GT Referral

CDE Definition of Gifted

“Gifted Children” means those persons between the ages of four and twenty-one whose aptitude or competence in abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment in one or more domains are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted children are hereafter referred to as gifted students. Gifted students include gifted students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of the areas of giftedness.

Process Initiation

GT Identification works through a process that is initiated by any stakeholder (Parent, Center Staff, General Education Teacher, Student Services Coordinator, Literacy Specialist, and/or Moderate Needs Teacher) working with the student. In order to begin the process the referring party will begin to gather data about what makes them think the student might be gifted. In order to refer, the information needed is as follows:

• Student Name

• Birthdate

• Grade

• Learning Center

• Referral Made By

• Referral Contact Info

• Has the student been previously identified as gifted? If Yes - details provided

Once this information is gathered, the team will fill out the GT Identification Initiation Form. Referral information is received by the GT Facilitator and this referral initiates the process for gifted identification determination.

Gifted Identification Determination

It is important to realize that in order for a student to be identified as gifted they must qualify in three out of four areas including:

• Aptitude

  • 95%ile and above on Cognitive assessments

• Achievement

  • 95%ile and above or Advanced on State Assessments

• Norm-referenced Observation Scale

  • 95%ile and above on the teacher completed Gifted Evaluation Scale

• Performance Evaluation

  • Teacher/Expert Assessed Portfolio Review - Advanced/Distinguished/Above Grade Level

  • State or National Academic Contest (top place or ranking)

  • Expert Juried Performance (Advanced or Distinguished)

Determination

After data has been collected, one of three outcomes may occur and parents and staff will be notified.

• Not gifted - student may be a high performer but may not qualify as a gifted student under the state definition of gifted. This will happen if a student fails to qualify in 3 of the 4 areas required for GT identification.

• HiP Program- this student is demonstrating gifted characteristics but there may not be enough data at this time to determine if they qualify for GT identification. They will join the High Potential Program (HiP). These students will continue to be watched while more data is compiled.

• Gifted - a student who qualifies in 3 of the 4 areas above will be identified for GT in areas for which they qualify. A student may have enough evidence to qualify as gifted in one area but be in the HiP program for another area where enough data has not been compiled.

Universal Testing

Students will be universally screened for CogAT (Cognitive Aptitude Test) in grade 6. The universal screener will only be available during the fall window. These scores will be sent to parents for their records.

​Referral Testing​

Students grades 7-12 will be tested by referral only. Referred students are those who have demonstrated the need for advanced programming, differentiated instruction for advanced learning needs, grasp​ concepts quickly, need additional depth, complexity and/or creative expression, etc.

Please note:

Referral testing initiates the referral process for gifted identification. Parents requesting testing should also complete the Gifted Education ID Referral Form. The Gifted Education facilitator will begin gathering all other data for these students as they may not need to wait for the CogAT score to complete identification and/or begin programming.

Referral students must have a signed ​Consent to Test ​F​orm/ Gifted Education ID Referral Form​ - Both forms need ​to be returned to the school and placed in the student's​ cumulative file. These forms have been combined so you can print them out back to back.