Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
How can my child be identified for the AIG program?
A child's teacher/parent can nominate a child by writing a letter to the AIG
Specialist. After the nomination has been made, the AIG specialist and
members of the SBC-GE (School Based Committee for Gifted Education), will meet with the classroom teacher to to discuss formal & informal indicators. If the committee feels that a referral is warranted the child will be referred for the AIG program. This evaluation will include the child be assessed with aptitude and achievement tests (during a window of time in either 1st or 2nd semester). Results are then evaluated by the team and a decision is made regarding placement.
*Please note that this applies to 4th and 5th grade students only.
** See the Nomination and Testing Window Tab on the left for more information on testing windows.
What is the SBC-GE?
School Based Committee for Gifted Education is a team of professional
educators that provide a team framework for evaluating data and recommending the most appropriate service options for individual students, who demonstrate a need for differentiation. The team members represent various grade levels and participate in all decisions.
What factors do you use for considering my child as academically gifted?
Informal indicators such as: classroom behaviors, performance, portfolio samples, motivation,and interest.
Formal indicators: Standardized aptitude and achievement tests
What is a DEP? When will I receive this information?
If you child meets the criteria for gifted services, he/she will have a
Differentiated Education Plan. The DEP will be sent home at the first parent meeting. The DEP documents the type of differentiated curriculum and instructional practices that the student will receive as well as the AIG Service Delivery Methods of how they will receive them.
What services are provided for K-2 students who exhibit gifted behaviors?
The AIG Specialist is used on a consult basis for grades K-2. I do not provide direct instruction to this group of students, but I will assist the teacher in developing activities for regular classroom instruction. Classroom
teachers provide differentiation for all students and meet their needs according to the AIG School Plan.
There are a very small group of unique students whose performance is two or more years above grade placement. When this occurs the SBC-GE may feel that more information is needed to to write an appropriate educational program. Data such as reading, writing, and/or math matrices will be collected. The child might also be referred for an individually administered psycho-educational evaluation to aid in the development of the IDEP.
How often do 4th & 5th grade students receive services?
Typically if a child identified in one area, they will be pulled out for 45 min per week. If they are identified in both areas they will be serviced for 45 min per subject area per week.
If you would like more information on what this looks like, you can contact me for further information.
If my child does not qualify for AIG when can I have him/her reevaluated?
If an evaluation is warranted (there is data to show the child has improved significantly), a child can be retested after one full year of the initial testing.
What program is provided for 3rd grade students?
At the third grade level, the effort is made to search out and identify students who may qualify for AIG services. The WCPSS Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Program includes a unique nurturing component, 3rd Grade Explorers. The AIG teacher works in partnership with 3rd grade teachers to provide a variety of in-class experiences designed to elicit high academic performance. Students who demonstrate potential in these activities will receive enrichment/extension activities in reading/language arts and/or mathematics under the guidance of the AIG teacher.
All 3rd graders are administered the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) in the fall. Any student who scores in the 85th percentile and higher on a subtest or composite score will also take the IOWA (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) in the later part of the fall.
Students who meet the criteria (of 95% or above on any CogAT subtest AND 95% and above on the IOWA) will be considered for nomination and further screening to assist in determining their need for differentiation within the AIG Program.
How can my child be identified for the AIG program?
A child's teacher/parent can nominate a child by writing a letter to the AIG
Specialist. After the nomination has been made, the AIG specialist and
members of the SBC-GE (School Based Committee for Gifted Education), will meet with the classroom teacher to to discuss formal & informal indicators. If the committee feels that a referral is warranted the child will be referred for the AIG program. This evaluation will include the child be assessed with aptitude and achievement tests (during a window of time in either 1st or 2nd semester). Results are then evaluated by the team and a decision is made regarding placement.
*Please note that this applies to 4th and 5th grade students only.
** See the Nomination and Testing Window Tab on the left for more information on testing windows.
What is the SBC-GE?
School Based Committee for Gifted Education is a team of professional
educators that provide a team framework for evaluating data and recommending the most appropriate service options for individual students, who demonstrate a need for differentiation. The team members represent various grade levels and participate in all decisions.
What factors do you use for considering my child as academically gifted?
Informal indicators such as: classroom behaviors, performance, portfolio samples, motivation,and interest.
Formal indicators: Standardized aptitude and achievement tests
What is a DEP? When will I receive this information?
If you child meets the criteria for gifted services, he/she will have a
Differentiated Education Plan. The DEP will be sent home at the first parent meeting. The DEP documents the type of differentiated curriculum and instructional practices that the student will receive as well as the AIG Service Delivery Methods of how they will receive them.
What services are provided for K-2 students who exhibit gifted behaviors?
The AIG Specialist is used on a consult basis for grades K-2. I do not provide direct instruction to this group of students, but I will assist the teacher in developing activities for regular classroom instruction. Classroom
teachers provide differentiation for all students and meet their needs according to the AIG School Plan.
There are a very small group of unique students whose performance is two or more years above grade placement. When this occurs the SBC-GE may feel that more information is needed to to write an appropriate educational program. Data such as reading, writing, and/or math matrices will be collected. The child might also be referred for an individually administered psycho-educational evaluation to aid in the development of the IDEP.
How often do 4th & 5th grade students receive services?
Typically if a child identified in one area, they will be pulled out for 45 min per week. If they are identified in both areas they will be serviced for 45 min per subject area per week.
If you would like more information on what this looks like, you can contact me for further information.
If my child does not qualify for AIG when can I have him/her reevaluated?
If an evaluation is warranted (there is data to show the child has improved significantly), a child can be retested after one full year of the initial testing.
What program is provided for 3rd grade students?
At the third grade level, the effort is made to search out and identify students who may qualify for AIG services. The WCPSS Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Program includes a unique nurturing component, 3rd Grade Explorers. The AIG teacher works in partnership with 3rd grade teachers to provide a variety of in-class experiences designed to elicit high academic performance. Students who demonstrate potential in these activities will receive enrichment/extension activities in reading/language arts and/or mathematics under the guidance of the AIG teacher.
All 3rd graders are administered the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) in the fall. Any student who scores in the 85th percentile and higher on a subtest or composite score will also take the IOWA (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) in the later part of the fall.
Students who meet the criteria (of 95% or above on any CogAT subtest AND 95% and above on the IOWA) will be considered for nomination and further screening to assist in determining their need for differentiation within the AIG Program.