Gifted Services

District 54 provides services to both academically talented and profoundly gifted students.  Educational opportunities are expanded through differentiated instruction and learning experiences.  Screening, eligibility and placement are determined through the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test as well as through standardized testing.

Elementary Services

Elementary gifted services provide enrichment activities that support the general education curriculum.  Each elementary school has a part-time gifted education resource teacher (GERT).  Each week, they meet with the students in small group sessions for enrichment activities that extend beyond the curriculum.  They also work closely with the classroom teachers to provide additional enrichment to further challenge students.

To qualify for elementary gifted services in grades two through six students are first screened in September through MAP and must achieve a score of 90% or above on the Reading AND Math portions of the test.  Letters to parents who have children eligible for further testing are sent out in November.  For these identified students, the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is administered in January/February.  Students must score a minimum of three points total on the matrix with at least 1 point earned in the Verbal and the Nonverbal portions to be eligible for the elementary services.  Parents are notified of the results by April.  For qualified students, gifted services begin the following school year.

To qualify for the Magnet program, students in grades two through six must achieve a score of 95% or above on the Reading AND Math portions of the MAP test taken in September and score a  130 or above on the Cognitive Abilities Test on both the Verbal and Nonverbal portions.  If a student meets these criteria, they will take the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) test given by the school psychologist.  Students must score a minimum of 134 in the Verbal and a 133 in the Perceptual to be eligible for this program.  Results of student scores and eligibility are provided to parents by the end of April.  For qualified students, the Magnet program will begin the following school year.  For students who are tested for the Magnet program and do not meet eligibility criteria, they will receive gifted services through the building program.  Students who tested for the program and are not eligible will not be tested the following year, but may be tested every other year.  For example, if a second grade student tested for the Magnet program and was found not eligible the next opportunity the student can test is in grade four.  Magnet students in grades three through six who demonstrate profound giftedness through the district testing program attend Campanelli School.

Junior High Services

Junior high services consist of enrichment in the core classes of language arts, social studies and science.  This service, known as Discovery, is aligned to District 54 curriculum and Essential Outcomes and is taught at an advanced rate.  Students in grade six are screened through the September MAP test and must achieve a score of 90% or above on the reading portion of the test.  All students currently receiving building based gifted services are automatically eligible for testing into this program.  Eligible students will then take the Cognitive Abilities Test in January/February and must score a 127 or higher in either the verbal or nonverbal portion of the test to be eligible.  Parents will be notified of their child’s test results by April.

Magnet classes are located at Mead Junior High for students who continue on from the elementary magnet program.

Both Discovery services and the Magnet program are considered two year programs at the junior high. 

Only students who move into the school district and received gifted services at their previous school will be assessed for gifted service eligibility upon registerstration.  No further testing for these programs will occur after grade six.

In unusual circumstances, when a child does not meet the requirements for gifted services in the district, a parent may request an appeal.  Appeals of the Fall MAP scores must be submitted by November 19, 2010.  These appeals need to be sent to Karen Hindman at karenhindman@sd54.org or may be mailed to:

Karen Hindman, Assistant Superintendent
524 E Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg, IL  60194

Contact

Karen Hindman, Assistant Superintendent of District Improvement
or
Cheryl Knox, District Improvement Administrative Assistant
at (847) 357-5051