An Introduction to Standardized An Introduction to Standardized Testing and The Gifted Identification Testing and The Gifted Identification ProcessProcess

Austin Elementary SchoolAustin Elementary School

August 20 and 27, 2015August 20 and 27, 2015

ITBSITBS

As part of our district testing As part of our district testing program for elementary and middle program for elementary and middle schools, students take the Iowa schools, students take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). The Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). The ITBS is administered in the Fall for ITBS is administered in the Fall for grades 1, 3, 5 and 7.grades 1, 3, 5 and 7.

What does the ITBS What does the ITBS measure?measure?

Developed at the University of Iowa, the ITBS is a set Developed at the University of Iowa, the ITBS is a set of achievement tests that measure the actual of achievement tests that measure the actual knowledge and skills students have acquired.knowledge and skills students have acquired.

Reading: Vocabulary, ComprehensionReading: Vocabulary, Comprehension

Language: Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, Usage Language: Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, Usage and and Expression Expression

Math:Math: Concepts and Estimation, Problem Solving, Concepts and Estimation, Problem Solving, Data Interpretation, and ComputationData Interpretation, and Computation

Social Studies & Science : Not tested in 1Social Studies & Science : Not tested in 1stst grade grade

Information Usage: Maps and Diagrams and Reference Information Usage: Maps and Diagrams and Reference Materials Materials

The ITBS was designed to The ITBS was designed to represent a sampling of represent a sampling of curriculum standards widely used curriculum standards widely used around the nation.around the nation.

The test is not designed to The test is not designed to specifically address any one specifically address any one school district’s curriculum.school district’s curriculum.

Does the ITBS Does the ITBS Address the Common Core Address the Common Core

Georgia Performance Georgia Performance Standards?Standards?

How Does the ITBS How Does the ITBS MeasureMeasure

Achievement?Achievement? The ITBS will assess skills and content The ITBS will assess skills and content

knowledge in a multiple choice format.knowledge in a multiple choice format. The ITBS is a norm-referenced test.The ITBS is a norm-referenced test. It is designed to answer the question, It is designed to answer the question,

“How do our students perform on “How do our students perform on basic skills as compared with other basic skills as compared with other students in the nation?”students in the nation?”

Scoring on the ITBSScoring on the ITBS

We use the National Percentile Rank We use the National Percentile Rank (NPR) to evaluate student performance. (NPR) to evaluate student performance. For example, if your child’s NPR was a For example, if your child’s NPR was a 75 in Total Reading, this would mean 75 in Total Reading, this would mean that your child scored higher than 75% that your child scored higher than 75% of the students in the norming group.of the students in the norming group.

Percentile ranks range from 1 to 99.Percentile ranks range from 1 to 99. The national average on all subtests is The national average on all subtests is

50.50.

CogATCogAT

The Cognitive Abilities Test measures The Cognitive Abilities Test measures students’ reasoning abilities in the students’ reasoning abilities in the three areas most linked to success in three areas most linked to success in school.school.VerbalVerbal: : verbal classification, sentence verbal classification, sentence

completion, and verbal analogiescompletion, and verbal analogies

QuantitativeQuantitative: : quantitative relations, number quantitative relations, number series, and equation buildingseries, and equation building

NonverbalNonverbal: : figure classification, figure figure classification, figure analogies, and figure analysisanalogies, and figure analysis

CogAT ScoresCogAT Scores

Riverside Publishing does not Riverside Publishing does not provide parent copies of provide parent copies of individual student’s CogAT scores.individual student’s CogAT scores.

Scores are reported in percentiles Scores are reported in percentiles for each of the three categories, for each of the three categories, as well as the composite. as well as the composite.

RenzulliRenzulliThe Renzulli is a standardized behavioral rating The Renzulli is a standardized behavioral rating scale for creativity and motivation.scale for creativity and motivation.

The Renzulli is an instrument that determines how often a performance behavior is demonstrated in the classroom.  These opportunities are provided in the classroom by your child’s teacher and recorded in November.  

The Discovery teachers do not have access to The Discovery teachers do not have access to individual test scores. Please check with your individual test scores. Please check with your child’s homeroom teacher for test scores.child’s homeroom teacher for test scores.

Identifying Identifying Gifted Gifted

StudentsStudents

Test Scores and the Role Test Scores and the Role They Play in Identifying They Play in Identifying

Gifted Students.Gifted Students.

The procedures for identifying The procedures for identifying and placing students in the gifted and placing students in the gifted program are governed and program are governed and funded by the Georgia funded by the Georgia Department of Education. Department of Education.

Eligibility CriteriaEligibility Criteria

All 1All 1st,st, 3 3rdrd and 5 and 5thth grade students will be given grade students will be given the following four assessments:the following four assessments:

ITBSITBSCogATCogATCreativityCreativityMotivationMotivation

• To be eligible for gifted services, To be eligible for gifted services, students must qualify in at students must qualify in at least three least three of the four assessments.of the four assessments.

CogATCogAT

Minimum of 96% in at least one Minimum of 96% in at least one sub-test area.sub-test area.

VerbalVerbal QuantitativeQuantitative Non-verbalNon-verbal Complete CompositeComplete Composite

ITBSITBS

Minimum of 90% on any one of Minimum of 90% on any one of the following subtests:the following subtests:

Total Reading Total Reading Total MathTotal Math Complete Composite Complete Composite

* Note: Please refer to NPR * Note: Please refer to NPR scoresscores

RenzulliRenzulli

CreativityCreativityMinimum of 90% on an Minimum of 90% on an assessment for creativity.assessment for creativity.

MotivationMotivationMinimum of 90% on an Minimum of 90% on an assessment for motivation.assessment for motivation.

