Identification Process
Identification Process
Gifted and Talented Services Page
Identification Process
The Weehawken Township School District is committed to providing equitable access to gifted and talented (G&T) education in alignment with the New Jersey Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-34 et seq.).
Our goal is to ensure that all students — including those from traditionally underrepresented populations — have opportunities to demonstrate advanced potential and receive instructional services that meet their academic and creative needs.
The Weehawken G&T Committee includes the assistant superintendent, curriculum director, elementary supervisor, elementary principal, gifted and talented teacher coordinator, and two additional staff members. This committee oversees the identification and placement of students, professional learning for staff, and community outreach.
The identification process seeks to recognize students who demonstrate or show the potential to perform at high levels of ability compared with others of the same age, experience, or environment. Identification ensures that these students receive specialized programming that challenges them and helps them reach their full potential.
Universal screening for gifted and talented services begins in kindergarten. Teachers use data to identify Kindergarten students who are eligible for accelerated concepts and lessons. Universal screening for gifted and talented services continues in Grade 1 through Grade 4. A matrix with multiple data sources is used to identify students showing the potential for performing at high levels of ability when compared with other students of a similar age. All students are considered for screening regardless of background, language status, gender, or socioeconomic standing.
Kindergarten – Grade 2 Screening Measures
Open Court Diagnostic Assessments
NWEA MAP Reading Fluency
NWEA MAP Growth Math
Teacher Recommendations and Observations
Grades 3 – 4 Screening Measures (Theodore Roosevelt School)
NJSLA Scores (when available)
NWEA MAP Growth Reading
NWEA MAP Growth Math
Standards-Based Report Card (Majority “Exceeds Standards” in ELA/Math)
InView Cognitive Assessment
Teacher Recommendations
Evaluation
The evaluation stage is a process designed to analyze the data from the screening stage to determine which students require additional services to reach their potential. The school GT Committee reviews student data and makes a recommendation for services. The committee assigns identified gifted and talented students to the appropriate level of service that matches their specific needs. Parents will be notified in writing on or about the first week of August.
Transfer Students
There is no single-entry test for the Gifted and Talented (G&T) Program in Weehawken Township. Instead, the committee reviews multiple factors, including:
Independent reading and quantile levels (typically at least one grade level above)
Academic records and report cards
Documentation of prior gifted identification and/or services from another district
All transfer students take the NWEA assessments (administered three times per year).
The G&T Committee reviews data, and parents are notified in writing if their child qualifies for gifted and talented services.
Reassessment
The Weehawken Township School District recognizes that children continue to grow and develop over the years. For this reason, all students in grades 3-6 are monitored and reevaluated annually to determine if they require GT services. Parents will be notified in writing on or about the first week of August if their child is eligible.
All students in Grades 3–6 are reevaluated each year using updated assessment data.
A mid-year review (January) is conducted for students showing significant academic growth.
Parents/guardians are notified in writing of any changes to placement or eligibility.
This ongoing process ensures that identification remains flexible, inclusive, and developmentally responsive.
Parent Appeal/Nomination Process
Parents/Guardians must submit a written request for reconsideration of the identification and placement, along with an appeals portfolio, to the building principal. In your appeals portfolio, please include work samples that demonstrate:
Above-grade-level aptitude
Why the current placement does not meet student needs
Possible samples to include:
Creative writing
Academic writing
Mathematical thinking beyond problem sets
Problem-solving beyond classroom situations
A brief explanation for each piece included in your portfolio describing why you chose to include it.
A list of non-academic activities/interests (i.e., music, art, clubs, etc.) and what your child’s role is in each activity.
Items that will not be considered if included in the portfolio:
Teacher recommendation letters
Certificates, awards, etc.
The principal shall acknowledge in writing the receipt of the request within five working days and shall forward copies of the request and acknowledgment to the Assistant Superintendent of Schools and the District Gifted and Talented Coordinator.
The Assistant Superintendent, Director of Academic Programs & Student Achievement, Principal, and other appropriate staff will review the student’s file within ten working days of the original request. Additional data may be gathered to support or change the earlier decision.
Parents/Guardians may be provided an opportunity to present additional evidence.
A decision will be made within twenty working days after receipt of the written request for reconsideration. The parents shall be notified in writing, and the decision shall be forwarded to the superintendent. The Appeals Committee will review only one appeal per student per year.
The decision may be appealed to the Board.
If a student is struggling and not demonstrating progress, the following process will be initiated by the teacher, principal, counselor, or parent:
Conference with the parent to address concerns and develop an action plan with RTI interventions
Subsequent meetings with parents to review students and make adjustments to the plan as needed.
If a student is struggling and not demonstrating progress, it is assumed that regular communication has occurred between teacher and parent before the initial conference takes place. A low-performing student should not be removed because of compliance problems (i.e. poor homework completion/assignments, behavior in class, etc.)
The Weehawken Township School District is committed to ensuring that:
All students have equal access to gifted and talented identification and services.
Identification procedures and criteria are clearly communicated on the district website.
Parents/guardians are informed annually about programs, identification procedures, and the appeal process.
The district provides an annual report to the Board of Education on program effectiveness and compliance with state requirements.
POLICY 2464. GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS