GATE/SAS Parent Meeting

1. GATE/SAS Parent Meeting Wednesday, September 17, 2014 7:00 – 8:00 P.M. Auditorium

2. Criteria for Candidacy/Referral • Referral by teacher or parents via teacher • Factors considered: • TESTS: CST scores (now SBAC as of 2015), OLSAT performance, recent in-class test scores • ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: First reporting period progress report (Fall semester) and prior progress reports • Evidence of work & oral contributions significantly above grade level • Writing samples/projects that show evidence of critical thinking, reaching depth & complexity • Anecdotal records (Teacher/Parents)

3. Categories of Identification • Highly Gifted (HG) & Highly Gifted Applicable (HGA) • Intellectual • High Achievement • Specific Academic Ability • Visual & Performing Arts • Creative Ability • Leadership

4. Highly Gifted/HGA/Intellectual Criteria(all grades) includes: • Superior cognitive abilities indicated on a standardized administration of an intelligence test given by an LAUSD school psychologist • Highly Gifted – score of 99.9 % • *HGA (Highly Gifted Applicable) – score between 99.5-99.8 % • Intellectual – score of 95 % and above; 95% - 99.5% allows access to Honors level programs

5. Other Categories of Giftedness • High Achievement – • IT USED TO BE: Students who function for two current consecutive years at specific, advanced levels on California Standards Test (CSTs) in both Language Arts (455 and above) and Math (455 and above) • IT STILL IS: 2nd grade students (ONLY) to be assessed March, 2015 with the OLSAT (Achievement Test) • Must score 95 percentile or above for qualification • *NOW: THE DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE A NEW “FORMULA” (TBA) TO IDENTIFY GIFTEDNESS IN THIS CATEGORY TO COMPENSATE FOR A LACK OF TEST SCORES*

6. Other Categories of Giftedness • Specific Academic Ability • IT USED TO BE: Students who function for three consecutive years at advance levels on standardized tests (CST) in English Language Arts (445)/(450) and/or Mathematics (450)/(455) • WE USED TO BE ABLE TO: Substitute grades of a 4 in Reading or in Math grades–(in an academic year’s 2nd and 3rd reporting periods) for one year but not the most recent (per District Policy) • NOW: THE DISTRICT WILL PROBABLY NOT ENTERTAIN THIS CATEGORY FOR ANOTHER YEAR, AND FOCUS ON NEW TEST DATA.

7. Creative Ability – Students who characteristically perceive significant similarities or differences within the environment, challenge assumptions, and produce alternative solutions • Students referred in this category should evidence characteristics in the exceptional range • Teachers must provide a plan to support student’s identification • Students may be identified only in grades 4 and up • Leadership – Students who show confidence and knowledge; influence others effectively; have problem-solving and decision-making skills; express ideas in oral or written form clearly; show sense of purpose and direction. • Students referred in this category should evidence characteristics in the exceptional range and have evidence to support abilities • Teacher must be able to provide a plan to support student's identification • Students may be identified in grades 4 and up

8. Visual and Performing Arts • Identification as talented are those students who originate, perform, produce, or respond at exceptionally high levels in any one of the areas mentioned below. Demonstrations held twice a year. • Visual Arts Ability (Gr. 3-12); drawing & painting; requires superior marks at a district-wide demonstration in the Visual Arts, including a portfolio evaluation • Performing Arts Ability (Gr. 3-12); dance, drama, or voice; requires superior marks at a district-wide audition in the Performing Arts in either dance, drama, or voice

9. Questions about GATE? • Your child’s teacher (always start there) • Muffy Greenlee– CCC GATE Coordinator (muffygreenlee@gmail.com) EMAIL IS BEST for me!!! • Greg LaPittus – CCC SAS Coordinator; or CCC GATE Parent Representative Julie Waltrip • G.A.T.E. Offices downtown – 213/241-6500 • LAUSD GATE websiteat http://achieve.lausd.net • Check the GATE Bulletin Board outside the office to see posted monthly GATE Newsletters • California Association for the Gifted (CAG)

10. Parent Information/Education • Institute of Gifted Education; a Master Class on Gifted Education - Saturday, November 1, 2014 at Pasadena Convention Center; fee to attend • Spring GATE Symposium, March 28, 2015. Location TBD • LAUSD GATE/SAS Parent Trainings in 2014-15: February 15, 2015, 5:30 – 6:30 OLSAT Overview for parents of second graders at GRANT HS Aud.; FREE • Please check the Bulletin board outside the Office for any District G.A.T.E. Office communication • California Association for the Gifted (CAG) www.cagifted.org

11. FAQS • How does this process exactly work? Teachers collect data and refer a student candidate to the CCC GATE Committee. The GATE Committee recommends (or not) the child for an intellectual assessment at the school site. A visiting District Psychologist gives an intellectual test, for between 30-90 minutes. Test scores are evaluated accordingly. The student can test only once! • What happens once I, the parent, consent to an assessment? You will be notified at least one week ahead of the scheduled date determined by GATE Psychological Services Unit. Do not expose your child to any online test because the test may be invalidated. • How do I know if my child has recently qualified for GATE status? If your child has qualified through OLSAT scores, the status will show up on the first reporting period progress report. All data will “migrate” into the District’s systems by November (per GATE personnel). If qualified through an intellectual test, the results will be sent to you by the GATE Office. • What kind of “programs” will my child have access to? At Carpenter, all classes have gifted clusters and all teachers differentiate curriculum. See the Academics tab and scroll down to the “Differentiation” document on the CCC website to see how we differentiate at each grade level. • What if I pay for the intellectual testing on my own? Private testing is not accepted. If your child does get privately tested, please let us know so the district test will given accordingly and cannot be invalidated.