Multiple Measures of Eligibility

In order to identify students for gifted education services, the Fair Haven School District will use a multiple-criteria approach. This means that students will be identified for these services by looking at many sources of information. 

Teachers will be using a matrix of identifiers to gather information about all of the students in their classes. Specifically, teachers will be looking to identify students who show exceptional strengths in creative thinking, critical thinking/problem solving, English Language Arts, and math. Research shows that students who are truly gifted fall into the top 2-5% of their peers.

Utilizing this approach, with a matrix of identifiers and multiple criteria, all children are considered for the Gifted Education Program, including those that are considered to be "twice exceptional."  These students possess the qualities of gifted children, but may also have a specific learning disability.  Due to the nature of the data that is being collected, twice exceptional students may show aptitude in one or more areas of the matrix, which include, but are not limited to:  Characteristics of learning, creativity, motivation, leadership, artistic, musical, dramatic, communication, mathematics, technology, etc.  There are many areas where a student can demonstrate giftedness and as a district, we want to be sure to capture all of the students that would benefit from this program.

The Gifted Education Committee will identify students using both norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessments, in addition to a teacher recommendation scale.  

Norm-referenced tests report whether test takers performed better or worse than a hypothetical average student, which is determined by comparing scores against the performance results of a statistically selected group of test takers, typically of the same age or grade level, who have already taken the exam.  This could be the SAGES, InView, or other aptitude tests.

Criterion-referenced tests compare a person’s knowledge or skills against a predetermined standard, learning goal, performance level, or other criterion. This could be a unit assessment for a particular subject.

Norm-Referenced Assessments

Criterion-Referenced Assessments

Important Note:  During the 2020-2021 school year, selection criteria was waived.  Data points that the district would have normally collected during the spring semester were unable to be obtained due to the pandemic.