A Systematic Approach to the

Identification Process

February 1st, 20188:15-9:15 a.m.

Dr. Sarah Cacciatore, Curriculum Director

Michelle Jackson, Assistant Principal

Today’s Agenda:○ Learn about us and tell us about you○ Our philosophy○ Our current identification and placement process○ Timeline used to create our identification process

Please, ask questions at any time!

About us:○ Dr. Sarah Cacciatore, Curriculum Director

○ Michelle Jackson, Assistant Principal

Oak Grove School is:

○ K-8 building○ One school, school district○ Located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago○ Approximately 920 students

Tell us about you!

OGS TAG (Talented And Gifted) Philosophy

○ The readiness and motivation for accelerative experiences are indicated through accurate, useful and available evidence

○ We believe we are responsible for providing optimal educational experiences for talents to flourish, and doing so is of benefit to the individual and community

○ We are committed to supporting all students through an on-going search for differentiated services

Programming Models

Grades K-3➢ Informal program➢ Flexible, during intervention/

enrichment time

Grades 4-8➢ Formalized, daily replacement services for ELA &

math beginning in grade 4➢ Student placement is assessed in grade 3 for the

transition to grade 4➢ All student placement is revisited in grade 5 for

the transition to grade 6*Students must re-qualify for services at the end of grade 5.

Identification Procedures

for the formalized

TAG program

Talent Pool Purpose● Selection of students who may qualify for

placement

All students in grade 3 & 5 participate in CogAT assessment● Talent Pool selection based on CogAT

assessment data of 120 or higher on sub-tests○ Quantitative and/or Nonverbal for math placement○ Verbal for ELA placement

More about the CogAT

Verbal Battery:

○ Picture (Verbal) Analogies

○ Picture (Verbal) Classification

○ Sentence Completion

CogAT website link

Quantitative Battery:

○ Number Analogies○ Number Puzzles○ Number Series

Nonverbal Battery:

○ Figure Matrices○ Paper Folding○ Figure Classification

Visual Model of our placement process

Link to Handbook,Flowchart on page 13

Formalized Process Timeline

○ Host 3rd and 5th grade parent night in February

○ CogAT assessment administered early March

○ Results shared with parents, with additional timeline information for writing sample and/or math problem solving assessment, if assessments to be administered

○ Late April, early May letters sent to parents with placement decisions

*Use of the Advisory Council and the appeal process

Identification Matrix ELA

Identification Matrix Math

Appeal Process○ Parents complete the ‘Parent Inquiry Form’, submit to director of

curriculum/coordinator

○ Additional tests given to students, teacher observational checklists completed

○ Historical achievement and ability data will also be included to study trends when making a comprehensive decision about student placement

○ Advisory Council does not have access to student names, only the data related to placement decisions

○ If a member is not able to attend in person, their feedback will still be considered outside of the meeting time

Advisory Council’s final decision is shared with parents, following the meeting

Creation of the Advisory Council

Make-up for the committee:

-2 teacher representatives

-2 parent representatives

-1 district administrator

-1 school psychologist

-1 board of education member

The committee’s role: review placement appeals and potential removal of students from program

*Committee meets three times per school year: fall, winter and spring

Timeline of Change

○ Outside consultant evaluation of current program ○ Organization of Committee (Parents, Teachers,

Administration, Board of Education, & High School Student) (2014-2015)

○ Assess current state of programming to establish goals

○ Committee focused work, to develop comprehensive plan and handbook

○ Presentation and approval by the school board

Timeline of Change ○ Implementation of newly developed program

(2015-2016)◦ New informal and formal placement identification

and procedures◦ Advisory Council

○ Yearly updates, based on implementation ○ Continued committee work○ Will re-evaluate program, 2018-2019 school year

More information

OGS TAG Handbook

Please visit the OGS website

➢ About

➢ Curriculum & Instruction

■ Select Talented And Gifted (TAG)

Contact

➢ Sarah Cacciatore, Curriculum Director, cacciatore@ogschool.org

➢ Michelle Jackson, Assistant Principal, jackson@ogschool.org

Thank you!

Questions?