Identification for Enrichment Services

All students are considered for enrichment support. In addition to looking at the whole child, a matrix of multiple measures is used to identify students in need of enrichment.

Students New to the District

For tudents who received enrichment services in a previous district, a parent should contact the school/district to begin the identification process.  A records review process will be used to determine if the student is in need of enrichment services.

Fall of Third Grade

Mindprint is used in New Jersey to identify gifted learners through a cognitive assessment that measures skills beyondtraditional testing, such as flexible thinking, abstract reasonong, and executive functions. By providing a detailed profile of a student's cognitive strengths and weaknesses, it helps educators understand and differentiate instruction, supporting both gifted identification and the needs of all students. Some New Jersey districts began using Mindprint in response to a state mandate for identifying gifted students. 

How Mindprint is used:

• Gifted identification: Mindprint provides a different data point for identifying gifted students, particularly those with strengths in areas like STEM and creative problem-solving. It helps schools fulfill state mandates for gifted education programs.
• Differentiated instruction: The assessment's results create a cognitive "blueprint" for each student, which helps teachers tailor their instruction to meet individual needs.

What Mindprint measures

• The assessment is comprised of puzzle-like tasks that measure cognitive skills across several domains.
• It assesses areas such as complex reasoning, executive functions, memory, and processing speed.
• Specific skills measured include: attention, flexible thinking, verbal and abstract reasoning, spatial perception, and working memory. 

Why Mindprint

• Objective data: It provides objective data on cognitive skills, which can supplement traditional measures like standardized tests, parent input, and teacher recommendations.
• Supports a multi-tiered system: Mindprint can be part of a multi-tiered system of supports to differentiate instruction for entire classes, small groups, or individual students.
• Based on research: The assessment was developed by a research team at the University of Pennsylvania and is a nationally normed assessment of cognitive skills.