Identification

Step 1: Kindergarten Screening

  • All Kindergarten students enrolled in ISD 181 will be assessed with the CogAT 7 Screener.

Step 2: Full Battery Assessment

  • All Kindergarteners who rank in the 85th percentile or higher on the CogAT 7 Screener will be assessed with the full battery of CogAT 7. Students ranking below the 85th percentile may be included in the full battery assessment if recommended by their teacher. Students identified as FRP who rank in the 80th percentile or higher are included.
Step 3: Portfolio Review
  • Any student ranked in the 90th percentile or higher on the full battery of the CogAT 7 will participate in portfolio review for placement in AGATE program.
  • Students ranking below the 90th percentile but above the 85th percentile may be included in the portfolio review process if recommended by their teacher.
  • Any FRP students ranked in the 85th percentile or higher on the full battery of the CogAT 7 will participate in portfolio review for placement in AGATE program.
  • Portfolio Elements
    • Report Card--Indicator of achievement on district common summative assessments
      • Literacy
      • Math
    • Renzulli Checklist--Teacher observed behaviors of gifted and talented potential
    • Parent Checklist--Parent observed behaviors of gifted and talented potential
    • Text Level--On the Fountas and Pinnell scale
    • CogAT Form 7 Full Battery--Indicator of cognitive ability
  • Appeal for entry into portfolio review
    • At the request of a parent or guardian, denial of placement in the portfolio review may be appealed with the submission of a cognitive ability assessment, such as, but not limited to, the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT), the Woodcock Johnson, Otis-Lennon, Henmon-Nelson, Raven’s Progressive Matrices, or Matrix Analogies Test, conducted by a licensed psychologist. The reassessment will occur at the parent's or guardian's expense. The percentile cut scores will remain the same regardless of which assessment is submitted. 

Step 4: Student Placement

  • Based upon the rank order of the portfolio review, students will be placed in one of the following tiers
    • Tier 1, The Area Gifted and Talented Education program at Lowell Elementary
    • Tier 2, Building level programming in math, reading or both subjects
    • Tier 3, Differentiation in the regular-education classroom

Appeal of decision of the Portfolio Review Committee

  • Pursuant to District Policy 650, the placement decision of the portfolio committee may be appealed to the Superintendent at the request of a parent or guardian if the request is made in writing within thirty (30) days of notification of the portfolio committee’s decision.

Exit Criteria

  • Parent/guardian may request at any time or 
  • Two out of four required for removal:
    • MCA score in either Math or Literacy of Partially Meets Proficiency or lower (3rd and 4th Grade only) 
    • Does not make annual growth targets relative to grade level on fall to spring STAR assessments
    • Report card in either Math or Literacy not showing progress towards grade level proficiency for three consecutive trimesters
    • Teacher recommendation

Selection Process for Grades 2-4 and Students New to ISD 181 after Kindergarten

  • The selection process for grades 2-4 or those students coming from out of district remains essentially the same. The process for grades 2-4 and students new to ISD 181 is only for first time applicants.  At parent/guardian or teacher request a student may be assessed on the CogAT 7 or comparable assessment if the CogAT 7 was administered in the previous year. With a full battery score in the 90th percentile or higher (85%ile for FRP students), the student will enter portfolio review and follow the same process as First Grade placement. The cut score for Grades 2- 4 and Students New to ISD 181 placement based upon portfolio review will be set by the review committee based upon space available in the program at that time.

 

Contact Information: 
Principal Kathryn Johnson
Lowell Elementary
[email protected] 
218-454-6555

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