Anyone may refer a student for evaluation for GT identification, including a teacher, administrator, parent, counselor, specialist, paraprofessional, staff member, family member, community member, another student, or even the student themself.

Students in grades K-12 may be referred for identification evaluation at any time. While young students in Kindergarten and 1st grade may be referred, there is a universal data screener in second grade designed to find strengths in student aptitude for possible referral (see below).

BVSD administers a universal screener for GT identification in second grade and sixth grade. This means that all students participate in an assessment to see if they should be evaluated further for GT identification.

We recommend working with your student’s teacher and your school’s Gifted and Talented Advisor (GTA) to determine next steps and to meet your student’s learning needs. The screener is one test given on one day, and there are a variety of reasons why a student might not score in the exceptional range. The screener is not designed to be a gatekeeper! In some situations, you may want to consider referring your student for further evaluation.

Students who are picked up during the universal screening process or who have been referred will need to participate in additional evaluation to determine if they meet the criteria for gifted identification.

BVSD uses a Body of Evidence (BOE) process to gather multiple pieces of information or data points to make this determination. These usually consist of ability data, achievement data, and observation data. You may learn that your student has been asked to take some tests with the GT advisor at school. BVSD typically has used the CogAT (ability test) or data from Iowa tests/iReady/CMAS (achievement tests), but has a number of other assessment instruments available depending on the situation or the area of giftedness needing to be evaluated. In addition, BVSD may ask you as a parent, as well as the child’s teacher, for additional information regarding your child to add to the BOE.

There are two testing “windows” during which this identification may take place, one in the fall and one in the spring.

BVSD’s Gifted Education department will review the Body of Evidence and make a determination regarding identification. Students may be identified as gifted, not identified as gifted, or placed on a monitoring list to watch as additional evidence becomes available.

After a determination has been made, you should receive a letter by email from your GTA informing you whether or not your student has met the criteria for identification and in what area(s): general or specific intellectual ability; specific academic aptitude (e.g. identification in reading, writing, math, science, social studies, or world language); creative or productive thinking; leadership abilities; and/or visual arts, performing arts, musical, dance or psychomotor abilities. 

It is helpful to remember that if a child is identified as gifted in a specific domain, such as reading or science or music, it does not mean that they are gifted in everything. For example, if a child is identified as gifted in math, then there should not be an expectation that the child also should be an advanced reader.

Students who are not initially identified may be put on a “monitor” status, where they will be reassessed at a later time or as new data becomes available.

As a parent, you know your child best. Anyone may re-refer the child any time the following school year or later. A determination of “not identified” is not a permanent decision, and the district can gather another BOE in the future. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, a child might not show strengths one year but as they age and mature they start to show strengths later on. It is okay to rerefer in another school year. In addition, private testing providers in the community are also an option. The most common outside evaluation that BVSD Gifted Ed department sees (and accepts scores from) is the Weschsler Intelligence Scale for Children, version 5, or WISC-V. The BVSD Gifted Education office can advise you regarding which tests would be helpful: 720-561-5067.

Connect with your school’s GTA, who can submit this information to the BVSD Gifted Education department as part of your student’s body of evidence.

If you have already worked with your child’s classroom teacher, GT advisor, and principal and still need further assistance, contact the BVSD Gifted Education office at 720-561-5067.

Parents often struggle with this question, particularly as our schools, with limited resources and staff, often have similarly limited specific support services for GT students. However, knowing that your student is gifted can have additional benefits. First, they may be included in additional programming or support services in their schools, depending on what is available, including pull-out groups, differentiated instruction, and the like. These services can be beneficial from an academic and/or a social-emotional perspective, giving students important time with peers. Second, it is helpful to teachers to understand your child’s strengths and challenges, and having this information will help your child’s teacher better serve their needs. Third, you also may find that a formal identification is helpful to you on your journey to understand your child better and to be able to tap into additional resources to support your child.

A student’s identification stays with them even if they switch schools within the school district. If a student is moving out of district or out of state, it is likely their identification will transfer, though criteria may differ. Please inquire with your new school regarding their policies.