The Vision of the Advanced Learning Programs Department is to promote rigorous curricular content in conjunction with critical inquiry, creativity, communication of complex thoughts, and an authentic approach to learning. We support the balance of curricular depth and breadth while fostering the development of academic habits and skills.
What is the Gifted Service Model?
Identified gifted students with be served one full instructional day a week by a gifted specialist. Gifted services are designed to meet specific academic and social emotional needs of gifted students by emphasizing the following:
- Critical and creative thinking
- Higher order reasoning
- Extensive and advanced research skills
- Advanced and accelerated academics
- Promotion of Affective Skill growth
Cobb adheres to the rules and regulations established by the Georgia Department of Education for identification and service of gifted learners.
What is the Gifted Eligibility Process?
Gifted Evaluation
All gifted assessments in the Cobb County School District adhere to the rules and regulations established by the Georgia Department of Education. There are three steps in the process of identification and placement of students into the gifted program: referral, assessment, and determination of eligibility. To better understand the eligibility process, watch Gifted Eligibility Process.
Referral
Students may be referred for evaluation of gifted services through the automatic or reported referral process; neither type of referral necessitates testing.
- Automatic Referrals are based on system-wide assessments and screeners in grades K, 1st, 3rd, and 5th. The gifted specialists review all system-wide standardized test scores (IOWA and/or CogAT) and other available data to determine if further assessment is required.
- Reported Referrals may be submitted by teachers, parents/guardians, self, or other individuals with knowledge of the student’s abilities. Referrals are reviewed by each school’s eligibility committee to determine whether the student’s available data from the past two years support further assessment of the student for gifted eligibility.
Assessment
To determine gifted eligibility, students are evaluated in four areas: mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. System-wide testing in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades, provides some of this data. All assessments comply with state rules and regulations. Once assessments in all four areas are complete, the data is evaluated for determination of eligibility.
Determination of Eligibility
Eligibility may be established in one of two ways:
- Option A: the student must meet eligibility requirements in both Mental Abilities and Achievement
- Mental Ability: 99th percentile (K-2) or 96th percentile (3-12) on a standardized test of mental ability- Composite Score only
- Achievement: 90th percentile in total battery, total reading, or total math section of a standardized achievement battery
- Option B: The students must meet eligibility requirements in three of the four areas:
- Mental Ability: 96th percentile on a standardized test of mental ability- approved component or composite score
- Achievement: 90th percentile in total battery, total reading, or total math section of a standardized achievement battery
- Creativity: 90th percentile on a creativity assessment or rating scale
- Motivation: 90th percentile on a motivation evaluation or rating scale
NOTE: A rating scale can only be used to establish eligibility in one area.
See the Kindergarten Screening for Gifted Eligibility Information Sheet at the bottom of this page.
For more information, please see the CCSD Advanced Learning website.
What if my Child has a Gifted Eligibility from Another State or School?
In-State Transfers
Georgia has in-state reciprocity, which means any student who meets the Georgia eligibility criteria is eligible to receive gifted education services in Cobb County, upon verification of records.
Out-of-State Transfers
Students who received gifted services outside of Georgia, do not have automatic reciprocity and are considered reported referrals. Contact our gifted specialist, Amber Woolley for information and to begin a reported referral.
