Screening and Referral Processes

Polk County Schools has developed screening and referral processes that lead to Advanced Learning/AIG talent development services and formal identification during grades K-12. Screening is the annual process of reviewing data to build a body of evidence to examine for students who will be considered for AIG services. Screening guidelines are not equivalent to identification requirements, but rather help determine whether students have advanced learning needs beyond what is provided by the regular educational program. Referral is the mechanism for alerting the school AIG team of the potential need for these additional services.

Screening

Classroom teachers (K-12) screen for evidence of giftedness by looking for students who score 2-3 grade levels (and/or 90+%) above peers on research-based reading and/or math assessments (e.g. Dibbles, EOG, BOG, EOC, etc.)

In addition,

K-2 teachers use a Gifted Behavior Checklist: Gifted Behavior Checklist
All 4th grade students take a universal screener (currently CogAT)
To ensure there is a mechanism for finding students who might not have been highlighted in the above screening process, teachers, families, and students have the opportunity to refer students (see referral process below)

Identification Criteria

Polk County Schools AIG Identification Criteria

Before making a referral, please note the criteria for identification in this linked document.

Gifted Behavior Checklist: Gifted Behavior Checklist

Referral Form

Polk County Schools AIG Referral Form

Referral windows are October and May. Referrals will be responded to within 1 month and further testing completed within one additional month (not including school holidays/vacations).

In collaboration with school principals, the AIG teacher (elementary schools), advanced ELA/Math teachers (PCMS), academic specialist advisor for AIG students (PCHS) and Early College principal guide/complete the screening/referral process.

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