Gifted

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The White County Board of Education recognizes the need to provide gifted education services to students who have the potential for exceptional academic achievement. Gifted education programs are provided for students who meet eligibility requirements.

Students, grades kindergarten through twelve, in the White County School System who demonstrate a high degree of intellectual, academic, and/or creative ability are provided with special instructional services by the Program of Gifted and Talented Students, Quest. Eligibility criteria for placement in this program are determined by the State Board of Education. Referrals for consideration for eligibility for gifted services may be made by teachers, counselors, administrators, parents or guardians, peers, self, and other individuals with knowledge of the student’s abilities. For further information about White County School System’s Program for Gifted and Talented Students, please contact the Gifted Education Chairperson at your child’s school.

Referral/Testing Timeline

January	System-wide referral process begins.
January	Each school reviews current tests data for automatic referrals and the referral window is opened for all stakeholders to nominate students for referral.
Late January	Student referrals are due to the Search/Eligibility Team. The Search/Eligibility Team (composed of three or more educators, counselors, one of whom must be gifted certified) at each school examines the data and reviews evidence based on parent and teacher referrals. Any student with 95th percentile composite score, a 95th percentile total reading (including reading comprehensive), or a 95th percentile total math on a norm-reference test shall be considered.
End of January	The Search/Eligibility Team will notify the gifted office of the students recommended for testing.
February	The Search/Eligibility Team will notify parents of the students who need further assessment by sending permission for further evaluation.
Mid-February	System-wide testing begins.
Mid-March to Early April	The Search/Eligibility Team review all test data and determines eligibility.
End of April	The Search/Eligibility Team will notify the gifted office of the eligibility results.
Mid-May	The Chair of the Search/Eligibility Team will notify parents of eligibility.

Identification and Referral Process

Students who may need gifted education services are referred to a Search/Eligibility Team. At each school, this is a team comprised of teachers, counselors, and/or administrators. The Search/Eligibility Team reviews student information and available test data. It is then determined if further evaluations are needed.

Teachers, counselors, parents or guardians, peers, administrators, self and other individuals with knowledge of the student’s abilities, may refer a student for consideration to the gifted program.

Students who score at or above the 95^th percentile on either the total composite, total reading, or total math on a norm-referenced achievement test shall be considered automatically, as defined in Appendix A of the Georgia Department of Education Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services, for further assessment to determine eligibility for gifted program services.

Evaluations

If the Search/Eligibility Team recommends further evaluation, parents are notified in writing for permission to do additional testing. Georgia requires evaluations in the following four areas:

· Mental Abilities

· Achievement

· Creativity

· Motivation

To be eligible for gifted education services a student must:

(A) Score at the 99^th percentile (grades K-2) or 96^th percentile or above (grades 3-12) on a standardized mental abilities testand score at the 90^th percentile or above on total battery, total math, or total reading sections of a standardized norm-referenced achievement test; or

(B) Qualify by meeting criteria in any three of the four categories:

a. Mental Abilities – score 96^th percentile or above

b. Achievement – score 90^th percentile or above in total battery, total math, or total reading

c. Creativity – score 90^th percentile or above on a standardized assessment for creative thinking

d. Motivation – score 90^th percentile or above on a standardized motivational scale (grades K-4) or have a GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale over two consecutive years (grades 5-12).

Once all evaluations are completed, the Search/Eligibility Team reviews the new test data and determines if the student meets the Georgia eligibility rule. Parents are then notified in writing as to the results. If the student is determined to be eligible for gifted education services, parents must consent to placement in the program.

Programs Available for White County Students

Grades 1-5 Cluster Grouping for Reading and Mathematics

Grades 6-8 Advanced Content Courses in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies

Grades 9-12 Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and Joint Enrollment Courses

School Gifted Chairpersons

Jack P. Nix Elementary School - Counselor, Erica Owens

Mossy Creek Elementary School - Counselor, Ellen Gann

Mount Yonah Elementary School - Counselor, Laurie Gallman

Testatee Gap ElementarySchool - Counselor, Sara Kennedy

White County Middle School - Counselor, Craig Turner

Ninth Grade Academy - Counselor, Kelly Bond

White County High School - Assistant Principal for Curriculum