All children possess specific gifts and talents, but to be eligible for a school’s gifted program a child must demonstrate outstanding academic, athletic, artistic or social talent and high levels of accomplishment for their age, experience and environment. Most programs focus on academically gifted students, who may demonstrate giftedness in a specific subject or across domains.
Identifying Giftedness
There are no national or state standards for giftedness, and so it is up to individual schools and districts to establish their own criteria. No two gifted children are alike, and no single measure is sufficient to qualify or disqualify a student. Most schools use a combination of observation, objective assessments and subjective measures to identify giftedness. This may include:
Assessments and Testing for Achievement, Objective, and IQ
Examples include the Stanford Binet IQ test, the Woodcock Johnson, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children, the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, the Test of Mathematical Abilities for Gifted Students or the Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary Students. Identifying gifted students through educational testing is common.
Student Records
This may include grades, portfolio work, and state and standardized test scores. Work should represent a sample of student performance over an extended period of time to be representative of their overall capabilities.
Reports From Teachers, Parents, Peers and/or Students Themselves
As part of the evaluation process, parents, teachers, peers and the student herself may be asked to complete a checklist or questionnaire scoring or describing the student’s behavior, interests, critical thinking skills, social skills and academic ability.
Rating Scales
Teachers may also be asked to complete a subjective rating scale such as the Purdue Academic Rating Scales (PARS), Whitmore or Rimm Underachievement Scales, Scales for Rating Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students, or Cultural Characteristic Scales.
Gifted children may be discontent in a traditional classroom, where their potential may be stifled. They should be identified early and placed in an environment where their talents can flourish. If you suspect that your child may be gifted, schedule an appointment with her teacher or school psychologist to discuss the evaluation process.
