is the 50% percentile.  There is no defined curriculum for the CogAT and it is not the type of test that one studies for.  This test can help identify relative strengths and provide information to parents and teachers for instructional purposes.  Parents and teachers will receive an Ability Profile which provides insight into the way that the student learns best.  In Douglas County, the CogAT is also used to aid in the identification process for gifted and talented programming. 

There are three parts to the CogAT:  Verbal, Quantitative, and Non-Verbal. 

• Verbal:  Measures a child’s ability to remember and transform sequences of English words, understand them and make inferences and judgments about them.

• Quantitative:  Measures the child’s understanding of basic quantitative concepts and relationships that are essential for learning mathematics.

• Non-Verbal:  Measures reasoning using pictures and geometric shapes.  This reduces the impact of language on the student’s score.

Testing will take place over three days with students testing for approximately an hour to an hour and a half each day depending on the grade level.  This is a rigorous test, so we will take brain breaks between sessions.  You can expect that your child will miss at least an hour of classroom instruction on each day of testing. 

Is the CogAT the "Gifted Test" for smart kids?

No!  The CogAT is a cognitive abilities test that can provide a wealth of information about a child's learning strengths, weaknesses, and preferences.  Students from all backgrounds, academic demographics, and geographic areas take the CogAT each year.  The test has a variety of uses and provides teachers with another way to get to know their students as learners. 

In Douglas County, there is not one test that deems a child "gifted."  We gather a body of evidence that includes student work samples, parent and teacher observation forms, classroom testing data, student interest surveys, achievement tests like iReady, state testing data (if applicable), and cognitive or aptitude testing data.  The CogAT is the main cognitive testing data that we administer, but even if a child's CogAT scores are high, we must have other pieces of evidence that support the need for gifted programming. 

My child has a recent IQ score from outside testing.  Should (s)he take the CogAT?

Probably not.  An individually administered IQ test, such as the WISC-IV or WISPI, is as valid, if not more valid, than a CogAT score.  If your child has scores from an IQ test given in the last two years, the CogAT is not necessary. 

My child took the CogAT last year.  Should (s)he take the CogAT again?  Will the score change?

It is not recommended that a child take CogAT in consecutive years as the score is unlikely to change from one year to the next.  The one exception is when there is a change in test format.  The first and second grade tests are text free and the directions and items are read aloud to the students.  Beginning in third grade, the test is a more traditional test where students self-pace and are expected to read the test questions themselves.  In some cases, we see a marked difference between a first or second grade score and a third grade score due to these changes in testing conditions.

If your child tested last year and you wish to have him or her test again, please contact Mara Howell via email to discuss this as these decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. 

Still have questions about the CogAT?

If you have any questions regarding CogAT testing and whether it is the right test for your child, please feel free to contact Tiffany Platt via email at tlplatt@dcsdk12.org