Gifted Identification
RCSS Gifted Education
The Richmond County School System believes......
Education is the means by which every individual can reach his or her full potential. Every child has the right to an educational experience that challenges their individual development regardless if it is below, the same, or beyond their peers. Students that receive gifted services will experience a differentiated curriculum that will foster and enrich their desire to learn. Gifted students will have the opportunity to process the content at a faster pace and produce a product that represents their knowledge that is unique to their individual learning styles. The goal of the gifted program is to enrich each student educational experience. “Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains. - See more at: http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/definitions-giftedness#sthash.iVvK4C1U.dpuf
Nomination
Do you think your child qualifies for gifted services at his or her school? A child can be recommended for gifted testing by a teacher, counselor, administrator, parent, and his or her peers. Anyone who has observe the student's mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation can nominate him or her for the gifted program. When nominating a student for the gifted program, the following general guidelines should be consider:
- Consistent high performance
- Advanced learning needs
- High motivation
- Creativity beyond the norm
- Standardized reading, math, or achievement test composite scores at the 85th percentile or higher
- Mental abilities score of 90th percentile or higher
Learning Characteristics
- Has a large, advanced vocabulary
- Keen, alert observer
- Has quick mastery or recall of factual information
- Generates multiple solutions for a problem
Motivation Characteristics
- Pursues own interests with zeal
- Often assumes a leadership role
- Is persistent in seeking task or goal completion
- Becomes tenacious when seeking information or pursuing an idea
Creativity Characteristics
- Generates unique ideas and responses
- Creates new ways of solving problems
- Adapts, improves, and modifies ideas
- Adventurous and speculative, unafraid to take risks
- May have deep interest or talent for visual or performing arts
Testing
There is a "window of referral" when teachers submit a list of students they would recommend for gifted testing. The list is sent to the Gifted Liaison and students are given packets that has information that they must take home to get signed by a parent before testing can begin. The referral packet is sent to the Gifted Program Department by a designated deadline.
A student may qualify for gifted services if he or she meets one of the two sets of criteria. The types of criteria are called Option A and Option B.
Mental Ability
Naglieri Matrix Test
Otis Lennon School Ability
Achievement
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills
PSAT
90%tile or higher
Creativity
Torrance Test of Creativity
90%tile or higher
Motivation - Academic GPA 3.5 OR HIGHER
Eligibility - Option A
A student is eligible if their mental ability criteria is at the 96%tile or higher on a composite of a standardized mental ability test plus the achievement criteria. The student must score 90%tile of higher on Total Battery, Reading, or Mathematics of a standardized achievement test to meet the Achievement qualification.
Option B
The second option for eligibility can occur if a student meets 3 out of the 4 areas of the multiple criteria.
RESULTS and OUTCOME
Parents and guardians will be notified in writing of the Gifted Assessment team decision. A parent can meet with the Gifted Liaison and the to discuss the placement decision. If a parent chooses to appeal the decision, the Superintendent of Richmond County Schools and the Gifted Education Liaison must be notified in writing of the parent’s intent to appeal the placement decision within 10 days after the parent has met with the system’s Gifted Liaison to discuss the evaluation results.
There is no mandated reciprocity between states. There is mandated military reciprocity. There is mandated reciprocity between Georgia Schools.
Who Can I contact at RCBOE?
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Sarah Windley
Program Specialist- Gifted
Phone: 706.826.1102