High Ability Defined

High ability students as defined by Indiana Code (IC) 20-36-1 as a student who: 

○ performs at or shows the potential for performing at an outstanding level of accomplishment in at least one (1) domain when compared with other students of the same age, experience, or environment; and 

○ is characterized by exceptional gifts, talents, motivation, or interests. 

How are students identified in MCAS?

All students in kindergarten, third, sixth and eighth grade will be screened using the CogAT-7 assessment.  

Using local norms, any student scoring at or above the 8th stanine will then take the Full CogAt-7 Assessment. This will determine high ability in one or more of the required domains.

• Language Arts

• Math

• General Intellectual

Students scoring at or above the 90th percentile in one or more domains on the full CogAt are automatically identified as HA (High Ability).

• HA-Language Arts

• HA-Math

• HA-General Intellectual

Students scoring at the 80th percentile in one or more domains on the full CogAt are further considered for placement through additional identification measures. 

Additional Identification Measures:

• A completed SIGS form (Scales for Identifying Gifted Students) from the child's teacher.

  •   Students with SIGS scores above 115 are considered for placement. 

• Achievement data (High ILEARN, i-Ready, ECA, or PSAT scores)

• Teacher observations, student work samples, etc.

Alternate Pathways:

Students who score below the 8th stanine on the CogAt screener, but show high achievement on ILEARN, i-Ready, PSAT, etc., may be considered through the additional identification measures listed above. 

Universal Screening:

Services:

Exit Procedure:

• An initial meeting should take place with the high ability teacher, coordinator, parents, and (if appropriate) the student.

• At the initial meeting, the child’s progress to date and concerns over performance should be documented.  Interventions should be developed and agreed upon by all parties.

• Interventions should be put into place with fidelity for no less than one grading period.

• Upon completion of the next grading period, a second meeting should be held during which time the child’s progress under the interventions should be evaluated, and future placement should be determined.

• If the child is removed from the high ability program, the high ability designation should be removed from the child’s STN.

Communication:

2024-2025:

• Semester 1  Newsletter

Additional Resources

For more information about the new requirements under the law and the tools used, please visit the Indiana Department of Education.

For more information High Ability, please contact Kristin Smith at ksmith@mcas.k12.in.us.