Students selected for the Gifted and Talented Program are not selected as a reward for either good performance or model behavior, but because they have special needs. Therefore, the goal of the identification process is to apply comprehensive and unbiased procedures to find students who possess superior abilities and/or potential in the areas of general intellectual ability and/or specific ability aptitude. The critical decision to be made is not if a student is gifted but whether the student’s ability is at a level that warrants special educational provisions. Students identified as most in need of services are invited to participate in the program.  Giftedness of an individual is not based solely on one criterion.

Nomination Process

Nomination for the program can occur in the following ways:  teacher nomination, parent nomination, administrator nomination.  Nominations for the program will be accepted in the Spring of the school year for current students. Parent nominations must be supported by teacher recommendation.  Only teacher nominations will be used at the primary level (K-1).  Students who transfer within the school year from a previous gifted program may be considered for admission if documentation can be verified from the previous school and if the child meets Lumberton’s GT criteria.

Student referral, assessment, and placement documentation is maintained by the gifted program coordinator and will be shared with parents upon request. Student identification and assessment procedures are reviewed each year and modified as necessary to make the process more effective.

Students who do not meet entrance criteria after the evaluation portfolio is assembled and administered by the Gifted and Talented Program staff are eligible for retesting by program personnel in another school year. Reconsideration can be requested by a parent or staff member by using a nomination form during the annual nomination period.  

A complete review of scores on existing Grade 3 and 5 G/T students will be completed before entering the next building. In grades 7 and 8, gifted and talented students may qualify for honors classes in specific subject areas.  Students may also participate in an optional after-school Cognetics club.

Screening Criteria for Eligibility for Gifted and Talented Services

Screening Criteria

The identification process for the Gifted and Talented Program identifies student needs for the purpose of matching students to programming options. Following the referral and screening, a student summary profile/matrix is prepared. This profile/matrix is utilized when considering students for final identification and placement in the Gifted and Talented Program.

Primary Program (Grades K-2)

• Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test
• SAGES Reasoning Test
• Teacher Evaluation
• Report Card Evaluation

Elementary Program (Grade 3)

• Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test
• SAGES Reasoning Test
• Teacher Evaluation
• Report Card Evaluation
• Standardized Achievement Test Scores – 95% or above Nationally in at least one (1) major total battery area (i.e., Reading, Math, Total Score)

Upper Elementary Program (Grades 4-6)

• Standardized Achievement Test Scores – 95% or above Nationally in at least one (1) major total battery area (i.e., Reading, Math, Total Score).
• Group Cognitive Abilities Test
• Teacher Evaluation
• Test for Creativity/Divergent Thinking
• Report Card Evaluation
• Individual I.Q. Score (Slosson, K-Bit, or Sage) on an as needed basis 

Timeline

• Mid March: GT coordinator reaches out to 3-5th grade Teachers for recommendations for possible GT screening for the following year.
• Beginning April: BRS /AES bulletin for parent nominations in Grades 2-5th grade. GT coordinator reaches out to K-2 grade teachers for recommendations for possible GT screening for the following year.
• Beginning May: Grades 2-5 nomination window closes for teacher and parent nominations.  Parent permission to test forms mailed to prospective nominees.
• Mid May: Screening tests begins for 5th grade
• End May: Screening tests begin for grades 2 & 3
• June:  K-1 nominations close for teacher nominations and parent permission to test forms mailed to prospective nominees.
• Mid June: All testing completed for 5th grade and collaborative meeting, including GT  coordinator, administration, curriculum coordinator for LMS scheduling.
• End September: All testing completed for grades 1-4
• Beginning October: Collaborative meeting Eligibility Team (GT coordinator, administration, curriculum coordinator) to discuss GT applications.  GT coordinator collaborates with teachers, administration for the best possible schedule in the interest of GT students.

Student Responsbilitlies

LMS/BRS
Once a student is admitted to the program, 3’s and 4’s on the report card must be maintained in all subject areas.  If a student receives a 2 or lower on any standard on the report card in any graded area (i.e., qualifies for honor roll status consistent with Board policy) the student will be placed on G/T probation.  A conference (personal or telephone) between parent, child, and teacher of G/T will be held to explain the probationary status.  Classroom teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator will be notified and may attend.  If the child’s grade does not improve to at least a 3 by the next grading period, the child will be exited from the G/T Program for the remainder of the current school year.  It is suggested that at interim report time, if a child receives a 2 or lower in any area, that regular classroom teacher should notify the teacher of G/T and parent; this way, the child still has four (4) weeks before report card time to improve their grade to at least a 3 and thereby diminish the probability of receiving a 2 and being put on probation.  If a child is exited from the program however, the child is eligible to be nominated and tested again for the next school year during the screening period.  This also applies to any child receiving a 2 in any standard during the third trimester for BRS or fourth report period for LMS,

AES
Once a student is admitted to the program, he/she is expected to maintain classroom grades that reflect an advanced academic effort.  If a student repeatedly does not put forth an honorable effort, a meeting with the respective parties (parents, child, and eligibility team.) will be held.  The child will be placed on academic probation to have the opportunity to improve.  If progress is not achieved, dismissal from the GT program will be considered.

Student Behavioral Expectations

While attending G/T class and missing regular class instruction, students are expected to maintain regular classroom responsibilities (daily notes, assignments, etc.).  It is suggested that students partner with a responsible classmate and/or meet the teacher at a mutually convenient time to get assignments.  While G/T students are expected to maintain regular classroom responsibilities, it is not intended that they be “punished” with double work because of their capabilities.  Classroom teachers will modify assignments/workload where possible.  Major tests, quizzes, report presentations, etc. will not be assigned during regularly scheduled G/T class time.

The G/T program affords many special opportunities to represent the Lumberton School District. Students are expected to maintain exemplary behavior at all times.  If a negative situation arises, teacher and/or administrator discretion will be used for severe and/or repetitive offenses within the school environment.  Offenses may result in probation or immediate dismissal from the program.