COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR GIFTED EDUCATION

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MISSION

It is the mission of the Valmeyer School District’s gifted program to facilitate a challenging and creative environment for teaching and learning. In this environment, teachers, students, and community will provide stimulating opportunities for students to strive toward their individual goals. Thus, directing them toward their future endeavors.

  1. IDENTIFICATION

Identification is an on-going process and students may be screened and admitted at any point in their school career. Based on the consideration of providing continual progress for all students, we are committed to the responsibility of providing appropriate educational experiences for the academically talented and gifted students. The primary function of the program is to develop the special talent areas of identified students through enrichment, acceleration, and special curricula. Through participation in the program, academically talented students will be given the opportunities to achieve more fully to their unique potential and enhance their contributions to society.

    1. Screening Process

Every year, all kindergarten and first grade students   will be screened. Students at grades 2-12 will be reviewed for possible placement. New students will be reviewed on a case-by-case process as they enter into the district. Any student all ready in the Valmeyer Gifted Program will remain in the gifted program.

Screening test devices used to determine potential gifted students are listed below.

1. Tests Utilized

Norm-Referenced Standardized Tests

a. Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is tested at all grade levels.

b. Cognitive Ability Test (CAT) is given to grades 3, 6, and 8

    1. Brigance is given during the Kindergarten screening prior

      2. to school beginning.

    2. Metropolitan Readiness Test (MRT) is given to kindergarten students in October and May.
    3. The individual intelligence test, Slosson revised edition, will

be used to determine placement into the gifted program.

    1. The individual intelligence test, WISC III, will be used for

appeal cases (borrowed from Perandoe).

 

Criterion- Referenced State Tests

    1. The Illinois State Assessment Test (ISAT) for reading, math, and writing is given to grades 3, 5, 8, and 10.
    2. The Illinois Goals Assessment Plan (IGAP) for social studies, and science is given to grades 4,7,11. The IGAP may change to the ISAT in 2000-2001.

2. Score requirements (given by percentile)

a. Kindergarten: 93rd on the Brigance, 85th on the MRT

and/or ITBS

    1. First grade: 85th on the ITBS and/or MRT
    2. Second grade: 85th on the ITBS
    3. Third grade: 85th on the ITBS and/or 85th on the ISAT

      4. and/or 120 or above on the CAT

    4. Fourth grade: 85th on the ITBS and/or 85th on the IGAP
    5. Fifth grade: 85th on the ITBS and/or 85th on the ISAT
    6. Sixth grade: 85th on the ITBS and/or 120 or above on

      7. the CAT

    7. Seventh grade: 85th on the ITBS and/or 85th on the IGAP
    8. Eighth grade: 85th on the ITBS and/or 85th on the ISAT

and/or 120 or above on the CAT

3. Professional Judgment

    1. Teachers will fill out checklists for students they feel should

be considered for the Gifted program.

B. Placement Decisions

 

    1. The individual intelligence test, Slosson Revised Ed., will be given for the selection of the top 5 percent of the class population per grade level.
    2. A parent/guardian letter for written permission to give the Slosson will be sent home prior to testing. Parent may refuse testing to identify their child academic potential.
    3. Review of the norm-referenced or criterion-referenced tests scores may assist in the placement of students.
    4. A parent/guardian letter will be sent home indicating placement or non-placement of their child in the gifted program. Parent may refuse to allow their child into the gifted program.

C. Appeal Process

    1. Norm-referenced standardized achievement test scores and criterion referenced state test scores will be reviewed in any or all subject areas.
    2. Additional individual intelligence testing may be completed.
    3. Flexibility for placement into the gifted program will occur due to students and their performance on the screening and selection testing per grade level.

 

  1. Staff and committees
    1. Gifted teacher, administrator, parent, and classroom teachers will make

up the appeals committee.

B. Teachers to take part in the voluntary inclusion of the gifted program.

    1. Program plan evaluation and revision committee consist of parents, gifted

teacher and classroom teachers.

  1. Appeals Committee
    1. The group will be made up of parents, the gifted teacher, administrator, and classroom teachers.
    2. The committee will give parents or teachers an opportunity to explain their reason for retesting, reviewing results, or additional intelligence testing before a decision is reached about a child being removed or added to gifted program.
    3. The committee will review parent’s or teacher’s letter requesting placement or removal from the Gifted program.
    4. The committee will review the test scores for the student and for the class level.
    5. The committee will utilize another individual intelligence test, WISC III (from Perandoe), if necessary to determine if student is gifted or needs to be placed in the gifted program.
    6. The committee will have the final decision after all results have been reviewed.
    7. Parents will receive a letter of the committee’s decision. Parents will have 10 days to respond to the committee’s decision in writing.