Gifted Education

Anyone can initiate a Gifted Program Referral for services: parents/guardians, teachers, principals, classified staff, or students themselves. To make a referral, contact the Gifted Coordinator and you will be sent the forms to complete and return to the Gifted Coordinator. Referral forms are also available at each school site and at the district Gifted Program webpage. Transfer students identified as gifted will have transfer test scores and educational profile reviewed to determine continued eligibility or to determine if additional data is needed through testing.

Once referred, the Gifted Coordinator will begin collecting information about each student referred for identification. A Parent Input Form will be sent home for parents to complete and return. The student’s teacher will complete a Teacher Input Form. Students will complete their own Student Input Form. An educational profile for each student is developed. This includes state testing, grades, and district achievement testing. After a review of the data collected, a recommendation for gifted services or gifted testing will be made.

Students recommended for gifted testing are given the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) to help determine eligibility. This tests a student’s ability to reason using words (verbal), numbers (quantitative) and pictures (non-verbal). Some students are given the NNAT3 (Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test), which also determines reasoning abilities. This test uses only pictures and is beneficial for ELL, ESS and “at-risk” students.

Testing results data and student educational profiles will be used to help determine if gifted services are needed. To qualify for gifted services, students must test at or above the 90th percentile or test within “highly proficient” on approved standardized state tests (AASA, AzSCI, ACT Aspire, ACT).

Gifted students’ annual state and district assessments (AASA, AzSCI, ACT Aspire, and ACT ), along with grades and student input, will be used to determine continuation of gifted services.

“Gifted pupil” means a child who is of lawful school age, who due to superior intellect or advanced learning ability, or both, is not afforded an opportunity for otherwise attainable progress and development in regular classroom instruction and who needs appropriate gifted education services, to achieve at levels commensurate with the child’s intellect and ability.

“Gifted education” means appropriate academic course offerings and services that are required to provide an educational program that is an integral part of the regular school day and that is commensurate with the academic abilities and potential of a gifted pupil.

• Unchallenged by curriculum
• Asks/answers questions above same aged peers
• Enjoys studying/researching/reading outside of school
• Writes/creates using detail and originality
• Speaks with high level of verbal ability
• Accelerated pace of thought processes
• Can retain extraordinary quantity of information
• Demonstrates unique interests and curiosity
• Solves problems in diverse and novel ways

• Provide comprehensive gifted services which cultivate each student’s problem solving and leadership skills while offering enrichment and creative opportunities.
• Promote equity and access to appropriately challenging curriculum by educating teachers and staff on the unique academic and social-emotional needs of gifted students
• Provide gifted identification procedures which are inclusive and reflective of the diverse student populations within each school.
• Provide training for all staff on the procedures for referring and identifying students for gifted services.