Embedded Files
Have you ever wondered how students are identified as gifted?
Have you ever wondered how students are identified as gifted?
At FASD, the gifted identification process follows Colorado state guidelines and DPS standards to ensure consistency and equity.
In Colorado, students must demonstrate three or more qualifying data points at or above the 95th percentile to be formally identified as gifted. These data points are collected into what’s called a Body of Evidence (BOE).
If a student does not yet qualify but shows strong potential, they may be placed in the Talent Pool, where they will continue to be monitored by the GT Coordinator.
These data points can come from a variety of areas:
Academic: nationally normed assessments such as STAR
Observational: parent and/or teacher observational scores such as the SIGS
Cognitive: nationally normed cognitive testing such as the NNAT, NGAT or CogAT (used at FASD)
Creativity: Tools like the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, recently added by DPS
Once the data is collected, a team of three Gifted Identification Certified professionals reviews the evidence. One team member typically compiles and submits the data with a suggested area of identification. The other two reviewers either agree, request more information, or propose a different identification based on the evidence.
At FASD, our GT Coordinator serves as our in-house certified reviewer. We then partner with two additional certified professionals within the DPS network, which is the standard practice across the district to ensure consistency and equity.
This collaborative review process helps ensure that all students are evaluated fairly and that their unique strengths are recognized.
HGT
Formally identified students with a 95th percentile or above on a nationally normed cognitive test, a nationally normed academic test score in the 95th percentile or higher, and an observation scale score (such as a SIGS, 95th percentile or higher). HGT students are eligible for HGT Magnet Site enrollment.
GT
Identified Gifted students who do not have a qualifying cognitive test score, but do have 2 or more qualifying academic scores and a qualifying observational or anecdotal score. GT students are not eligible for HGT Magnet Site enrollment.
Talent Pool
Students with two or more of the following data can be put in the Talent Pool:
three qualifying achievement data of 95th percentile or higher on a nationally normed assessment (such as the STAR assessment)
qualifying observation scale score (such as a SIGS)
qualifying and specific qualitative anecdotal data.
a cognitive score that is close to qualifying (85th-94th percentile)
Talent Pool students can often be from underrepresented populations or twice exceptional students, or may be English Language Learners or have other such barriers to testing.
Magnet Eligible
Students with a 95th percentile or above on a nationally normed cognitive test, but are not yet formally identified HGT. ME students are eligible for HGT Magnet Site Enrollment.
*To become certified in Gifted Identification, educators complete a specialized training course through Denver Public Schools (DPS) and must pass an exam demonstrating their understanding of the standards, procedures, and expectations involved in the gifted identification process.
Page updated
Report abuse