Gifted and Talented :: Screening

Pre-Referral Screening

Pre-referral screening occurs in a variety of ways in GISD:

In grades K-1, 3-5, 7-8, and 9-12, pre-referral screening may be based on the following as relevant to grade level:

  • observation of advanced skills and abilities as described in Characteristics Typical of Gifted Students
  • excellent production and performance in the classroom in one or more academic areas;
  • scores of  95+ percent or percentile on local assessments and benchmarks;
  • commended TAKS scores or other criterion referenced assessments;
  • scores of  95+ percent or percentile on historical data from previous grades, schools or districts that include results of mental abilities testing and standardized achievement testing;
  • results of Duke Talent Search for seventh grade students;
  • results of PSAT/ACT scores for students in grades 9-11.

A student may be referred for evaluation by a parent, teacher, and other adult knowledgeable of the student or the student himself/herself in grades 9-11.  The complete identification process will be conducted for students who are referred through this process.

19 TAC 89                    

In addition to the above, district-wide pre-referral screening using the results of standardized norm reference testing also occurs annually in second and sixth grades. Students attaining the following scores will be considered as a referral for further evaluation for gifted education. The complete identification process will be conducted for these students.

  • 95 percentile or above (or equivalent) on at least  one  of the following standardized test scores:
    • total battery score on district administered mental abilities test;
    • total subtest score on district administered mental abilities test.

 

Students New to District                 

As part of the district pre-referral screening process, campus personnel review student records of new students entering GISD using the following guidelines:

  • commended TAKS scores or other criterion referenced assessments;
  • results of Duke Talent Search for seventh grade students;
  • results of PSAT/ACT scores for students in grades 9-11;
  • historical data from previous grades, schools or districts that include results of mental abilities testing and standardized achievement testing.
    • 95 percentile or above (or equivalent) on at least two of the following standardized test scores:
      • total battery score on mental abilities test;
      • Total subtest score on mental abilities test.
      • total achievement battery
      • total achievement subtest score in one or more of the core academic areas

Students with this description will be referred for a complete evaluation.

  • Teacher at previous school in last grade attended or receiving GISD teacher may complete qualitative data on teacher forms from GISD G/T Referral Packet
  • Further quantitative data may be collected through additional testing.

Previously G/T Identified Students: New to District  

*Students who have been placed previously in a gifted/talented program in another district are considered for placement in the district’s Services for Gifted/Talented upon entrance into GISD; and a placement decision must be made within 30 days. (See EHBB LOCAL)

  • For students transferring from a gifted and talented program in another school district, it should be assumed that qualitative criteria for placement have been satisfied in previous school.
  • Quantitative data should be collected and reviewed prior to making a placement decision.
  • If quantitative data is incomplete or incompatible with district criteria, additional testing should occur prior to committee decision.

Referrals
G/T3 19 TAC 89.1

Referrals for Services for Gifted and Talented Students may come from parents, students, teachers or any adult knowledgeable of the student.

When a student is referred for evaluation, campus personnel must collect student data, conduct necessary assessments, and follow the district’s identification procedures. The Gifted and Talented Student Review Committee must review all necessary student data generated by referrals.

*Parent referrals and student evaluation may occur at any time during the school year. However, prudent consideration must assure that appropriately timed placement into gifted education guards the best interest of the student. Parents should consult with counselor regarding this issue.

Beginning in 2007-08, the district will conduct a Gifted Child Find Campaign from October to May, but will schedule major open-referral windows for the purpose of efficiency in collecting student data and conducting evaluations. The student evaluation process will be conducted over time throughout the year to assure a more accurate representation of the student’s needs. Notification of Gifted Child Find Campaign will be communicated to parents of all children on each campus.

Parent/Guardian Permission for Evaluation

Written permission for evaluation will be obtained from parents/ guardian for referred students prior to evaluation for Services for Gifted/Talented.


Evaluation
GT4 19 TAC 89.1 (1) (2)     

Evaluation for need for gifted services must include both quantitative and qualitative data.


Qualitative

  • Educational Data and Classroom Grades in the academic area/s of referral
  • Gifted/Talented Characteristics Inventory by academic area/s of referral:
    • Inventory must be completed by teacher;
    • Parent inventory is encouraged.
  • Student Products from Teachers/Parents evaluated by a rubric:
    • Portfolio of student work will be collected by the teacher throughout the year and submitted to the Student Review Committee for review during the SRC meeting.(K-12)
    • Parents may contribute student work to portfolio for SRC review. (K-12)
    • District-wide GATE activities for K-5 will be administered by teacher and completed by students at school over time and submitted as products for review by the Student Review Committee. (Problem Solving and Productive Thinking activities provided by the district Services for Gifted/Talented) (K-5)
    • GATE activities will be completed by students in grades 6-8 to provide uniform information related to quality of student production and submitted to the Student Review Committee for review. (Problem Solving and Productive Thinking activities   provided by the district Services for Gifted/Talented) (6-8)

Quantitative

  • Standardized Test Data:
    • Mental Abilities Test/s
      • Sub-tests
      • Total Battery
    • Achievement Test/s or Sub-tests
      • Reading
      • Mathematics
      • Science
      • Social Studies

 

State GT Plan 1.5.2A  
Students are assessed in languages they understand and/or with nonverbal-based tests. The district will maintain tests that are appropriate to the dominant languages in the district for the purpose of gifted and talented assessment. (Spanish and English)


For more information about the Gifted and Talented program or enrollment information, please contact:

Sharon Hesser
Gifted/Talented Program Director
Georgetown Independent School District
603 Lakeway Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628
(512) 943-5000 x. 3703