Cobb County

1. Gifted Eligibility Process Target 2012-2013 Cobb County

2. Automatic • System-wide assessment – ITBS, CogAT, Renzullis • All students in grades 1, 3, and 5 are reviewed Referrals

3. Two Options for Eligibility Option A/Psychometric: A student must meet eligibility requirements in both Mental Abilities and Achievement. Option B/ Multiple Criteria: A student must meet eligibility requirements in three of the four following areas: Mental Abilities, Achievement, Creativity, and Motivation. State law

4. Option B/ Mutliple Criteria: A student must meet eligibility requirements in three of the four following areas: • Mental Ability: 96th percentile on a standardized test of mental ability - Component or Composite score • Achievement: 90th percentile in total battery, total reading, or total math section of a standardized achievement battery • Creativity: 90th percentile / 90th percent on a creativity assessment • Motivation: 90th percentile / 90th percent on a motivation assessment

5. Mental abilities- Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT), Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT) • Achievement- Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10) • Creativity-Renzulli Behavioral Rating Scale for Creativity (1-12), Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) • Motivation-Renzulli Behavioral Rating Scale for Motivation (1-12), motivation portfolio (1-3); Children’s Academic Intrinsic Motivation Inventory(CAIMI) (4-5) Assessments used

6. Based on behaviors observed in the classroom over a minimum of nine weeks All teachers receive training on identifying behaviors that exemplify characteristics of creativity and motivation specific to gifted children. Renzulli scales

7. Creativity Characteristic – The student demonstrates the ability to generate a large number of ideas or solutions to problems or questions. Behaviors: good problem solver, thinks of different ways of doing things, trouble settling on one idea, and therefore, may have difficulty beginning tasks. Examples of creativity

8. Motivation Characteristic – The student demonstrates tenacity for finding out information on topics of interest. Behaviors: seeks opportunities to find more information about a topic beyond what is presented in class, is able to contribute additional information on topics discussed in class due to independent research, student may be too focused on one topic. Examples of motivation

9. Gifted eligibility evaluation begins once system-wide test scores are received and reviewed by Target teachers – this is usually completed November through January. Testing window

10. The testing for Target is an involved evaluation process. It takes multiple testing sessions and a variety of evaluation procedures. Letters of notification for gifted eligibility or non eligibility will come home at the end of our testing window. All letters will be sent home at the same time. We need this time to effectively evaluate each of the students. What is the process?

11. Be sure during the testing window your child gets enough rest. Be sure your child has a good breakfast. Be honest with your child to do his/her best. There is no study guide to work from. Reassure your child when he/she says it was hard, or that he/she did his/her best. Let your child tell you about the process What can I do to prepare my child?

12. We have 3 Target teachers that are evaluating students. Depending on the particular test needed, your child may or may not be pulled each day. If your child isn’t being tested each session, it is not an indication of qualifying or not. My child was pulled one day and not the next…

13. The Target teachers are evaluating many students. It is very difficult for us to give status updates during this time. • Classroom teachers do not have information on testing progress. • Target testing is a confidential process as with any other special discipline (ie speech). Target teachers will not share information with any parties not involved directly with your child. • This is a very involved process and we will do our best to inform parents when our testing is complete with ALL students. • Please be patient. We know it is hard!  We will not be able to respond to emails and phone calls for updates until the process is complete. How can I get a status update?

14. Reassure your child that you know he/she did his/her best. • Students are evaluated each year in grades 1, 3, and 5. • If your child does not qualify in first grade, his/her standardized testing will be reviewed in 3rd and 5th grade. • The Target teachers take this evaluation seriously and look at all 4 areas and strictly follow State guidelines and rules when qualifying students. My child did not qualify what can I do?

15. Your child will begin to attend Target classes in February with grade level classmates. Target teachers will hold an open house for parents of new students to go over the program and answer questions. My child qualified, what does that mean?

16. Elementary • One day a week, resource class • Interdisciplinary curriculum • Middle School • Advanced content classes • Placement based on demonstrated need in content areas • Specific criteria for placement determined by local school • High School • Honors and Advanced Placement classes Delivery models for Gifted services

17. Thank you for taking the time to view this power point and understand our procedures. • The Target teachers are working hard to fully evaluate each student and help the regular classroom teacher in identifying each child’s strengths • Finally, thank you for respecting this time for evaluation and supporting your children! • For more information on the Target program, scroll down on this blog for our open house power point. Thank you!