Coyote Creek Gifted & Talented Facilitator: Amber McFarland

Enrichment Interventions

At Coyote Creek, we offer a continuum of services, available to all students. Students who demonstrate a need for additional challenges or advanced skills may be placed in enrichment groups as an intervention to better meet their needs. These groups are flexible in order to give students the opportunity to flex in and out of groups as appropriate. Students who are not on an Advanced Learning Plan but have data showing potential for giftedness can be a part of these groups. Students may also be part of a co-taught class in which the grade level teacher and the gifted facilitator meet to plan lessons to meet the needs of advanced students within the classroom. 

 

Gifted Referral and Identification Process

If you believe that your child needs to be evaluated for gifted identification and programming, you may refer your child by initiating the Gifted Identification Process. 

• The evaluation process begins with your completion of the Referral for Gifted Identification form linked HERE. 
• If your child has not taken the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) within the last year, he or she may be given this assessment as part of the collection of data for their body of evidence.  
• This assessment is given to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in November, and Kindergarten and 1st grade students in February. Our 2nd grade and 6th grade students are universally tested in February and November, respectively. 
• Upon receipt of this form the Gifted Education Facilitator will connect with you to discuss next steps in the gifted identification process.​ 

 

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

The CogAT is an assessment that helps us learn more about how a student thinks and learns. It is a computerized assessment that tests a student’s verbal, quantitative and nonverbal abilities. In kindergarten through 2nd grade, the test is untimed, text free and picture based. This allows students to show their abilities regardless of their reading abilities. In 3rd through 6th grade, text is present and the tests are timed. Scores are reported in national percentiles. Score reports are mailed home approximately 2 weeks after the test is administered. 

The CogAT is administered to all 5th and 6th grade students in early November. Referral students in grades 3 and 4 are also tested at this time. The test is administered again in early February for all 2nd graders and referral students in kindergarten and first grade. 

 

Robust Body of Evidence

For students in the gifted referral process, a body of evidence is gathered in order to make the best recommendations for their learning. This body of evidence may include the following elements: CogAT results, i-Ready data, CMAS scores, classroom performance data, teacher observations, performance data and observations from enrichment groups, gifted rating scales from teachers and parents, student surveys, and student interviews. The purpose of this body of evidence is to determine if a student has consistent performance data that shows that they are working a grade level or more above their grade level peers, and demonstrates a need for gifted programming. 

Once the body of evidence is gathered, a team of staff who are trained in gifted education review the student’s file. The team works together, along with the classroom teacher to determine the best programming to meet the student’s needs. Programming options may include, but are not limited to,  enrichment groups, in class interventions, special projects, subject compacting, subject acceleration, and tiered assignments. 

Parents and guardians are an important part of the process and are kept informed of decisions along the way. Families of referral students will receive quarterly newsletters, as well as personalized communication as needed to communicate updates. 

 

Gifted Students and Advanced Learning Plans

Once a student has been identified as gifted, an advanced learning plan is created to document the programming and interventions being used, as well as the advanced academic and affective goals that the student is working towards. Advanced Learning Plans, or ALPs, are created once a student is identified and are updated quarterly. Plans are reviewed in late April and new plans are developed to include goals for the following school year. Advanced Learning Plans are living documents that can be adjusted as needed throughout the school year to meet the needs of the student.  

 

Discovery Programming for Gifted Individuals

The DCSD Elementary Discovery Program is a center-based gifted program designed to meet the needs of highly advanced gifted elementary school students (grades 2 - 6) who require intensity of instruction and acceleration beyond what can reasonably be expected from gifted programming and services provided through their school. This program is offered at Northridge Elementary school in Highlands Ranch, Renaissance Elementary in Castle Rock and Pine Lane Elementary in Parker. 

The application process for the Discovery Program can be found on the district website. The application window generally opens in late September for the following school year.