District Identification Guidelines

In-Building Gifted Identification Plan

The use of more than one criterion in the identification of gifted/talented pupils is essential. Experts in the field are emphatic in asserting that no one method is capable of identifying all gifted children. On the other hand, the gathering of many kinds of information maximizes the probability that most gifted children will be identified.

Several identification criteria, used in combination, are capable of:

• providing several assessments of a child from different points of view
• identifying children from a variety of cultures and backgrounds and with a variety of learning styles
• identifying different kinds of gifts.

Furthermore, Colorado Department of Education rules state:

"Any program that involves the participation of gifted and talented children must use comprehensive and multiple methods for identifying and assessing the needs of those children. No child shall be denied participation in a program on the basis of a single criterion."

The Denver Public Schools Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education require that each child in the school be assessed for potential giftedness on the basis of at least four criteria. Any pupil who meets three criteria, including one objective measure, as per the district guidelines, should be considered an identified gifted/talented pupil. Those pupils meeting two criteria should be considered for further screening and evaluation.

Possible criteria for identification includes the following:

• Teacher Checklists
• Parent Inventories
• Specialist Recommendations
• Self-Nomination
• Interviews
• Exceptional product/performance
• Ravens' Test results
• Circles/Lines Activity
• Teacher Observation Index
• Achievement test results
• Reading Inventory results
• Publisher's preassessment result