Gifted Nomination:
Nomination for gifted testing can happen a variety of ways. The gifted lead teacher monitors data from MAP, SRI, and Dibels testing throughout the year looking for "automatic" qualifying scores for nomination. Additionally, the gifted teachers provide a screening process for kindergarten and first grade students to help identify potential candidates. Students who were tested in previous years and showed potential may be re-evaluated at a later date. Also, students who were identified as gifted in another state are evaluated to determine gifted eligibility in Georgia. (Reciprocity is allowed within the state of Georgia, but out of state students must be determined eligible by Georgia standards). Finally, students can be nominated for testing. The nomination can come from teachers, parents, other school staff, or even from the students themselves. Everyone who is nominated has a portfolio created to present to the nomination committee. It is the nomination committee's decision, primarily based upon supporting data in the portfolio and the criteria set forth by the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, whether a student meets the criteria for gifted testing. The nomination committee can choose to refer the student for gifted testing, request further data that supports testing, or not recommend testing at this time.
Gifted Eligibility:
Student
Once a student is referred for testing, a letter and "Consent for Testing" form are sent home. Students may not be tested until the signed permission slip is returned. Gifted eligibility is determined by testing four areas:
- Ability (Assessment: CoGAT and/or Nagliari - Score of 96%ile or higher necessary)
- Achievement (Assessment: MAP Math & MAP Reading - Score of 90%ile or higher necessary)
- Creativity (Assessment: Torrance Test of Creativity) - Score of 90%ile or higher necessary)
- Motivation (Assessment: GRS or GRS-P - Score of 90%ile or higher necessary)
Qualifying for gifted services can occur one of two ways. Students can qualify with the:
- psychometric approach
- multiple-criteria approach
The psychometric approach uses mental ability and achievement only. To qualify, K-2 students must obtain 99%ile on the ability assessment AND 90%ile or above on the total achievement score in Reading or Math. In grades 3-12, students must obtain 96%ile on the ability assessment AND 90%ile or above on the total achievement score in Reading or Math. In these cases, creativity and motivation are not needed.
The multiple-criteria approach uses all four criteria to make a determination. Students must meet the necessary scores needed in 3 out of the 4 areas assessed in order to qualify for gifted services.
Once all testing is completed and jury panel has taken place to determine eligibility, parents are notified of the results and sent a copy of the scores.
Once a student is identified as gifted, the student remains in the program until he/she graduates high school, leaves the state for more than one year, voluntarily withdraws from the program, or is terminated from the program due to academic performance.
Students Identified as Gifted:
Once a student is identified, the parent will receive the following:
Additionally, the parents will receive 9-weeks progress reports from the gifted resource teacher letting them know how the student is progressing in gifted resource pull-out class along with newsletters. Newsletters will also be uploaded to the SWES GATE page.
*In order for students to receive all of the differentiation and support necessary, once a student is identified as eligible for gifted services, they may be moved to another classroom with a gifted-certified classroom teacher. Most grade levels at Southwest Elementary have at least 2 gifted certified teachers.
- Gifted Services Form - states the services provided for the student at Southwest Elementary for the school year.
- Gifted Cluster Contract* - completed by the classroom teacher, this form states what types of differentiation goes on in the regular classroom setting. The differentiation is performed via instructional activities and in assessment.
Additionally, the parents will receive 9-weeks progress reports from the gifted resource teacher letting them know how the student is progressing in gifted resource pull-out class along with newsletters. Newsletters will also be uploaded to the SWES GATE page.
*In order for students to receive all of the differentiation and support necessary, once a student is identified as eligible for gifted services, they may be moved to another classroom with a gifted-certified classroom teacher. Most grade levels at Southwest Elementary have at least 2 gifted certified teachers.