News
High Ability identified in EN elementary schools
6/25/2010
Author: Dennis Nartker
Published by: News Sun
Identifying High Ability (HA) students, formerly called Gifted and Talented, begins in kindergarten in East Noble elementary schools.
East Noble High Ability program director Becky Perkins explained to the East Noble School Board of Trustees Wednesday night the process East Noble uses to identify High Ability students.
Two years ago, Indiana mandated schools identify High Ability students and offer a more rigorous High Ability curriculum to those students, according to Perkins. State law says the High Ability student is one who "performs at or shows the potential for performing at an outstanding level of accomplishment in at least one domain when compared to other students of the same age, experience, or environment; and is characterized by exceptional gifts, talents, motivation, or interest."
East Noble uses the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) and teacher/parent recommendations to identify gifted students in grades K-2, teacher/parent recommendations in grade 3, and previous year's ISTEP+ results sand teacher/parent recommendations in grades 4-6.
Students must meet one criteria to be nominated as High Ability, either the parent/teacher recommendation, ISTEP+ in math or English and Language Arts (within 10 points, grades 4-8) and OLSAT results.
After screening, the High Ability selection committee - made up of at least one teacher from each elementary building and Perkins - convenes and sorts through initial screening results. "There is a lot of discussion around the table," said Perkins.
The names of nominated students go back to the classroom teacher, who will complete a evaluation that includes scales for identifying gifted students. "This tells the committee how the students is doing in the classroom rather than test results," said Perkins.
The committee reconvenes and determines cut score requirements and selects students to participate in special programming.
Once identified, these gifted students are placed in cluster classrooms where they receive differentiated instruction. This does not mean these students are in their own classroom or separated in their regular classroom, but the teacher is specially trained to meet their needs.
East Noble averages seven High Ability students in each classroom, said Perkins.
When these students move on to middle school and high school, they can choose pre-Advanced Placement classes in middle school and Advanced Placement courses in high school. Back to Top