October 22, 2015

Principal – Peggy GraneGATE Lead – Susan DarraghGATE DAC Reps – Amy Hill &

Jennifer AndrewsSite School Psychologist – (Name)

Stephanie Ceminsky, Manager Michelle Crisci, Coordinator Leslie Caporale, Administrative Assistant April Dorman, GATE Programs

San Diego Unified School DistrictDistrict 504/ADA/Title IX/GATE

DepartmentEducation Center, 4100 Normal St., Rm 2129

Phone: (619) 725-7087

At School:

o Your child’s Teachero Your GATE-DAC Representativeo GATE Team Leadero Administrator in

charge of GATE (at elementary site this will likely be your principal)

oSite School Psychologist

At Central office:

oGATE Office(619) 725-7087www.sandiegounified.org

oRelated/SpecializedServices-SchoolPsychology Services(858) 573-5941

Where to Go for InformationWhere to Go for Information

Become familiar with this GATE website (currently being redesigned)

Many resources posted there Notices, meetings, articles

www.sandiegounified.org/gifted-and-talented-education-gate

Area 6 – Crawford, Hoover and Scripps Ranch Cluster

The Scripps Ranch Cluster includes SR High School; Marshall Middle; and E.B. Scripps, Dingeman, Jerabek and Mirarmar Ranch elementary schools.

Area 6 Superintendent – Fabiola Bagulafbagula@sandi.net

Graciela Gutierrez, Administrative AssistantPhone: (619) 725-7210ggutierrez@sandi.net

Board of Education – District BKevin Beiserkevinbeiser@sandi.net

Testing protocol has recently changed No longer using Raven test – Board

decided in June 2015 to change the test Incoming students in 2015-16 will now be

tested using CogAT (& re-tests) Schools decide when – but school choice

deadline is Feb 15! All Grade 2 students are tested unless

parents opt out

Historical Context(from Board presentation 23-June-2015 see BoardDocs tab

on SDUSD website)

September 2009. BOE approved elimination of initial GATE testing after the 5th grade

August 2011. The five designated GATE Department school psychologists were assigned back to the Related and Specialized Services (RSS) program. RSS then determined a new process for the 83 school psychologists who were now responsible for the GATE testing of more than 13,000 students

November 2013. The Advanced Placement and School Psychology offices merged to create a Workgroup consisting of community and district stakeholders

Spring 2014. A sample multi-factor identification matrix was presented to the GATE Workgroup

Fall 2014. “Newcomer” process was introduced to the Workgroup

Recommendations9

Universal GATE screening at Grade 2

GATE identification process to include multiple sources of data (e.g., tests, teacher input, parent input, etc.)

Adoption of a multi-factor GATE eligibility matrix (e.g., economic challenges, transiency, disability, English learner)

District policy revision

Further exploration of GATE testing that is aligned with CCSS timelines

GATE Assessments/Tools that are appropriately normed and administered

Use of a computer-assisted GATE identification tool

Ongoing examination of the identification process to align with SBAC

Immediate Next Steps10

Board Action• Approve GATE

Identification Process (multiple factors and criteria)

• Approve GATE Assessment Tool (Cognitive Abilities Test/CogAT)

Supports and Services• Quarterly meetings of

the GATE Workgroup• Personal/Social

support (possible referral to MHRC, SpEd, etc) for some GATE identified students

Supports and Services cont.•Continued meetings between GATE advisory committee and senior leadership

• Ongoing program/ progress monitoring and “End of Year” evaluation

• Focused GATE PD for school psychologists (e.g., during distinguished lecture series)

CogAT = Cognitive Abilities Test

Developed by David F. Lohman Consists of 3 parts:

◦ Verbal◦ Quantitative◦ Non-Verbal

See Lohman, D. F. & J. L. Gambrell (2012) J. Psychoeducational Assessment 30(1):25-44

12

Sample Grades K-2

Identification will be based upon a variety of inputs (including CogAT test scores) as part of a multi-factor eligibility matrix

Psychologists are currently being trained to administer the CogAT

CogAT is done via computer so IT services are still working on rolling it out

As a result, the new testing may not be ready until the Spring, after the Feb 15 School Choice deadline

If your child is identified as Seminar and your school doesn’t offer it, you may request to be placed into the next closest school (geographically) that does

ClusterAt least 25% of each GATE Cluster Class identified in PowerSchool is comprised of students identified as GATE; the remainder of the students in the class must reflect the diversity of the school’s population.

SeminarA minimum 50% of each class identified as Seminar in PowerSchool is comprised of students identified as GATE Seminar; the remainder of the students in the class are identified as GATE Cluster.

The District has a GATE Advisory Committee Meets monthly at Ballard Ctr (Old Town) Schedule is posted on SDUSD GATE website Your school DAC reps are: Amy Hill & Jennifer

Andrews They attend these meetings on your behalf and

report back to parents

Monthly DAC Meetings are intended to: Inform parents about important issues in the

district Inform parents about what to expect from,

and ask for, at their schools Give parents a chance to network with other

schools in their high school feeder pattern Educate parent representatives and the

parents at their sites about gifted education and timely issues

www.sandiegounified.org

The DAC is a volunteer organization

Led by parent coordinators (Katie Anderson & Elizabeth Nagy)

Needs new leaders to join

Dec 14th Steering Committee Meeting

You Can Help Your Child byGetting Involved!

o Participate in parent/ teacherConferences

oParticipate in GATE parentmeetings at your school site

oBecome involved in the GATEDistrict Advisory Committee(DAC) - 2nd Mon monthly

oParticipate in your SiteGovernance Committee/SSC

oAttend School Board MeetingsoConnect with other GATE parents

Parent involvement leads to greater

student achievement!

Letters to the Board of Education

Letters to Legislators Help with/attend DAC meetings Participate in SENG parent support groups

Talk to your teacher!!!! They need your support!

Questions you have for DAC? Send to your DAC Reps!

Want to access other parents learning about the social and emotional needs of GATE students? We have info!

5th grade parents moving onto Marshall with questions? Let’s consolidate them!

Interested in organizing a GATE Open House to showcase student work?!!?

San Diego Unified Schools GATE Department www.sandiegounified.net

California Association for the Gifted www.cagifted.org

Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted sengifted.org

National Association for Gifted Children www.nagc.org Hoagies Gifted Education

www.hoagiesgifted.org