Eligibility

Notification to Parents of the Screening and Referral Process for Gifted Students

The consideration for gifted services may be reported or automatic as defined by the GaDOE Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services. The Cherokee County School District screens all students for eligibility for gifted services once a year and uses a systematic approach to identify highly capable students who may qualify for gifted services. The gifted teacher routinely reviews available data to refer students for further assessment. Students meeting automatic screening AND who have supporting data are referred for additional testing to determine gifted eligibility.

1:  Automatic Screening
 Identifies students who score at specified levels on a norm-referenced test as defined in the GaDOE Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services, for further assessment to determine eligibility for gifted services. During each school year, Gifted teachers review existing test data as outlined below.

Grades K-5

• Students with scores in the 90th percentile or greater on the current school year’s administration of the system’s iReady Math assessment. Supporting data is needed. (Grades K-5)
• Students with scores in the 90th percentile or greater on the current school year’s administration of the system’s STAR Reading (Does not include STAR Early Literacy) assessment. Supporting data is needed. (Grades K-5)
• Students must score in the 96th percentile or greater on the current school year’s administration of the system’s CogAT or Naglieri General Abilities assessment. Supporting data is needed. (Grades 2, 4)
• Students must score in the Distinguished Level (Level 4) in Reading or Mathematics sections of the previous year’s Georgia Milestones assessment. Supporting data is needed. (Grades 3-5)

2: Reported Referrals
All reported referrals (parent, teacher, self, peer, and/or administrator) are completed through the system-level screening and referral processes each year. All reported referrals must be submitted to the Gifted Department by the end of first semester to be tested in the Spring cycle. All reported referrals are first reviewed by the local Gifted Advocacy Council to consider if two pieces of supporting data exist to warrant formal testing for gifted eligibility.

Additional Information: Students who meet the automatic screening AND who have supporting data are referred for gifted placement testing. Parents may request to view their child’s screening results by reaching out to their school’s gifted contact. Once referred to testing:

• Parents receive the CCSD Notification of Consideration for Gifted Services (Consent to Test) and must give written permission for testing to take place.
• Student is tested for the gifted program.
• Parents receive test results.
• If state eligibility is determined to be met, students are placed in the gifted program with parental consent.