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GT Identification Pratices

GT IDentification and PRactices statement

  • We accept and encourage referrals from all sources (including parents, educators and students) for all grade levels of students. (see graphic below)

  • All schools have access to a GT Resource Teacher (RT) who can explain the identification process to interested families.

  • We universally screen all students in 2nd grade at all schools throughout the district using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).

  • We follow all Colorado Department of Education (CDE) GT Identification guidelines to ensure portability of identification decisions, and our definition of gifted students serves as the basis for our GT identification and programming.

  • Jeffco partners with all school districts in the state of Colorado to support transfer and portability of students collected body of evidence and Advanced Learning Plans (ALP).  Jeffco GT Resource teachers partner with Jeffco school enrollment secretaries to communicate, address, and review new students’ documents as received. Review of a new transfer student’s ALP is completed within 45 days of enrollment into the district, and communicated to parents within 60 days of enrollment. If a transfer student’s Body of Evidence is incomplete, Jeffco will make reasonable efforts to consult with the former district, parents and/or student for reevaluation.

  • We review a full Body of Evidence, including both qualitative and quantitative data, for all identification decisions, using the 95th percentile or above (either age or grade norms) and/or an exceptional/distinguished rating as criteria for determining exceptionality consistent with CDE guidelines.
    • A single piece of evidence neither qualifies nor disqualifies a student for GT identification.
      • The review of the Body of Evidence is done by a team of at least 2 qualified GT personnel who have been trained in GT identification.
    • Jeffco’s Body of Evidence follows CDE guidelines, including both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualifying evidence comes from Cognitive Testing, Achievement Testing, Behavioral Observations and Performance Evaluations.

  • Those students who do not have a fully qualifying Body of Evidence or whose cognitive and/or achievement data does not quite meet the 95th percentile may be assigned to either a Talent Pool or Watch List status. Building level and district level review teams continue to reassess data once student is placed on the Watch List or Talent Pool.

  • Parents will be notified of the status of the identification determination within 30 school days. This notification will either indicate the team’s decision, or whether evidence is still being gathered. An Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) will be created within 30 school days for those students identified as GT.

  • In addition to the CogAT noted above, we utilize, as appropriate, the Naglieri Non-verbal Abilities Test (NNAT), as well as Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT), the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, the Differential Abilities Scales (DAS), and other cognitive and achievement instruments.

  • We provide multiple cognitive and achievement testing opportunities throughout the year, both in large group and individual settings.
  • We provide an opportunity for families to appeal identification and placement decisions, as listed here.

 

 

Adapted from the CDE Identification guidebook, 2018

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