Screening/Identification

Screening/Identification

Formal identification of students begins in grade 4. The Mitchell County Schools AIG Program has established a flow-chart timeline to summarize the screening, referral, and identification procedures. To facilitate the referral process, a screening pool of potential referrals is compiled from the administration of two screening tools to all 3rd and 5th grade students: 1) the NNAT3 (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test), which measures ability, and the CogAT Screener test, which measures verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal aptitude. These screener tests are administered to every student in these grades in the fall of the school year (usually mid-October). Student scores derived from either or both of these screener tests which are above average (above the 85th percentile for age or stanines 7-9) are included in the district-wide screening pool. Teachers are consulted for any additional nominations and nominations may also be accepted from students, peers, parents, or administrators.

Once parental consent is obtained to further evaluate, the collection of data is advanced by the AIG Coordinator, with the cooperation of both the parents and the classroom teacher. Referred students are group-administered the full CogAT battery of tests, which are used in order to obtain more specific identification of student strengths in reading or math skills. This testing occurs in the spring, usually in mid-March or April. The school-based review team (consisting of the teachers, school administrator, and the AIG Coordinator) compiles the scores along with other criteria including parent and teacher rating scales, achievement data, classroom grades, and ability test results on the Mitchell County Schools Placement Rubric. At present, this rubric consists of four rating categories (Well Exceeds. Exceeds, Meets, or No Qualifications) in six criteria areas: Teacher Evaluation and Parent Evaluation (Scales for Identifying Gifted Students, or "SIGS"), NNAT2 Ability Exams, CogAT Total Composite, Math Achievement (math class average, math achievement test %ile, CogAT quantitative/nonverbal score) and Reading Achievement (reading class average, reading achievement test %ile, CogAT verbal score). Students need to meet or exceed in at least 4 out of the 6 criteria areas to be considered for placement. This rubric helps to ensure that no one criterion excludes a child from AIG identification and all strengths are considered. Parents may also request the use of alternative assessments or individually administered testing by a licensed professional, however, the Mitchell County Schools AIG Program will not provide this testing and parents will be responsible for the cost of such testing.

 Students who do not meet the criteria for placement are placed in a file for possible re-evaluation in the near future. Such students may not be formally identified, but may be recommended for educational services or settings that can nurture their potential for future identification. Students who are highly gifted may need to have a formal identification made in grades K-3. These students will be evaluated on an independent basis by the school-based review team. 

See our timeline/flowchart below: