Agenda Item
Meeting Date:
2/13/2024 - 5:30 PM  
Category:
ITEMS OF BUSINESS  
Type:
Info  
Subject:
4. Report with Possible Action on Gifted and Talented Identification and Services  
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
Goal 1
Academic Achievement
 
Policy:
Admin Policy 7.38 - Balanced Assessment Systems  
Attachments:
Report with Possible Action on Gifted and Talented Identification and Services  
File Attachment:
Report with Possible Action on Gifted and Talented Identification and Services.pdf
 
Background:
Wisconsin State Statutes, chapters 121.02(1)(t) and 118.35, require school boards to establish guidelines for identification and to provide access to programs for students who are identified as gifted and talented. In Wisconsin, “gifted and talented pupils” means students enrolled in public schools who give evidence of high-performance capability in intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership, or specific academic areas and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided in a regular school program in order to fully develop such capabilities.

Milwaukee Public Schools begins this process through the identification of students by administering the CogAT, which is a cognitive-reasoning assessment to grade two students. Additionally, schools that are part of the Javits Grants (SEE US!, SURGE, and Expanding Excellence) use the Teacher's Observation of Potential in Students (TOPS) Tool to identify gifted potential in underrepresented students.

This presentation will review this year's CogAT and TOPS nominations results that includes the expanded identification methods. This includes identifying advanced cognitive and intellectual abilities through CogAT and gifted potential using TOPS in the following nine domains: learns easily, shows advanced skills, displays curiosity and creativity, has strong interests, shows advanced reasoning and problem-solving, displays spatial abilities, social perceptiveness, and leadership. Additionally, programming opportunities and services for identified students will be discussed.
 
Fiscal Impact Statement:
NA  
Implementation and Assessment Plan:
NA  
Recommendation
NA  
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Melanie Stewart - Director
Signed By:  
Jennifer Mims Howell - Chief Academic Officer
Signed By:  
Keith Posley, Ed.D. - Superintendent