Gifted Student Identification Process

Referral
Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade can be referred for screening for the gifted program from August through September and January through February of each school year. Students can be directly referred by any interested individual, including parents, guardians, teachers, administrators, or community members. To request a referral packet, contact the guidance counselor at the student's school or the gifted office at 562-3900, ext. 10222.

In order to assure that no student is excluded from screening based on gender, cultural diversity, socioeconomic status, learning exceptionality or other factors, teachers are required to observe their students during the first nine weeks of the school year. From the onset of school through the second week of October teachers make focused observations in the classroom.
Students in grades K - 1 are evaluated for the gifted program through the use of a "profile" that includes ability test data, rating scales, and portfolio materials. Students in grades 2 - 12 are evaluated for the gifted program using achievement and ability test data, grades, and rating scales.

Any students who either have transferred into the Roanoke County Public Schools after the regular screening process has begun, or have transferred from another gifted program, are eligible for screening upon their entrance to the school system.


Identification
Several types of data are collected by the school guidance counselor and the gifted specialist in order to evaluate students for the gifted program. Types of data may include, but are not limited to:

• Nationally-normed standardized achievement test scores
• Nationally-normed standardized ability test scores
• Grades
• Parent-completed rating scales
• Teacher-completed rating scales
• Observational check lists
• Portfolio products
• Performance-based assessment products
• All data is compiled by the division Gifted Screening Coordinator and decisions regarding placement are made by a division Gifted Screening Committee. Decisions regarding gifted placement may be appealed.

No single criterion can be used to include or exclude a student from access to the gifted program.

Visual Art Aptitude

Referral
Students in grades two through seven can be referred for screening for the gifted art program from September to March of each school year. Students can be directly referred by parents, classroom teachers, art teachers or community members. The nomination link can be found on the RCPS web site on the Gifted Art page.

Identification
Several types of data are collected by the gifted specialist in order to evaluate students for the gifted program. Types of data may include, but are not limited to:

• Performance-based assessment products

Recommendations
All data is compiled by the division Gifted Art Screening Coordinator and decisions regarding placement are made by a division Gifted Art Screening Committee. Decisions regarding gifted art placement may be appealed.

For a more complete understanding of the gifted referral and identification process for the Roanoke County Public Schools, please contact Sara Cubberley, Supervisor of Art, at 562-3900, ext. 10322.