Academic Identification

The Merton Community School District aligns with the gifted education best practice of a dynamic approach using locally normed data to match programming with students who have gifted and talented needs. Gifted and Talented identification is part of our Multi Level Systems of Support (MLSS) process. 

The following data points, both quantitative and qualitative, are triangulated to identify any mismatches between Merton's rigorous universal curriculum and gifted and talented academic needs of individual students that currently attend Merton Community Schools. Additional assessments may be given to the student prior to a placement in accelerated programming. 

• Documented classroom performance, growth or hindrance of academic growth

• iReady scores for Mathematics and Reading

• Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark or Columbia Teacher's College Assessment of reading

• Classroom and grade level pre assessments and assessments

Teamwork is important when matching gifted and talented needs with programming. Our Gifted and Talented Department is happy to schedule meetings with parents to discuss their child's progress as well as gifted and talented needs in the classroom and other program options in the Merton Community School District.