Gifted Education

In Georgia, a gifted education student is defined as one who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual and/or creative ability(ies), exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or special services [in addition to regular classroom instruction] to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her ability(ies).

How does my child get referred?

Reported Referral: Nominations can be made by classroom teachers, counselors, administrators, parent or guardian, peers, the student himself/herself, or any other responsible person who has knowledge of the student’s intellectual function. Nomination guidelines and appropriate forms are available from each school’s gifted specialist.
Automatic Referral: Students who score at specified levels on a norm referenced test or criterion referenced test will be considered. These automatic referrals will be made based on any one of the following criteria:

Students who have a composite score at or above the 80th percentile on an achievement test;
Students who have a component score at or above the 80th percentile in reading or math on a system wide achievement test;
Students who have a composite score at or above the 80th percentile or a component score at or above the 90th percentile on a mental ability test;
Students who score in the “distinguished” category of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System and or a state or local formative end-of-grade/course assessment. If you would like for your child to receive testing, please contact your child's teacher via email or myself [email protected].
Fall testing window is October-November
Spring testing window is March-April

What are the testing requirements?

Testing data will be collected in all four multiple criteria areas: achievement, mental ability, creativity, and motivation. A student can be deemed eligible for gifted services based on either Option A or Option B in accordance with Georgia Rule 160-4-2-.38 Education Program for Gifted Students. A student must meet the criteria on three out of the four tests administered.

Option A:

The student is declared eligible for gifted services based on mental ability and achievement scores which meet the following state criteria:

Grades K-2: 99th percentile composite or full scale and 90th percentile total reading, total math, or composite

Grades 3-12: 96th percentile composite or full scale and 90th percentile total reading, total math, or composite

Option B:

The student is declared eligible for gifted services based on multiple criteria assessment – meeting three of the four criteria of the following: mental ability, achievement, creativity, or motivation.

Mental Ability. Students shall score at the 96th percentile or higher on a composite or full scale score or appropriate component score, as defined in the Georgia Department of Education Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services, on a standardized test of mental ability.
Achievement. Students shall (a) score at the 90th percentile or higher on the total battery, total math or total reading section(s) of a standardized achievement test; or (b) have produced a superior student-generated product or performance, where the superior performance is one that can be translated into a numerical score at the 90th percentile or higher on a scale of 1-100 as evaluated by a panel of three or more qualified evaluators.
Creativity. Students shall (a) score at the 90th percentile or higher on the total battery score of a standardized test of creative thinking, or (b) receive a score at the 90th percentile or higher on a standardized creativity characteristics rating scale, or (c) receive from a panel of three or more qualified evaluators a score 90 or higher on a scale of 1-100 on a structured observation/evaluation of creative products and/or performances.
Motivation. Students shall receive a score at the 90th percentile or higher on a standardized motivational characteristics rating scale.