Second Grade
Identification and
Assessments
Parent Meeting
Kelly Kollar and Sarah Vanderburg
Kelly.neelon@cms.k12.nc.us
Sarah.vanderburg@cms.k12.nc.us
TD Catalyst Teachers
980-343-0749
The federal government defines "gifted and
talented" students, children, or youth as those
...who give evidence of high achievement
capability in areas such as intellectual,
creative, artistic, or leadership capacity,
or in specific academic fields, and who
need services or activities not
ordinarily provided by the school in
order to fully develop those
capabilities.
No Child Left Behind Act, P.L. 107-110 (Title IX, Part A,
Definitions (22) (2002); 20 U.S.C. Sec. 7802 (22) (2004))
What is Giftedness?

The goal of the Talent Development and
Advanced Studies Program in the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is to
provide rigorous curriculum and academic
opportunities so each student may reach
a classroom performance level consistent
with his/her intellectual ability.
Gifted in CMS
Bright Learners
Gifted Learners
Knows the answers
Is interested
Is attentive
Asks the questions
Is highly curious
Is mentally and physically
involved
Has wild, silly ideas
Plays around, yet tests well
Beyond the group
Already knows
1-2 repetitions for mastery
Prefers adults
Draws inferences
Is intense
Enjoys learning
Manipulates information
Good guesser
Has good ideas
Works hard
Top group
Learns with ease
6-8 repetitions
Enjoys peers
Grasps the meaning
Is receptive
Enjoys school
Absorbs information
Good memorizer
Enjoys straightforward,
sequential presentation
Thrives on complexity
Late August:
 Notify parents of assessment
dates in writing.
 Notify TD teacher of new to
CMS 2nd grade students.
September:
 Administer the CogAT during
scheduled dates.
October:
 CogAT Results returned.
 Parents are notified of results.
 Next steps are determined for
students who meet certain
benchmarks.
 ITBS and portfolio
assessments begin for
students who meet
benchmarks.
November:
 Portfolio process continues for
certain students.
 ITBS results returned and
parents notified.
December/January:
 Portfolio samples collected
from multiple settings.
 Parents may submit a portfolio
piece meeting district
expectations (see letter).
February:
 Portfolios for school are scored
by TD Catalyst teams.
March:
 Parents are notified of final
results.
 New to CMS 2nd grade students
are tested using the CogAT.
Timeline of Events

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CogAT window is September 9-18th
Nonverbal ability test
Given whole group
Results will be returned in early October
Each child will get the notification results
letter and the CogAT interpretation letter.
Practice activities are available for students.
Test is age based on the child’s birth month
and year.
Fall Screening
AFTER THE RESULTS
Accumulation of points based on the
available assessment results.
 An accumulation of 12 points identifies
the child as AIG in both Reading in Math.
 Identification in ONLY reading or math will
occur after all opportunities to identify in
both are exhausted.
 New assessment results will be used to
identify subject area students.

New Identification Rubric
Aptitude
Achievement
Informal
Second grade-CogAT
**Students 87% or above
are eligible for ITBS.
Second Grade- ITBS
Second Grade- Gifted Rating
Scale and Portfolio
Score
Points
Score-Reading
Points
Gifted Rating Scale (GRS)
96% or above
12
96% or above
4
3 t-scores of
65 or higher
92-95%
6
92-95%
3
87-91%
4
87-91%
2
86% or below
0
86% or below
0
Score- Math
Points
Portfolio-Students with GRS
scores or 92-95% on CogAT
are eligible
96% or above
4
12 points on
Rubric
92-95%
3
87-91%
2
86% or below
0
Aptitude Total
+ Achievement
Total
+Informal
Total
6
6

ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills- an
achievement test)
◦ Students who have an 87% or higher on verbal
subtest, quantitative/nonverbal composite, or agecomposite are eligible with parent permission to
take the ITBS.

Portfolio Opportunity
◦ Students who have 3 t-scores 65+ on the GRS and
have not accumulated 12 points.
◦ Students who have a 92-95% age-composite on the
CogAT and do not accumulate 12 points after the
ITBS screening.
ITBS AND PORTFOLIO
ELIGIBILITY
Each student will receive 5 samples compiled by the
school. 6th sample is a parent piece.
 Samples are collected by the 2nd grade teacher and
the TD Catalyst Teacher.
 Parents will be notified in writing of the expectations
of the parent piece.
 The categories samples are assessed for are as
follows:

◦ Advanced Language, Analytical Thinking,
Motivation/Perseverance/Leadership,
Perspective/Sensitivity/Humor, Creativity/Artistic Talent
◦ Please note, evidence must be observed in advanced
language and analytical thinking prior to other categories
being scored
Portfolio Process
Students who do not identify in BOTH
reading and math will be considered for
Reading ONLY or Math ONLY identification
using their CogAT subtest scores and ITBS
achievement scores.
 Parents will be notified of subject-area
identification in March.

Identification in Subject Area
Reading ONLY
Math ONLY
Verbal
Aptitude
Points
Quantitative/
Non-Verbal
Aptitude
Points
96% or Above
4
96% or Above
4
92-95%
3
92-95%
3
87-91%
2
87-91%
2
86% or below
0
86% or below
0
Reading
Achievement
Points
Math
Achievement
Points
96% or Above
4
96% or Above
4
92-95%
3
92-95%
3
87-91%
2
87-91%
2
86% or below
0
86% or below
0
Total of 6 points needed to certify for math or reading.

If a student does not identify as AIG in
BOTH subject areas or a single subject
area he/she may be reassessed after 24
months if the TD school-based committee
feels it is in the best interest of the child.
Will there be future opportunities
for identification?
Any Questions?