Phases of TestingPhases of Testing

Step I: All students will be tested in the Step I: All students will be tested in the four categories.four categories.

If none of the scores qualify the student for If none of the scores qualify the student for the gifted program, no further testing will the gifted program, no further testing will occur.occur.

If a student qualifies in at least If a student qualifies in at least oneone category on CogAT or ITBS, further testing category on CogAT or ITBS, further testing will occur. will occur.

If and when a student qualifies in If and when a student qualifies in threethree areas, the child is identified as gifted.areas, the child is identified as gifted.

Step II TestingStep II Testing

Occurs if a student has qualifying Occurs if a student has qualifying scores on either the ITBS scores on either the ITBS oror CogAT.CogAT.

If your child qualifies for this If your child qualifies for this phase of testing, you will receive phase of testing, you will receive notification that further testing is notification that further testing is necessary.necessary.

What If My Child Has What If My Child Has Qualifying Scores But Did Qualifying Scores But Did

Not Get a Letter?Not Get a Letter? Students who have qualifying Students who have qualifying

CogAT and Achievement scores CogAT and Achievement scores may have qualified for the may have qualified for the program and will not need further program and will not need further testing.testing.

In this case, those students will In this case, those students will receive a letter once receive a letter once all of the all of the school’sschool’s Step II testing is Step II testing is complete. complete.

Please be aware Please be aware that…that…

Academic grades do not play a role in Academic grades do not play a role in the Gifted Identification Process.the Gifted Identification Process.

Georgia Milestones scores are not Georgia Milestones scores are not used to determine gifted eligibility.used to determine gifted eligibility.

Private test data may not be used to Private test data may not be used to determine eligibility. determine eligibility.

Frequently Asked Frequently Asked QuestionsQuestions

Q: What if my child missed the cut -Q: What if my child missed the cut -off score by only a few points, can off score by only a few points, can special consideration be given?special consideration be given?

A: There is no appeal to this A: There is no appeal to this process. We must adhere to the process. We must adhere to the guidelines set forth by the State guidelines set forth by the State of Georgia.of Georgia.

FAQFAQ

Q: If a student does not Q: If a student does not qualify for the program, qualify for the program, can he/she be retested?can he/she be retested?

A: No, students cannot be retested. A: No, students cannot be retested. However, eligibility testing occurs However, eligibility testing occurs in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7.in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7.

FAQFAQ

Q: Once students have been identified Q: Once students have been identified for the gifted program, will they have for the gifted program, will they have to qualify for the program for to qualify for the program for subsequent years?subsequent years?

A: No, once your children have been A: No, once your children have been identified for the gifted program, they identified for the gifted program, they need no further testing.need no further testing.

FAQFAQ

Q: How long does the identification process Q: How long does the identification process take?take?

A: The process begins in September when the A: The process begins in September when the students take the assessments. students take the assessments. Once we have received our standardized Once we have received our standardized tests scores, tests scores, the county uploads the scores into the the county uploads the scores into the system database. At that time, the Step II system database. At that time, the Step II process begins. We are expecting to process begins. We are expecting to conclude this process by the middle of conclude this process by the middle of March. March.

FAQFAQ

Q. When will Gifted Services begin?Q. When will Gifted Services begin?

A. Services for newly identified A. Services for newly identified gifted students will begin when all gifted students will begin when all testing is complete.testing is complete.

Let’s Look at Some Let’s Look at Some Examples:Examples: Kate scored a 98% on the CogAT, and a 91% on the Kate scored a 98% on the CogAT, and a 91% on the

ITBS, but she did not get a letter for STEP II testing. ITBS, but she did not get a letter for STEP II testing. Why didn’t she get a letter? Why didn’t she get a letter?

Students who have qualifying CogAT and Achievement Students who have qualifying CogAT and Achievement scores may have qualified for the program and will not scores may have qualified for the program and will not need further testing. To be eligible for gifted services, need further testing. To be eligible for gifted services, students must qualify in at least three of the four students must qualify in at least three of the four assessments. Kate has already qualified in 2 areas assessments. Kate has already qualified in 2 areas and depending on her Renzulli scores may have and depending on her Renzulli scores may have qualified in 3 areas. It is probable that Kate has qualified in 3 areas. It is probable that Kate has already qualified and will be notified when all school already qualified and will be notified when all school testing is complete. testing is complete.

So…What’s Next?So…What’s Next?

Step 1:Step 1: All test scores will be All test scores will be automatically uploaded into the DCSD automatically uploaded into the DCSD Database.Database.

Step 2:Step 2: The DCSD Database will The DCSD Database will identify students who require Step II identify students who require Step II testing. Those students will receive testing. Those students will receive notification letters.notification letters.

Step 3: Step 3: STEP II tests will be administered STEP II tests will be administered and graded. Once all tests have been and graded. Once all tests have been graded, the DCSD Database will identify any graded, the DCSD Database will identify any student who has qualified for the program. student who has qualified for the program. This includes automatic qualifiers. This includes automatic qualifiers.

Step 4:Step 4: Letters of eligibility for automatic Letters of eligibility for automatic qualifiers and those qualifying in STEP II will qualifiers and those qualifying in STEP II will be sent once all Step II testing has been be sent once all Step II testing has been completed. Letters will also be sent to completed. Letters will also be sent to students who did not qualify. students who did not qualify.

Step 5:Step 5: Discovery classes will begin when Discovery classes will begin when all school testing is complete.all school testing is complete.

If you have a question that we If you have a question that we cannot answer, feel free to contact cannot answer, feel free to contact

the county’s Gifted Coordinator, the county’s Gifted Coordinator, Emmika Atkinson. Emmika Atkinson.

Emmika_d_Atkinson@dekalbschoolsga.org