The referral process has four basic dimensions: (1) nomination of students as possible candidates for formal evaluation for gifted identification; (2) review of nominations to determine if referral for formal evaluation is warranted; (3) identification of students who meet the state criteria for placement in gifted education; (4) generation of information about academic and/or artistic strengths of students who have been formally evaluated for gifted identification. The first dimension, nomination of students, initiates the process.
Nominations can be made by classroom teachers, special area teachers, parent or guardian, the child himself or herself, or any other responsible person who has knowledge of the student’s intellectual functioning. A site-based Eligibility Committee is responsible for dimensions two and four. Dimension three – formal evaluation – is facilitated by the Lowndes County Schools gifted testing coordinator and the gifted program teacher at each school. Click here to view the Georgia Eligibility Chart.
Annual Talent Search
Each Fall and Spring, gifted resource teachers will lead professional learning activities to help regular classroom and special area teachers recognize indicators of potential giftedness. The purpose of this annual focus is twofold: (a) help teachers take a proficiency view of students, and (b) improve reported referrals for gifted program consideration.
Window 1 – Beginning in August
Elementary testing is scheduled for each school and the focus of testing in the fall will be:
Transfer Students – students who are new to Lowndes County Schools and for whom we have documentation that they were identified as gifted in another state. First, look at all assessment data that are less than two years old and use whatever is allowable under our SBOE Rule. Then administer only those tests/scales that are necessary to complete the profile, per Lowndes County Administrative Procedures.
Window 2 – Beginning in January
The focus for winter testing during Window 2 will be:
Kindergarten Students
Transfer Students from out of state
Window 3 April – May
Window 3 is the primary testing window and should be open for all eligible students. Every effort should be made to complete testing before the last week of school in an effort to have eligible students identified for the fall.
An In-School Gifted Eligibility Committee shall review the referrals prior to testing. The Eligibility Committee should consist of an administrator (or designee), gifted teacher, and grade-level (or content area) teacher(s).