Identification

IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES
The purposes of the identification process are:

• to find students who display characteristics of the gifted and talented (i.e., ability or potential)
• to assess the aptitudes, attributes, and behaviors of each student; and
• to evaluate each student for the purpose of placement.

IDENTIFICATION PROCESS 
Gifted and talented students may be found within any racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group; within any nationality; within both genders; and within populations with disabilities.  Identification is a multi-step process, which consists of referral, screening, and assessment of eligibility by a district evaluation and placement team.  In order to qualify for placement in gifted/talented programs, a student must meet the eligibility criteria in TWO out of the following three dimensions:

Dimension A -- Aptitude/Reasoning* 
Students must score at or above the 93rd national age percentile rank in a verbal, quantitative, nonverbal or composite reasoning. 

Dimension B --Achievement
Students must score at or above the 94th national percentile on approved reading or math subtests on a nationally normed achievement test such as MAP (Fall or Spring) or score at the performance standard level set at the state level on the South Carolina ELA and/or math tests.  Students are NOT eligible on the basis of achievement scores alone.

Dimension C -- Academic Performance is only applied if student has already met Dimension A or B.  For placement in grades 3-6, a student must achieve a performance standard set on verbal or non-verbal performance tasks which are administered in February of each year.  Beginning in grade 6, a 3.75 grade point average in the academic disciplines may also be used.

Automatic Eligibility for Placement:  A composite score of 96th national age percentile or higher on a nationally normed aptitude test (Dimension A).