Identification Process

TAG identification involves a balance of quantitative and qualitative measures following very specific procedures which include:

  • Global Testing – all students are tested in grades 1, 2 and 4. Students may also be nominated in grades 3 and 5 through 7.

  • Multiple criteria – selection for the TAG program is based on the assessment of a variety of quantitative and qualitative measures which are aligned to meet the National Association of Gifted Children Exemplary Standards.

  • Committee Recommendation – a group of school based professional educators analyze all appropriate data regarding placement recommendations. The TAG supervisor or Specialist reviews, approves, processes, and codes TAG-identified students.

  • Re-screening – yearly, TAG re-screens are initiated and monitored by the TAG Office. Students with qualifying test data, who do not qualify in other areas are recommended for re-screening later that year or first quarter of the next school year.

2022-2023

IMPORTANT TAG

IDENTIFICATION AND SCREENING DATES

September 8 - January 15

Parent nomination window. Parents need to request TAG screening in writing to the TAG coordinator or professional school counselor.

September 8 - October 15

Early Entrance to First Grade (AP 5111.11) test request & teacher observation window. (Note: Qualifying students should be moved to first grade by the beginning of second quarter.)

October

Grade 3 New Registrants to PGCPS will be tested with the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT)

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

November

ALL Grade 1 students will be tested with the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) (Note: Students moved to Grade 1 from Kindergarten via AP 5111.11 and tested with the OLSAT A should NOT test again.)

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

November 15 - January 11

Application window for TAG testing/screening of private or homeschooled students. (Google form)

November 27 - December 7

ALL Grade 2 students will be tested with the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT)

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

December 12 - 20

ALL Grade 4 students (not already TAG-identified) and new registrant 5th graders will be tested with the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT)

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

December 15, 2022 - March 15, 2023

TAG CENTER LOTTERY application available at https://pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com/

Students must be TAG identified by PGCPS and apply to the lottery by the deadline to be eligible to attend the TAG Center Program. Placements are made based on home address. Use Schoolfinder to identify the program boundary school.

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Testing window dates are subject to change per the Testing Office Master Calendar. Each School will determine the exact testing dates within the testing window.

PGCPS Specialty Programs Lottery application which includes the TAG Center Program - https://pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com/