Trina Hira
Coordinator of
Gifted and Talented
Program Services

651-604-3749

E-mail

Roseville Area Schools Gifted and Talented Identification Process

The identification of gifted children has been a work in progress at the National, State and Local levels. Recently, the Minnesota Education Department has proposed a definition which will help guide school districts to define giftedness at a local level.

Minnesota Gifted and Talented Definition

Gifted and talented children and youth are those students with outstanding abilities identified at preschool, elementary and secondary levels. These students are capable of high performance when compared to others of similar age, experience and environment and represent the diverse populations of our communities. These are students whose potential requires differentiated and challenging educational programs and /or services beyond those provided in the general school program. Students capable of high performance include those with demonstrated achievement or potential ability in any one or more of the following areas: general intellectual, specific academic subjects, creativity, leadership and visual and performing arts.

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)

A gifted person is someone who shows, or has potential for showing, an exceptional level of performance in one or more areas of expression. It is generally recognized that approximately five percent of the student population in the United States are considered gifted.

Other general understandings

An IQ score of 130 or above is typically sited as a guideline for gifted identification.; Most often a percentage of the top 5%-10% is considered to be within the gifted range.

A guiding principle regarding identification is that identification should clearly match the program that will be offered to the students.

Roseville Area Schools Identification Process

The Roseville Area Schools Identification Process is designed to incorporate teacher observations and input, screening of all students, parent input and perspectives, student interviews, as well as multiple cognitive testing opportunities, including both group and individual testing.

The identification process will include "informal" identification and screening in grades K, 1,and 2. Kindergarten teachers screen all the students using the "Teacher Perception Inventory". Teachers in grades 1 and 2 will participate in a screening process called the "Multi-Dimensional Screening Device" and all students will be screened for possible giftedness. We will be informally identifying students who are showing strong academic achievement in the primary school years.

All third grade students will take the CogAT test for a measurement in cognitive abilities in the areas of verbal, quantitative and spatial measurements. All three measurements will be expressed in a cumulative score. These test score results will be reviewed and students that have scores in the gifted range will be recommended for further testing. Teacher input will be necessary at this point prior to individualized testing.

Students recommended for further testing through the screening process or the CogAT test results will be given the Slosson Test of Intelligence and the Naglieri Test of Intelligence. A student interview will take place at this time. All students tested will be placed on a Talent Pool list (top 15%) for access to enrichment programming, academic competitions and Summer Academy Materials. Students that have test results of a 132 IQ or above will be invited to an added tier of service which is the G/T Cluster Group.

The end result of the identification process will be the continuation of identifying the top 15% for a talent pool group with access to enrichment opportunities as well as identifying gifted students for a G/T Cluster grouping for an added tier of service for this population.

All students will take the CogAT again in fifth grade. Test results will be reviewed and additional individual testing will take place if a new student surfaces from the test results CogAT test result information will help to update all students for appropriate educational planning for middle school.

Common Questions and Answers

If you have questions regarding the identification of gifted students in the Roseville Area School District please contact Trina Hira at 651-604-3749.