Gifted & Talented Education (GATE)

• What Does This Test Measure?
  • Learned reasoning abilities in the areas of Verbal Reasoning Ability (problem solving with the use of words), Nonverbal Reasoning Ability (problem solving without the use of words), and Quantitative Reasoning Ability (reasoning within mathematical problems). 
  • Results are nationally-normed
• Which Dimension of SC’s Gifted Identification Process Does the Test Meet?
  • A: Reasoning Abilities
• When Is This Test Administered?
  • Fall
  • Spring (New to District Students)
• What Grade Level(s) Participate in This Test?
  • All Students in Grade 2
  • Referred Students for Grades 3-8

• What Does This Test Measure?
  • Specific subject area content skills of reading comprehension and mathematical problem solving.
  • Results are nationally normed.
• Which Dimension of SC’s Gifted Identification Process Does the Test Meet?
  • B: Academic Achievement
• When Is This Test Administered?
  • FALL
• What Grade Level(s) Participate in This Test?
  • All Students in Grade 2

• What Does This Test Measure?
  • Measures what students know in reading and math regardless of their grade level.
  • Results are nationally normed.
• Which Dimension of SC’s Gifted Identification Process Does the Test Meet?
  • B: Academic Achievement
• When Is This Test Administered?
  • FALL
  • Winter
  • SPRING
• What Grade Level(s) Participate in This Test?
  • All Students Grades K-8

• What Does This Test Measure?
  • The SC READY is a state-wide assessment assessing English/Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. This assessment is aligned to SC state standards for English/Language Arts and mathematics.
  • SC Ready results are state normed
• Which Dimension of SC’s Gifted Identification Process Does the Test Meet?
  • B: Academic Achievement
• When Is This Test Administered?
  • SPRING
• What Grade Level(s) Participate in This Test?
  • All Students Grades K-8

• What Does This Test Measure?
  • Measures verbal and nonverbal reasoning and problem-solving abilities using a hands-on, performance-based format.
  • The distinguishing feature of the SC PTA is the provision for pre-teaching during the assessment process.  The purpose of the pre-teaching is to familiarize inexperienced students with the task demands of the items and to clarify performance expectations before the actual testing occurs.
  • SC Performance Task Assessments are created by the state of SC and are scored using a rubric.
• Which Dimension of SC’s Gifted Identification Process Does the Test Meet?
  • C: Intellectual Performance
• When Is This Test Administered?
  • SPRING
• What Grade Level(s) Participate in This Test?
  • Students who have partially qualified in either Dimension A OR B in Grades 2-5

• What Does GPA Measure?
  • A student’s performance in the academic disciplines (ELA, mathematics, social studies, and science) that is calculated as the total number of grade points received over an academic year divided by the total credits awarded. 
  • *GPA is not an assessment but can be used to qualify students who have met criteria in Dimensions A or B. 
• Which Dimension of SC’s Gifted Identification Process Does the GPA Meet?
  • C: Academic Performance
• When Is the GPA Measured?
  • End of the Academic Year
• What Grade Level(s) Participate in this?
  • Students who have partially qualified in either Dimension A OR B in Grades 5-10

Families of second grade students will receive their student’s test results from the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and Iowa Assessment (IA) when third quarter interim reports are sent home.  Students who meet SC’s gifted eligibility criteria from the CogAT and IA administrations will have individual letters mailed home.

As it relates to the criteria and processes for determining if a student meets state eligibility to receive gifted and talented services in the academics, it is important to understand that the second-grade census testing in which second graders participated in is not the only time students are screened for GT state identification. Rather, there are other cognitive and achievement assessments used to screen for academic giftedness throughout the year and every year from kindergarten through eighth grades. A timeline of these measurements as well as a description of what they assess can be found by using the tabs to the left.  

To understand the multiple ways South Carolina determines gifted and talented eligibility, a student must meet the criteria in two out of the three dimensions detailed below.  The only exception to this is if the student scores above the 96th percentile on the “Total” or “Composite” score from a Dimension A – Reasoning Abilities test like the CogAT.  

Dimension A:  Reasoning Abilities - A score of 93% or higher on the CogAT in the verbal, non-verbal, or quantitative sections will partially qualify a student.  A student receiving a composite score of 96% or higher on the CogAT automatically identifies them as academically gifted and talented.

Dimension B: Academic Achievement in Reading or Math – A score of 94% or higher in reading or math on a state-approved academic achievement test can partially qualify a student. SC READY in reading or math and fall, winter, and spring administrations of MAP reading or math serve as screeners and can partially qualify a student.

Dimension C: Intellectual/Academic Performance - The SC Performance Tasks Assessment (SC PTA) for 2nd through 5th grade students is administered by the state in the spring of each year for students who have partially qualified in either Dimension A or Dimension B, but not both.  For rising 6th through 10th graders a GPA of 3.75 or higher can partially qualify them in this dimension.

Learn more about how to add the Gifted & Talented endorsement to your South Carolina teaching certificate

• National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC)
• Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)
• Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth 

• Vanderbilt University's Programs for Talented Youth 
• Davidson Institute 

How to Support Your Learner at Home (PDF)

How to Talk with Your Child about Their Learning (PDF)

1. Who are the Academically Gifted?
   • South Carolina's Department of Education defines gifted and talented students as those who are identified in grades one through twelve as demonstrating high performance ability or potential in academic areas. These students require an educational program beyond what is normally provided by the general school program in order to achieve their potential (SC Regulation 43-220). 
2. How does a student qualify to receive gifted and talented services in SC?
   • In order to be identified as academically gifted and talented in South Carolina, students must have a composite score on a cognitive test at or above the 96th national age percentile OR meet two out of three dimensions of eligibility:
   • Cognitive Abilities
   • Academic Achievement
   • Intellectual/Academic Performance
   • If you would like to learn more about the different screeners Dorchester Two uses and when and to whom they are administered to determine state identified eligibility, click on the tab titled "Understanding Screeners."
3. How are state-identified students served in Dorchester School District Two?
   • Students who meet South Carolina’s gifted eligibility criteria receive differentiated services through a “special class” model (SC Regulation 43-2220) third grade through high school.  Students participating in Dorchester Two’s GATE program are taught by educators who are state endorsed in gifted and talented education.  The state endorsement courses are two graduate level classes that assist teachers in recognizing and understanding the unique learning and social emotional needs associated with the academically gifted. With this knowledge, teachers learn how to design and implement differentiated instructional experiences through acceleration (pacing, depth, complexity, and/or abstract thinking) in order to challenge the minds of the academically gifted. With that in mind, Dorchester Two teachers use evidence-based practices paired with South Carolina SDE's Gifted Curriculum Goals (SC Regulation 43-220) to help differentiate instruction.