Gifted Program in Roswell Independent School District
RISD provides gifted services RISD students from elementary through high school.
All students are tested universally during the Spring semester of 2nd grade. Students take the Cognitive Abilities Test: Form 7 (CogAT:7). The CogAT:7 is an individually or small group administered battery of standardized tests specifically designed to appraise the cognitive development of students from kindergarten (age 4 year-11 month) through grade 12 (age 21 year -7month). The test measures students’ learned reasoning abilities and must be completed within a specified time. Although grounded in biological processes, these abilities are developed through in-school and out-of-school experiences. This test is not merely a screener; it contains three batteries of tests: verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal. This test is an approved method for gifted identification.
By using universal testing, we are able to use local norming, which means students are compared to other RISD students rather than being compared to students across the nation. We believe this process allows us to more equitably identify the gifted students in our district.
Students may test in grades other than 2nd grade. Teachers will need to start a Student Assistance Team (SAT) file on the student and compile data that indicates the student’s needs are not being met in the general education classroom leading to a need for testing for gifted services. A minimum of one meeting must be held to outline methods that will be used in the classroom to meet the student’s needs whether or not the student qualifies for gifted services. Students tested outside of the universal testing will be scored based on national norms as it is impossible to locally norm when so few students are taking the test.
When identifying gifted students, we look at students scoring at or above the 98th percentile with consideration to the standard error measure (SEM) of +/-3. This means students scoring at the 95th to the 97th percentile are considered for gifted services but may require additional data for identification purposes; for this reason, the SAT file is crucial to students.
RISD does not provide gifted services to non-RISD students.
For more information, please contact Dr. Laura Lucero-Carrillo, (575) 627-2594, or your school’s SAT chair.