Lockhurst GATE Parent MeetingA Guide for Identifying Gifted and Talented Students

andAn Overview of Our GATE Plan

Tina ChoiOrapin Chang

Process for Identification

• Search and Referral• Screening• Committee Review• District Verification

Major Categories of Identification

• Intellectual Ability• High Achievement Ability• Specific Academic Ability• Creative Ability• Leadership Ability• Ability in the Performing or Visual Arts

Criteria for the Intellectual Category Students must meet ALL of the criteria for this category.

• One semester observation by the teacher.• Supportive descriptions of behavior by

the teacher and/or parent.• Teacher observations, review of student’s

cumulative record and sample of student work.

• Evidence of intellectual ability.• Superior cognitive abilities on

standardized adminstration of an intelligence test administered by a LAUSD psychologist.

• Students can only be tested one time.

Criteria for the High Achieving Category

• Grade 4 and above: Two current consecutive years of advanced achievement in ELA and Mathematics on the CST

• Grade 2 only: A score of 95% on the total Age Percentile Rank (APR) score on the OLSAT or a score of 90-94% on the total APR along with a scaled score of 445 or above in ELA and a scaled score of 450 or above in math on the CST.

• OLSAT test may only be taken once.

Criteria for the Specific Academic Ability Category

• Grade 4 and above: Three current consecutive years of highly advanced achievement in ELA or Mathematics on the CST.

Criteria for the Creative Ability CategoryGrade 4 and above

• Results of 95% or above on a standardized rating assessment scale for Creative Ability

• Portfolio assessment• Documentation of outstanding ability or

the potential for such ability as evidenced by community recognition and teacher evaluation

• Teacher observations, review of student’s cumulative record, and sample of student work must provide support for a recommendation of assessment

Criteria for the Leadership Ability CategoryGrade 4 and above

• Results of 95% or above on a standardized rating assessment scale for Leadership Ability

• Portfolio assessment• Documentation of outstanding ability or

the potential for such ability as evidenced by community recognition and teacher evaluation

• Teacher observations, review of student’s cumulative record, and sample of student work must provide support for a recommendation of assessment

Criteria for the Performing Arts CategoryGrade 2 and above

• Documentation of outstanding ability or the potential for such ability as evidenced by parent and student questionnaires and

• Recommendation(s) by teacher(s) verifying the degree of excellence and

• Demonstration of talent at a Districtwide audition

• The performing arts include dance, drama, and music (voice).

Criteria for the Visual Arts CategoryGrade 2 and above

• Documentation of outstanding ability or the potential for such ability as evidenced by parent and student questionnaires and

• Recommendation(s) by teacher(s) verifying the degree of excellence and

• Portfolio Assessment Districtwide audition

OLSAT FAQs

What is the OLSAT-8?• The OLSAT stands for the Otis-Lennon School

Ability test version 8 and is used to identify gifted students in the high achieving category.

OLSAT FAQs

Who will be tested?• All second graders, including students with disabilities

and English learners. In most cases, students will be tested by their classroom teacher.

• Students who are exempt include a) students who take the CAPA b) students previously identified as gifted in the intellectual category c) students whose parents have requested non- participation

OLSAT FAQs

Why administer the OLSAT district wide?• Analysis of 2009 pilot data indicates that this

assessment supports the District’s goal to improve the District’s identification process and to increase access, particularly of underrepresented students, to this educational program.

OLSAT FAQs

Is the OLSAT an IQ test?• No, the OLSAT is an achievement test.

OLSAT FAQs

What are the qualifying scores?• The total score must be 95% or above in order to

qualify for the High Achievement category this year.OR• If the student receives a 90-94%, then they may still

qualify with their 2012 CST scores. The student must meet the cutoff criteria of having scaled scores of 445 in English Language Arts AND 450 in Math.

OR• Low SES students who receives a score of 90-94%.

OLSAT FAQs

What types of questions will be asked on the OLSAT?

• Detecting likenesses and differences• Recalling words and numbers• Defining words• Following directions• Classifying• Establishing Sequence• Solving arithmetic problems• Completing Analogies

OLSAT FAQs

If the second grade student is identified gifted in the High Achievement Category, do they need to re-apply for the category next year?

• No. As with all gifted categories in the LAUSD, once a student is identified gifted, the gifted label will remain with the student for the duration of his/her enrollment at LAUSD.

OLSAT FAQs

Can my child take the test again if he/she does not pass?

• Currently, the OLSAT is only being administered to second graders.

• The test can only be taken once in the second grade.

OLSAT FAQs

What are the test administration dates?• March 14, 2012 and/or March 15, 2012

Make-up testing date:• Wednesday, March 21, 2012

OLSAT FAQs

When will schools receive the results?• Scores will be sent directly to the school some

time in May. We will send the scores home as soon as we receive them.

GATE Plan

Kindergarten

• Students are introduced to and familiarized with the Depth and Complexity prompts.

• Critical and creative thinking skills are developed during the year to supplement and enrich the core curriculum.

• Students are introduced to technology and taught basic computer and word processing skills.

First Grade

• Students continue to utilize the Depth and Complexity prompts.

• Students are given opportunities to use critical and creative thinking skills in tiered assignments according to their interest and capabilities.

• Students are taught how to use technology to access information through appropriate sites on the internet.

Second Grade

• Students are taught to utilize critical and creative thinking skills to research fossils and dinosaurs and how animals camouflage.

• The use of the Depth and Complexity prompts flows into all areas of study.

Third Grade

• Third grade students are taught to utilize the Depth and Complexity prompts.

• The goal for all students is that they increase rigor by developing their own ability to create their own analytical, factual, and evaluative questions with the prompts.

Fourth Grade

• Students are encouraged to be more actively involved and responsible in their own learning.

• Students are pre-assessed in order to compact the curriculum so they can focus on individualized projects.

Fifth Grade

• Students independently research and study topics of their own interest.

• Students develop PowerPoint presentations according to rigorous criteria that they develop together. The criteria parallel the state standards.

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