GT Identification

GENERAL DISTRICT WIDE GUIDELINES

Christian County Public Schools offers gifted education services for identified students across all grade levels. Primary students are screened and selected as high potential learners and students in grades 4-12 are formally identified for multiple service options in one or more of the following areas:
• general intellectual aptitude
• specific academic aptitude
• creative or divergent thinking
• psychosocial leadership skills
• visual or performing arts

Students in a primary program who display high potential characteristics shall be selected in an informal process and be placed in a talent pool, and receive services. The definitions in 704 KAR 3:285 shall be used in the operation of the District’s programs for Gifted and Talented.

1. Criteria for identification are listed in each specific area of giftedness in the handbook.

2. Each school will notify parents that they are eligible to nominate their own child for identification. Notification can be through regular newsletter, separate letter, or by phone.

3. Parents will be notified by letter that their child has been selected to participate in the primary talent pool or the gifted education services in one of the five areas. They will also receive a letter after initial identification and during transition points requesting any information that they feel would be beneficial to the school/district in developing the Gifted Services Plan (hereafter GSSP).

4. Should any additional testing be required to determine eligibility, permission for testing will be requested and granted from the child’s parents/guardians prior to the actual testing being done.

5. Each school will have a gifted and talented building selection committee(s) in place to determine identification. This committee will consist of at least a school administrator/designee, classroom teacher, counselor and the Director of Elementary Education.

6. There will also be a district committee which will serve as an appellate committee for decisions made by the Building Selection Committee which are appealed.

7. Each identified student will have an annual GSSP for service delivery in each area of giftedness for that specific student. GSSP’s will be written by the GT cluster leader in collaboration with the classroom teacher and /or the building administrator and will be reviewed and approved by the GT Coordinator and/or GT Enrichment Specialists.

8. Parents/guardians will receive a copy of the approved GSSP for returning students and within one month of identification for newly identified students. They will also receive a minimum of two progress reports (one each semester) throughout the year beginning in 2010.

9. Each student will have a gifted and talented folder (provided by the district) that will follow the student through his/her academic career. Folders will be maintained with the student’s permanent record. An alert letter will be placed in each student’s record at the time of initial identification.

10. For students who have been nominated but not placed by the identification committee, parents/guardians and/or teachers may appeal the decision as spelled out in the district’s Appeals Policy.

11. Students remain identified in areas of giftedness until graduation; however, appropriate levels of service are determined yearly using information from test data and classroom performance. Talent Pool participants remain in Talent Pool until the end of the primary grades. Parents of Talent Pool student will receive an exit letter at the conclusion of the program.

12. Transfer students from other Kentucky school districts will be admitted to the program. Out of state transfer students will be admitted based on the Christian County criteria or approval from the GT Coordinator and/or GT Enrichment Specialists.

NOMINATION TIMELINE AND PROCESS

1. Nominations from teachers, administrators, and parents will be accepted at any time but will be strongly encouraged in September and April/May. The district committee will meet to determine identification and placement in October/November and April/May (close to the end of the school year). A second round of nominations will be accepted in January. The committee will meet in January/February for identification and placement.

2. When teachers and parents nominate students supporting evidence must be included.

3. When scores are returned and students are eligible for identification, teachers will need to complete tabled nominations submitted in April/May.

a. Assessment scores cannot be more than 2 years old to complete nomination.

4. Teachers may submit any of the following pieces of evidence, as they apply to each area of giftedness: parent nomination, self-nomination, continuous progress data, jot down notes, and evidence form student portfolios (or work samples) demonstrating giftedness. These items may serve as alternative or supplemental pieces of evidence beyond information requested on nomination forms.