1. Universal Screener Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
MCSD School Psychologists

2. Why a Universal Screener?
Child Find: Every school district in Pennsylvania is charged with identifying students who are in need of enrichment or intervention.
CH 14 Special Education Screening:
14.122: “Each school district shall establish a system of screening, which may include early intervening services.”
Chapter 16 Gifted:
16.21"Each school district shall adopt and use a system to locate and identify all students within that district who are thought to be gifted and in need of specially designed instruction.”
A universal screener will identify student needs in the most objective manner
Identify the right students at the right time

3. Data Collection Gathered assessment protocol from various districts:
Ephrata, Solanco, Hempfield, Penn Manor, Cornwall Lebanon, and ELANCO
Reviewed a total of 19 assessments
Wanted an assessment that was cognitive, administered online, could be group and/or individually administered, current, designed to be a screener, and brief administration
Narrowed down to three assessments, and researched them in depth:
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT-8)
Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary and Middle School Students (SAGES)
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

4. Why we selected the CogAT
Can be group and individually administered
Administered one sitting, in about 30 minutes
Screens only cognitive abilities
Assesses three skill areas: verbal, quantitative, nonverbal
Reports one individual score
Can be taken on the student’s IPAD or computer
Results available within 24 to 48 hours
We have complete access to organize and run various scoring profiles
Administration can occur in grades kindergarten through 12

5. CogAT Purpose Purpose Initial Use: Gifted Screener
For all second grade students
Administration window: Two weeks following Thanksgiving break
Potential Future Use:
The CogAT will differentiate a student’s learning capacity, and provide additional data to target remediation.
Results:
Initial Use:
Target students who may need additional enrichment and/or gifted education
Target students who may need additional interventions or enrichment
Provide data to support possible psychoeducational evaluation

6. Cost Budget: Special Education
Cost Proposal from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt:
Per student: $8.75
250 online administrations: $2,187.50
Once purchased, administrations do not expire
Three one hour webinars:
Data Manager Introductory & Data Set-up Training: $200.00
Data Manager Set-up & Test Administration: $200.00
Data Manager Proctor Training: $200.00
Total: $2,787.50

7. Questions