Gifted Testing
2024-2025 Testing Sessions | Testing Window Dates |
1st Gifted Testing Session | August-September 2024 (universal screener for automatic referrals) |
2nd Gifted Testing Session | September - December 2024 |
3rd Gifted Testing Session | February - May 2025 |
Parent Referrals | February 3, 2025 (1st Monday in February every year) |
Gifted Referrals
Gifted Referral Form - Needed First!
The Gifted Referral Form is to be filled out and returned to Mrs. Danielle Jones, ALPHA District Gifted Coordinator, to refer a student(s) for our gifted program.
The referral process is the first step for entrance into the gifted program.
A referral may come from teachers, parents, self, peers, or as the result of system-wide testing (automatic referral).
Referrals are reviewed by each school’s eligibility committee, which determines who will be evaluated for gifted placement.
A referral for gifted evaluation is not a guarantee of eligibility testing.
The eligibility team/committee will examine several artifacts/evidence/data points and make a decision based on those items to see if testing is an option.
Gifted Referral Form 2024-2025 (click to download the form)
Automatic Gifted Referrals
Automatic referrals will be made following the results of a school-wide full-grade level administration of a nationally normed assessment during the fall of each school year (for our 1st-graders only). Students who score in the eligibility range for the school-wide full grade level administered test are referred to the school Gifted Eligibility Team for further screening to be tested for gifted eligibility.
Gifted Assessment Categories
Students are evaluated in four areas: mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. Assessment instruments include nationally normed tests, rating scales, and other state-approved measures. All assessments comply with Georgia state rules and regulations. Individual assessment measures require parental consent.
Gifted Transfer Students
In-State Transfers: Any student who meets the eligibility criteria for gifted education services is considered eligible to receive gifted education services in Grady County upon verification of records and scores.
Out-of-State Transfers: There is no mandated reciprocity between states for gifted eligibility. Students who transfer from other states’ gifted programs must meet Georgia eligibility requirements before services can be provided.
Military Dependent Transfers: When a student transfers into the school system who is a dependent of active duty military personnel and identifies themselves as gifted, the student will receive services and will begin the gifted eligibility process/testing for Grady County Schools.
Determination of Gifted Eligibility
Determination of gifted eligibility is conducted following the Georgia Department of Education rule 160-4-2.38. The chart below details the two paths for gifted eligibility
In options A and B, information shall be gathered in each of the four categories (Mental Ability, Achievement, Creativity, and Motivation).
At least one of the criteria must be met by a score on a GaDOE-approved nationally normed reference test (all assessments that Grady County uses are GaDOE-approved)..
Any data used to establish eligibility in one category shall not be used to establish eligibility in another category.
If a rating scale is used to evaluate creativity, a rating scale shall not be used to evaluate motivation. If a rating scale is used to evaluate motivation, a rating scale shall not be used to evaluate creativity.
Any piece of information used to establish eligibility shall be current within two years.
Local school systems must establish policies regarding the use of data gathered and analyzed by private entities.
Students are eligible through a psychometric approach (Rule.08) in which Grades K-2 must have a mental ability score of 99% and an achievement score of 90% or greater – Option A.
Students are eligible through a psychometric approach (Rule .08) in which Grades 3-12 must have a mental ability score of 96% or greater and an achievement score of 90% or greater – Option A.
Category | Option A | Option B | |
|---|---|---|---|
Students must have a qualifying score in the mental ability AND achievement categories. | Students must qualify in three of the four categories. | ||
Mental Ability | Grades K-2 99th% percentile composite score on a nationally normed mental ability test Grades 3-12 ≥96th percentile composite score on a nationally normed mental ability test | Grades K- 12 ≥ 96th percentile composite OR appropriate component score on a nationally normed mental ability tests | |
Achievement | Grades K-12 ≥ 90th percentile Total Reading, Total Math, or Complete Battery on a nationally normed achievement test | Grades K-12 ≥ 90th percentile Total Reading, Total Math, or Complete Battery on a nationally normed achievement test Grades K – 12 Superior product/performance with a score ≥ 90 on a scale of 1-100, as evaluated by a panel of three or more qualified evaluators | |
| Evaluation data required | Grades K-12 ≥ 90th percentile on composite score on a nationally normed creativity test Grades K-12 Rating scales used to qualify student creativity must equate to the 90th percentile Grades K-12 Superior product/performance with a score ≥ 90 on a scale of 1-100, as evaluated by a panel of three or more qualified evaluators | |
Motivation | Evaluation data required | For grades 6-12, the 2-year average of a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale in regular core subjects of mathematics, English/language arts, social studies, science, and full-year world languages Grades K-12 Rating scales used to qualify student motivation must equate to the 90th percentile Grades K – 12 Superior product/performance with a score ≥ 90 on a scale of 1-100, as evaluated by a panel of three or more qualified evaluators |
Gifted Assessments
Grady County School District administers only state-approved tests for gifted eligibility. The tests administered adhere to the State of Georgia Board of Education Policy, 160-4-2-.38, having been reviewed for bias and are normed on a nationally representative sample concerning race, religion, national origin, sex, disabilities, and economic background. Following the Professional Standards Commission Educator Code of Ethics assessment regulations, test security will be maintained among all levels of test administration. Test security measures include that other than the name of the evaluation instrument, further information will not be shared about gifted eligibility assessments concerning form, section, or level.