DCSD to administer Gifted and Talented testing to all second graders, also available to students in grades 3-11

The Darlington County School District will administer the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Cognitive Abilities Test to all second grade students this year and any other grade-level students that have been referred for testing.

The testing is a screening for placement in the district’s gifted and talented program for the 2019-20 school year.

The testing will be administered in two areas: achievement and aptitude. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) will be administered for achievement and the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered to determine the aptitude criteria. Students who meet the required criteria (Achievement: 94th national age percentile in reading comprehension or math concepts and problem solving; Aptitude: 93rd national age percentile in either verbal, non-verbal, quantitative, or total) may be eligible to participate in the gifted and talented program beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. Students who meet one-half of the criteria will be eligible to participate in the STAR Performance Tasks in February and March.

The results from the South Carolina state assessment for ELA and math that will be administered in May 2019 may also be used to meet one-half of the criteria for placement.

If parents would like students in grades 3-11 to be tested, please complete a screening/testing referral form from your child’s school counselor by Sept. 27.

The district will notify parents of a student who qualifies for Gifted and Talented by letter in the summer of 2019.

Please discuss the testing with your child so he or she will be prepared to do his or her best on the tests.

• Encourage your child to do his or her best work.
• Ensure that your child has a good night’s rest before the test.
• Ensure that your child eats a good breakfast the day of the test.
• Encourage your child to come to school with a positive attitude.

Author: Stephan Drew

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