GATE Identification

Nomination Process

The Jefferson School District has developed an identification process that ensures all students, including those from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, and/or disabilities, equal opportunity to be identified and participate in the GATE program.  A method to identify GATE students in the following categories: intellectual ability, high achievement ability, leadership ability and fine arts ability is present in the plan.  Although formal identification is not usually available below third grade, differentiated instruction and curriculum occurs within the classroom to meet the needs of the younger gifted students.  The district maintains data on nominees and includes these data when reassessing students who are referred more than once.  Evidence from multiple sources is used to determine eligibility, as well as accepting referrals from classroom teachers and parents.  The district actively searches for referrals among underrepresented populations.

The district establishes and implements both traditional and nontraditional instruments and procedures for searching for gifted students.  All data are used to ensure equal access to program services.

• Portfolio
• District assessments
• Standardized assessments
• OLSAT

Eligibility Process

Criteria for Eligibility:

Intellectual Ability:         Standard score of > 125 on group administered Otis-Lennon

                                    School Ability Test

High Achievement:        Advanced score on STAR California Standards Test in English Language Arts for two consecutive years and Advanced score on STAR California Standards Test in Math for two consecutive years.

Leadership Ability:         Leadership ability identification will be offered to those students in

                                    grades 6-8 who may not meet identification criteria in other areas. 

                                    Students will be identified through Teacher Nomination and Parent

                                    Application forms and will be eligible to be part of student council.

Fine Arts Ability:           Fine Arts ability identification will be offered to those students in grades

                                    6-8 who may not meet identification criteria in other areas.  Students

                                      will be identified through teacher nomination and/or student/parent

                                    application forms.  Students will be eligible for fine arts programs

                                    that are offered.

Assessment and Identification

JSD recognizes that many students within the district have exceptional cognitive strengths and every effort is made to identify and meet the needs of these students.  Beginning in third grade, parents are given the opportunity to have their children screened for the gifted program using a test of cognitive abilities, OLSAT.  All students 3^rd - 8^th grades in the district are offered the opportunity for GATE testing if their standardized scores are advanced on the STAR California Standards Test in either English Language Arts or Math for two consecutive years.  The portfolio process also identifies students in grades 3-8 who is recommended by their classroom teacher and are eligible to participate in the district-wide portfolio assessment.  Teacher must complete the portfolio process during the third trimester of the school year.

Portfolio Process

·         Teacher completes Teacher Recommendation for GATE Admission form.

·         Teacher is to submit a portfolio of student work that shows eligibility for the GATE program.  Multiple sources are required for the portfolio work.

·         Committee reviews portfolio.

·         Teacher interview.

The Student Study Team process at each school site also identifies those students who may be underachieving gifted children and develops an action plan to assist these students to reach their potential.

JSD uses the following categories in identifying gifted and talented students: Intellectual Ability, High Achievement, Leadership Ability, and Fine Arts Ability.

Achievement Criteria 1:  Any student in grades 3-8 who scores Advanced on the STAR California Standards Test in both English Language Arts and Math for two consecutive years will be automatically identified as gifted and talented under the high achiever category and will qualify for the GATE program.  Spanish speaking students not classified as fluent English speaking, who are nominated by either a teacher or a parent will be eligible to take the Aprenda 3.  Any student scoring at or above the 95^th percentile on the Aprenda 3 will automatically qualify for the GATE program. 

Achievement Criteria 2: All students in grades 2-8 are eligible to participate in the district-wide testing program for possible GATE eligibility.  They may be referred by parents, teachers or administrators as early as spring of each year.  A group administered test (currently the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test) is offered each Spring, with a second testing date scheduled during the first month of each school year. 

No student will be retested, with the OLSAT, for the following three years from the previous testing date without a recommendation from the Student Study/Success Team.  Students can qualify for the GATE program any year based on STAR scores.

Creative Criteria 1:  Including Leadership & Fine Arts

Any student in grades 3-8 who is recommended by their classroom teacher are eligible to participate in the district-wide portfolio assessment.  Teacher must complete the portfolio process during the third trimester of the school year.

            Portfolio Process

·         Teacher completes Teacher Recommendation for GATE Admission form.

·         Teacher is to submit a portfolio of student work that shows eligibility for the GATE program.  Multiple sources are required for the portfolio work.

·         Committee reviews portfolio.

·         Teacher interview.

The GATE Coordinator notifies parents, teachers, and administrators of a students eligibility for program placements.  All test scores are mailed to the parents.  Records are kept for all students who have been referred for testing, regardless of their qualification status. 

Upon identification in the GATE program the criteria for GATE identification are included in each GATE students cumulative file.  In order for qualified students to participate in the GATE program, their parents must give written consent.  The JSD GATE Advisory Committee reviews the screening process and assessment criteria annually and revises it if necessary.

Before any student is considered for removal from the GATE program, a Student Study Team meeting is conducted by staff with the GATE coordinator, parents, and the gifted student present.  The interventions developed in the SST meeting are implemented and assessed for their effectiveness on an ongoing basis.  If the student still has not progressed satisfactorily by the follow-up SST meeting, the team may determine that withdrawal from the GATE program is in the students best interests.