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An Introduction to the Gifted Identification and Eligibility Process
Ashford Park Elementary School
January 14, 2016
Presented by: Ms. Aspinwall
CogAT
As part of our district testing program for elementary and middle schools, students take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). The CogAT is administered in the Fall for grades 1, 3, 5 and 7.
CogAT
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) measures students’ reasoning abilities in the three areas most linked to success in school.
Verbal: verbal classification, sentence
completion, and verbal analogies
Quantitative: quantitative relations, number
series, and equation building
Nonverbal: figure classification, figure
analogies, and figure analysis
How do I read my child’s CogAT scores?
Riverside Publishing does not provide parent copies of individual student’s CogAT scores.
Scores are reported in percentiles for each of the three categories, as well as the composite.
Students are scored according to their age at the time of testing.
ITBS
As part of our district testing program for elementary and middle schools, students take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). The ITBS is administered in the Fall for grades 1, 3, 5 and 7.
What does the ITBS measure?
Developed at the University of Iowa, the ITBS is a set of achievement tests that measure the actual knowledge and skills students have acquired.
Reading: Vocabulary, Comprehension
Language: Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, Written Expression
Math: Concepts and Estimation, Problem Solving, Data Interpretation, and Computation
Social Studies & Science : Not tested in 1st grade
Information Usage: Maps and Diagrams and Reference Materials
The ITBS was designed to represent a sampling of curriculum standards widely used around the nation.
The test is not designed to specifically address any one school district’s curriculum.
Does the ITBS Address the Georgia Standards of Excellence?
How Does the ITBS MeasureAchievement? The ITBS assesses skills and content
knowledge in a multiple choice format.
The ITBS is a norm-referenced test.
It is designed to answer the question, “How do our students perform on basic skills as compared with other students in the nation?”
Scoring on the ITBS
We use the National Percentile Rank (NPR) to evaluate student performance. For example, if your child’s NPR was a 75 in Total Reading, this would mean that your child scored higher than 75% of the students in the norming group.
Percentile ranks range from 1 to 99.
The national average on all subtests is 50.
Renzulli
As part of our district testing program for elementary and middle schools, students in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7 are assessed using the Renzulli.
The Renzulli is a standardized behavioral rating scale for creativity and motivation.
The Renzulli is completed by the homeroom teacher.
Identifying Gifted
Students
Test Scores and the Role They Play in Identifying Gifted Students
The procedures for identifying and placing students in the gifted program are governed and funded by the Georgia Department of Education.
Eligibility Criteria
All 1st, 3rd and 5th grade students were administered the following four assessments:
CogATITBSRenzulli - CreativityRenzulli - Motivation
• To be eligible for gifted services, students must qualify in at least three of the four assessments.
CogAT
Minimum of 96% in at least one sub-test areas.
Verbal
Quantitative
Non-verbal
Complete Composite
ITBS
Minimum of 90% on any one of the following subtests:
Total ELA
Total Math
Complete Composite (1st graders do not receive this score)
* Note: Please refer to NPR scores
Renzulli
CreativityMinimum of 90% on an assessment for creativity.
MotivationMinimum of 90% on an assessment for motivation.
Phases of Testing
Step I: All students were tested in the four categories.
If none of the student’s scores qualify, no further testing will occur.
If a student qualifies in at least onecategory on CogAT or ITBS, further testing will occur.
If and when a student qualifies in threeareas, the child is identified as gifted.
Step II Testing
Occurs if a student has a qualifying score on either the ITBS or CogAT.
If your child qualifies for this phase of testing, you will receive written notification that further testing is necessary.
I cannot move forward with Step II until the district upload of test scores is complete. I am expecting late January.
What If My Child Has Qualifying Scores But Did Not Get a Letter?
Students who have qualifying CogATAND ITBS scores may have qualified for the program and will not need further testing.
In this case, those students will
receive a letter once all Step II testing is completed.
Please be aware that…
Grades do not play a role in the Gifted Identification Process.
Private test data may not be used to determine eligibility.
Georgia Milestones scores are not used to determine gifted eligibility.
Kindergarten Testing
Students are only tested if they have been recommended by their child’s teacher.
In order to be recommended: the student must score a 1.5 on the STAR Reading and STAR Math assessments by February 2016.
They must score at an exceeding level on Reading and Math benchmarks given in kindergarten.
Kindergarten Testing
Referrals are also based on teacher observations of gifted characteristics displayed by the student (i.e. high intellectual ability, high level of motivation and creativity).
After referrals, if the student moves to the next step, they will be tested on the CogAT (Mental Ability), Stanford (Achievement), Creativity, and Motivation. Testing will begin in March.
Testing lasts for 2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if my child missed the cut off score by only a few points, can special consideration be given?
A: There is no appeal to this process, or special considerations. We must, and we will, adhere to the guidelines set forth by the State of Georgia.
FAQ
Q: If a student does not qualify for the program, can he/she be retested?
A: No, students are tested in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7. Your child will be tested every other year.
FAQ
Q: If a student does not qualify for the program, is there an appeals process?
A: There is no appeal to this process. We must, and we will, adhere to the guidelines set forth by the State of Georgia.
FAQ
Q: Once a student has been identified for the gifted program, will he/she have to qualify for the program for subsequent years?
A: No, once your child has been identified gifted, their continuation in the program is contingent upon performing at a satisfactory level in the gifted class. They must also maintain at least a B average in their other content classes.
FAQ
Q: How long does the identification process take?
A: The process began in September when the students took the assessments. Once we have received our standardized tests scores, the county uploads the scores into the system database. At that time, the Step II process begins. I expect to conclude this process by the end of February. The kindergarten process begins in March and lasts for 2 weeks.
FAQ
Q. When Will Gifted Services Begin?
A. Services for newly identified gifted students will tentatively begin in late February.
So…What’s Next?
Step 1: All test scores will be automatically uploaded into the DCSD Database.
Step 2: Students who require Step II Testing will receive notification via letter.
Step 3: Letters of eligibility will be sent once all Step II Testing has been completed. This includes students that qualified and students who did not.
