TD Testing
Gifted Identification in CMS Kindergarten and First Grade: Students in kindergarten and first grade may be identified if qualifying test scores are available. CMS will test K-1 students who are referred by the Talent Development (TD) Site-Based Committee for eligibility to the Horizons program.
Second Grade: All second grade students who are educated primarily in a CMS general education classroom are screened with the CogAT, a nationally-normed aptitude test and the Gifted Rating Scales (GRS). Parents will receive a notification letter as to when the screening will occur.
Identification as Academically Intellectually Gifted (AGI) in BOTH Reading and Math will be determined using the Talent Development Identification Rubric where an overall score of at least 12 must be accumulated. Second grade students can accumulate rubric points on a CMS administered nationally-normed aptitude test, a CMS administered nationally-normed achievement test, the Gifted Rating Scales, or a CMS portfolio assessment. The portfolio and Gifted Rating Scales assessments are available only for CMS second grade students.
Students who attain a score of 89th-95th percentile on the CogAT, but do not earn enough points on the Talent Development Identification Rubric to identify as Academically Gifted Reading and Math (AI), Academically Gifted Reading Only (AR), or Academically Gifted Math Only (AM) with achievement testing results, or as a result of the portfolio assessment, will identify as Intellectually Gifted (IG)
Third-Twelfth Grades: A classroom teacher, parent, program coordinator, family advocate, and/or counselor may refer a student who exhibits extraordinary strengths in classroom performance to the TD Site-Based Committee. A student may also refer him or herself. The TD Site-Based Committee is comprised of the TD Catalyst Teacher or Academic Facilitator, classroom teacher(s), and an administrator. At the high school level, the Committee would consist of an administrator and classroom teachers who are currently serving advanced students. The school’s Student Service Specialist or counselor may also serve on this committee. The TD Site-Based Committee is required to meet twice a year, but may meet as often as needed. Meeting dates should be logged. All referrals are submitted to the TD Site-Based Committee to approve or deny, based on documented student strengths.
In order to be identified as Academically Intellectually Gifted (AI) in both reading and math, 12 points on the Talent Development Identification Rubric must be accumulated using age-composite scores from a nationally-normed aptitude test, a nationally-normed achievement test, or an NC End-of-Year assessment (i.e EOGs, EOCs).
Students may be identified as Academically Gifted in Reading Only (AR) or Math Only (AM) if they accumulate 6 points on the TD Identification Rubric through a combination of verbal aptitude and reading achievement scores (AR) or a combination of quantitative/nonverbal aptitude and math achievement scores (AM).
Students who attain a score of 92nd-95th percentile on the CogAT or other approved aptitude assessment and do not earn enough points on the Talent Development Identification Rubric to identify as Academically Gifted Reading and Math (AG) or Academically Gifted Reading Only (AR) or Academically Gifted Math Only (AM) with achievement testing results will identify as Intellectually Gifted (IG).
Alternate Assessments: Students who, according to their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, cannot take this type of standardized testing with or without accommodations or modifications or whose necessary accommodations or modifications are not available with, or appropriate for this testing, will be eligible for the gifted program through alternative assessments.
Information from the CMS Talent Development Page
Second Grade: All second grade students who are educated primarily in a CMS general education classroom are screened with the CogAT, a nationally-normed aptitude test and the Gifted Rating Scales (GRS). Parents will receive a notification letter as to when the screening will occur.
Identification as Academically Intellectually Gifted (AGI) in BOTH Reading and Math will be determined using the Talent Development Identification Rubric where an overall score of at least 12 must be accumulated. Second grade students can accumulate rubric points on a CMS administered nationally-normed aptitude test, a CMS administered nationally-normed achievement test, the Gifted Rating Scales, or a CMS portfolio assessment. The portfolio and Gifted Rating Scales assessments are available only for CMS second grade students.
Students who attain a score of 89th-95th percentile on the CogAT, but do not earn enough points on the Talent Development Identification Rubric to identify as Academically Gifted Reading and Math (AI), Academically Gifted Reading Only (AR), or Academically Gifted Math Only (AM) with achievement testing results, or as a result of the portfolio assessment, will identify as Intellectually Gifted (IG)
Third-Twelfth Grades: A classroom teacher, parent, program coordinator, family advocate, and/or counselor may refer a student who exhibits extraordinary strengths in classroom performance to the TD Site-Based Committee. A student may also refer him or herself. The TD Site-Based Committee is comprised of the TD Catalyst Teacher or Academic Facilitator, classroom teacher(s), and an administrator. At the high school level, the Committee would consist of an administrator and classroom teachers who are currently serving advanced students. The school’s Student Service Specialist or counselor may also serve on this committee. The TD Site-Based Committee is required to meet twice a year, but may meet as often as needed. Meeting dates should be logged. All referrals are submitted to the TD Site-Based Committee to approve or deny, based on documented student strengths.
In order to be identified as Academically Intellectually Gifted (AI) in both reading and math, 12 points on the Talent Development Identification Rubric must be accumulated using age-composite scores from a nationally-normed aptitude test, a nationally-normed achievement test, or an NC End-of-Year assessment (i.e EOGs, EOCs).
Students may be identified as Academically Gifted in Reading Only (AR) or Math Only (AM) if they accumulate 6 points on the TD Identification Rubric through a combination of verbal aptitude and reading achievement scores (AR) or a combination of quantitative/nonverbal aptitude and math achievement scores (AM).
Students who attain a score of 92nd-95th percentile on the CogAT or other approved aptitude assessment and do not earn enough points on the Talent Development Identification Rubric to identify as Academically Gifted Reading and Math (AG) or Academically Gifted Reading Only (AR) or Academically Gifted Math Only (AM) with achievement testing results will identify as Intellectually Gifted (IG).
Alternate Assessments: Students who, according to their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, cannot take this type of standardized testing with or without accommodations or modifications or whose necessary accommodations or modifications are not available with, or appropriate for this testing, will be eligible for the gifted program through alternative assessments.
Information from the CMS Talent Development Page