Austin Elementary School August 20 and 27, 2015 An Introduction to Standardized Testing and The Gifted Identification Process Austin Elementary School August 20 and 27, 2015

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

What does the ITBS measure? Developed at the University of Iowa, the ITBS is a set of achievement tests that measure the actual knowledge and skills students have acquired. Reading: Vocabulary, Comprehension Language: Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, Usage and Expression Math: Concepts and Estimation, Problem Solving, Data Interpretation, and Computation Social Studies & Science : Not tested in 1st grade Information Usage: Maps and Diagrams and Reference Materials

Does the ITBS Address the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards? The ITBS was designed to represent a sampling of curriculum standards widely used around the nation. The test is not designed to specifically address any one school district’s curriculum.

How Does the ITBS Measure Achievement? The ITBS will assess skills and content knowledge in a multiple choice format. The ITBS is a norm-referenced test. It is designed to answer the question, “How do our students perform on basic skills as compared with other students in the nation?”

Scoring on the ITBS We use the National Percentile Rank (NPR) to evaluate student performance. For example, if your child’s NPR was a 75 in Total Reading, this would mean that your child scored higher than 75% of the students in the norming group. Percentile ranks range from 1 to 99. The national average on all subtests is 50.

CogAT The Cognitive Abilities Test measures students’ reasoning abilities in the three areas most linked to success in school. Verbal: verbal classification, sentence completion, and verbal analogies Quantitative: quantitative relations, number series, and equation building Nonverbal: figure classification, figure analogies, and figure analysis

CogAT Scores Riverside Publishing does not provide parent copies of individual student’s CogAT scores. Scores are reported in percentiles for each of the three categories, as well as the composite.

Renzulli The Renzulli is a standardized behavioral rating 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 individual test scores. Please check with your child’s homeroom teacher for test scores.

CRCT/Georgia Milestones Administered in April to all students in grades three through eight. The purpose of the test is to measure how well students master the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS). The CRCT/Georgia Milestone is based on Georgia’s curriculum.

Scale Score and Performance Levels Scale Score Range Generally 650 to 900 or above Level 1 (Below 800) Does not meet the standards Level 2 (800-849) Meets the standards Level 3 (850 and above) Exceeds the standards

How is CRCT/Milestone Data Used? It provides information on academic achievement at the school, system, and state level. The data is used by the state in AYP determinations for the school. Information is used to identify individual student strengths and weaknesses. Students in 3rd grade must pass the reading portion of the test in order to move on to 4th grade. Students in 5th grade must pass the reading and math portion of the test in order to move on to the 6th grade.

Identifying Gifted Students

Test Scores and the Role They Play in Identifying Gifted Students. The procedures for identifying and placing students in the gifted program are governed and funded by the Georgia Department of Education.

Eligibility Criteria ITBS CogAT Creativity Motivation All 1st, 3rd and 5th grade students will be given the following four assessments: ITBS CogAT Creativity Motivation To be eligible for gifted services, students must qualify in at least three of the four assessments.

CogAT Minimum of 96% in at least one sub-test area. Verbal Quantitative Non-verbal Complete Composite

ITBS Minimum of 90% on any one of the following subtests: Total Reading Total Math Complete Composite * Note: Please refer to NPR scores

Renzulli Creativity Minimum of 90% on an assessment for creativity. Motivation Minimum of 90% on an assessment for motivation.

Phases of Testing Step I: All students will be tested in the four categories. If none of the scores qualify the student for the gifted program, no further testing will occur. If a student qualifies in at least one category on CogAT or ITBS, further testing will occur. If and when a student qualifies in three areas, the child is identified as gifted.

Step II Testing Occurs if a student has qualifying scores on either the ITBS or CogAT. If your child qualifies for this phase of testing, you will receive notification that further testing is necessary.

What If My Child Has Qualifying Scores But Did Not Get a Letter? Students who have qualifying CogAT and Achievement scores may have qualified for the program and will not need further testing. In this case, those students will receive a letter once all of the school’s Step II testing is complete.

Please be aware that… Academic grades do not play a role in the Gifted Identification Process. Georgia Milestones scores are not used to determine gifted eligibility. Private test data may not be used to determine eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions Q: What if my child missed the cut -off score by only a few points, can special consideration be given? A: There is no appeal to this process. We must adhere to the guidelines set forth by the State of Georgia.

FAQ Q: If a student does not qualify for the program, can he/she be retested? A: No, students cannot be retested. However, eligibility testing occurs in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7.

FAQ Q: If a student does not qualify for the program, is there an appeals process? A: There is no appeal to this process. We must, and we will, adhere to the guidelines set forth by the State of Georgia.

FAQ Q: Once students have been identified for the gifted program, will they have to qualify for the program for subsequent years? A: No, once your children have been identified for the gifted program, they need no further testing.

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

FAQ Q. When will Gifted Services begin? A. Services for newly identified gifted students will begin when all testing is complete.

FAQ Q. How can I help my child study for the STEP II gifted tests? A. Unfortunately, true giftedness is something that you cannot study for. In fact, stressing over the test can make your child feel stressed too. Negative stress rarely helps test scores; in fact, for sensitive gifted kids it can actually lower test scores. Our recommendation is to get a good nights sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.

Let’s Look at Some Examples: Kate scored a 98% on the CogAT, and a 91% on the ITBS, but she did not get a letter for STEP II testing. Why didn’t she get a letter? Students who have qualifying CogAT and Achievement scores may have qualified for the program and will not need further testing. To be eligible for gifted services, students must qualify in at least three of the four assessments. Kate has already qualified in 2 areas and depending on her Renzulli scores may have qualified in 3 areas. It is probable that Kate has already qualified and will be notified when all school testing is complete.

Bobby scored an 82% on the CogAT and a 93% on the ITBS Bobby scored an 82% on the CogAT and a 93% on the ITBS. He received a letter for STEP II testing. Because Bobby has one qualifying score he will proceed to STEP II testing. Bobby will receive a letter in March notifying him whether he has qualified for the program. Jim scored a 76% on the CogAT and an 89% on the ITBS. He didn’t get a letter. Will he be evaluated for the Discovery program? Students must have a qualifying score on either the CogAT or the ITBS to qualify for STEP II testing. Unfortunately, we cannot continue testing Jim. However, DeKalb County screens in 1st, 3rd, 5th , and 7th grades, so he will have another chance to qualify in the coming years.

So…What’s Next? Step 1: All test scores will be automatically uploaded into the DCSD Database. Step 2: The DCSD Database will identify students who require Step II testing. Those students will receive notification letters.

Step 3: STEP II tests will be administered and graded Step 3: STEP II tests will be administered and graded. Once all tests have been graded, the DCSD Database will identify any student who has qualified for the program. This includes automatic qualifiers. Step 4: Letters of eligibility for automatic qualifiers and those qualifying in STEP II will be sent once all Step II testing has been completed. Letters will also be sent to students who did not qualify. Step 5: Discovery classes will begin when all school testing is complete.

If you have a question that we cannot answer, feel free to contact the county’s Gifted Coordinator, Emmika Atkinson. Emmika_d_Atkinson@dekalbschoolsga.org