How are gifted students identified?
As we seek to identify gifted and talented learners, we keep in mind the unique characteristics of these students. Janice Szabos (Good Apple, Inc.) provided this comparison of bright children and gifted learners.
Additionally, the National Foundation for Gifted and Creative Children (www.nfgcc.org) noted the following characteristics of these students
Referrals for screening will be reviewed by the school’s Gifted Eligibility Team. This team includes a GATEWAY teacher or Gifted Program Contact, classroom teacher(s), and an administrator or counselor.
The screening committee at each school will gather and review data on student performance to determine if the student should be referred for gifted testing. Evidence includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Parental/Guardian consent must be granted prior to testing a student to determine if he/she is eligible for gifted education services. The Notification of Consideration/Evaluation Consent (Appendix A) must be signed and received by the gifted teacher before testing begins. Test results used to determine eligibility may not be older than two calendar years. The gifted teacher and testing coordinator at each school must participate in testing training conducted by the Coordinator for Testing and Assessment and the Coordinator for Gifted Education. This training is provided prior to each testing window during the academic year. All testing protocol must be followed in order for test results to be valid and reliable. All students who are tested to determine if gifted education services are warranted must be assessed in mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. Only one rating scale may be used per student.
As we seek to identify gifted and talented learners, we keep in mind the unique characteristics of these students. Janice Szabos (Good Apple, Inc.) provided this comparison of bright children and gifted learners.
Additionally, the National Foundation for Gifted and Creative Children (www.nfgcc.org) noted the following characteristics of these students
- High sensitivity
- Excessive amounts of energy
- Bore easily and may appear to have a short attention span
- Require emotionally stable and secure adults around him/her
- Will resist authority if it is not democratically oriented
- Have preferred ways of learning; particularly in reading and mathematics
- May become easily frustrated because of his/her big ideas and not having the resources or people to assist him/her in carrying these tasks to fruition
- Learn from an exploratory level and resists rote memory and just being a listener
- Cannot sit still unless absorbed in something of his/her own interest
- Very compassionate and has many fears such as death and loss of loved ones
- If they experience failure early, may give up and develop permanent learning blocks
- The Bartow County School System follows the Georgia State Department of Education (GADOE) guidelines for student referral according to rule 160-4-2-.38 section 2(b). The referral is for screening to determine if there is sufficient evidence to refer the student for testing to determine if gifted education services are warranted. There are two types of referrals: reported and automatic. Students must be referred for screening by the referral date that is set for each school year.
Referrals for screening will be reviewed by the school’s Gifted Eligibility Team. This team includes a GATEWAY teacher or Gifted Program Contact, classroom teacher(s), and an administrator or counselor.
The screening committee at each school will gather and review data on student performance to determine if the student should be referred for gifted testing. Evidence includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Copy of Student Profile from GA LDS/SLDS outlining student’s standardized test results, Lexile level, etc.
- Copy of most recent report card/progress report provided by referring teacher or classroom teacher(s)
- Additional data and/or samples of student work provided by referring teacher or classroom teacher(s)
- After all evidence is assessed, the Gifted Eligibility Team reaches one of three conclusions: 1) refer for further evaluation; 2) wait and watch the student and gather additional data as it becomes available, or 3) no further action is needed at this time.
Parental/Guardian consent must be granted prior to testing a student to determine if he/she is eligible for gifted education services. The Notification of Consideration/Evaluation Consent (Appendix A) must be signed and received by the gifted teacher before testing begins. Test results used to determine eligibility may not be older than two calendar years. The gifted teacher and testing coordinator at each school must participate in testing training conducted by the Coordinator for Testing and Assessment and the Coordinator for Gifted Education. This training is provided prior to each testing window during the academic year. All testing protocol must be followed in order for test results to be valid and reliable. All students who are tested to determine if gifted education services are warranted must be assessed in mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. Only one rating scale may be used per student.