Identification is an ongoing process, which includes gathering information about students from the following sources
- Parent, teacher, peer, community member, and self referrals
- Standardized tests of achievement, ability, and creativity
- Product/performance evaluations
Formal TAG identification consists of matching individual student needs with appropriate TAG services. Any teacher, parent, student or community member may complete a TAG referral form. Parent referral forms are available in every school office or from any TAG teacher.
Meeting the Needs of Gifted Learners: An AASD Guideline
Tier I – Classroom
Extensions provided in the classroom by the classroom teacher, TAG teacher, specialist, or other school staff (may include small group pull out, coteaching, differentiation, curriculum modifications, tiered resources)
Tier II – TAG Pull-together Classes
General Intellect - 2 academic areas (ELA and Math/Science):
- 95th percentile in math and reading on MAP
- EXPLORE test results in Service Category 2
- Acceptable IQ test score
- Triangulation of data and classroom evidence:
- Non-discriminatory student assessment scoring in the 95th percentile (Assessment TBD but may include: Nagelieri, Loman-Renzulli Scale, TOMAGS, CogAT) or top 5% of local norms or peer group
- Reading Benchmark two years beyond or top 5% of local norms or peer group
- Appropriate math placement one year beyond or top 5% of local norms or peer group
- Portfolio of classroom evidence (may include writing samples, science work, project work, checklists, surveys)
Creativity:
- Score of 89-99 percentile on the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking
- Top 15% of local norms or peer group on Torrance Test of Creative Thinking
Tier III – Qualification for the Odyssey-Magellan Charter School
General Intellect - 2 academic areas (ELA and Math/Science)
- K-8th Triangulation of data and classroom evidence
- Non-discriminatory student assessment scoring in the 99th percentile (Assessment TBD but may include: Nagelieri, Loman-Renzulli Scale, TOMAGS, CogAT) or top 1% of local norms or peer group
- Reading benchmark three years beyond or top 1% of local norms or peer group
- Appropriate math placement one year beyond or top 1% of local norms or peer group
- Portfolio of classroom evidence (may include writing samples, science work, project work, checklists, surveys, etc.)
2nd – 8th grade students
- 99th percentile in math and/or reading on MAPS and other score at the 95th percentile or higher i.e. 99, 95.
K-1st grade students
- Fall MAPS 99,99
- Winter MAPS 99,98
- Spring MAPS 99,95
- Looking for a trend of scores …or triangulation of data guidelines
EXPLORE Test scores in Service Category 3
- Two scores in Service Category 3, one must be in CA and the other in science or math
- One score in Service Category 3 and one score in the opposite area on MAP at 95th percentile or higher
Gifted Learner Identification of Needs Process
This process is ongoing and will be available to any student at any time during the year.
- Teacher, Specialist, ELL staff, parent, or community member will complete a gifted learner form for identification of needs.
- Submit the completed gifted learner form to the Elementary TAG Teacher.
- TAG teacher will coordinate any of the following that needs to be done to gather data:
- Non-discriminatory testing (with an interpreter if needed).
- Parent, teacher, or community member interview(s).
- Analysis of test scores in comparison to local norms and peer groups.
- Analysis of checklists.
- Gather classroom evidence from teachers, specialist(s), and ELL staff.
- The TAG teacher will consult with the referral team (which may include but is not limited to the classroom teacher, specialist(s), ELL teacher, principal) to review the gifted learner form and the data collected.
- The referral team will make a recommendation of one or more of the following:
- Recommend the student needs Tier I TAG services: extension(s) in the classroom.
- Recommend the student needs Tier II TAG services: pull together classes with a TAG teacher.
- Recommend the student needs Tier III services: Odyssey-Magellan Charter School.
- Request more information or suggest the student be further observed.
- The TAG teacher will inform staff and families of the recommendations, add the student to grade level lists for documentation, record identification of needs into district database, and submit a copy of the letter into the student’s file.
- The TAG teacher will notify the family.
