Information

GATE
@ Dietz Elementary
7575 E. Palma
Tucson, AZ 85710
(520) 731-4005
fax: (520) 731-4006
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Home > Departments > Gifted and Talented Education > Procedures

Gifted and Talented Education

Procedures

Eligibility
Recruitment
Referral and Selection
Report Card Rubric
TUSD Board Policy IHBB

Eligibility

All GATE test results are compiled and rank-ordered by the central GATE Office. The Placement Team reviews all test results. The Placement Team consists of the program Director, Program Coordinators, Bilingual Recruitment Specialists, and teachers in the GATE program. The Placement Team is responsible for reviewing all test information including teacher checklists submitted with kindergarten referrals.

Students who score at the 97th percentile or above in any one of three areas--verbal, non-verbal, or quantitative reasoning--on any test from the State Board approved list will be considered eligible to receive services. The Placement Team may consider students who score below the 97th percentile eligible for services pending a review. All placements in self-contained GATE classes and the elementary GATE Pull-out program are approved and monitored by the GATE Office. Placements in self-contained classes in grades 2 through 8 are very limited, occurring as the result of student attrition.

Self-Contained Classes

  1. All students are rank-ordered by composite test score for purposes of eligibility and placement consideration. Students are rank-ordered for placement within the board approved geographic feeder pattern specific to each self-contained GATE site (see feeder pattern). Students are offered placement in self-contained classes based on their rank order and the number of vacancies available in their specific grade level. State qualified students (students with a minimum of one 97th percentile score) who are not placed in self-contained classes in grades 1 through 5 will be placed in the part-time GATE Pull-out program offered at all elementary school sites. The GATE Pull-out program begins in 1st grade at all schools. State qualified students who are not placed in self-contained classes in grades 6, 7, and 8 will be referred to their home school for GATE resource classes offered at all middle schools. Qualified transfer students from similar gifted programs will be placed as space is available.
  2. Admission to elementary self-contained classes does not guarantee admission to middle school self-contained classes and admission to middle school classes does not guarantee admission to University High School or other high school programs.

Elementary GATE Pull-out Program
The following eligibility criteria are used to identify students to participate in the part-time elementary GATE Pull-out program.

  1. Students with a 97th percentile score in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, or non-verbal reasoning on a state-approved test for gifted education are automatically qualified to receive services.
  2. Students with a 97th percentile score on the Raven Test of Progressive Matrices are automatically qualified to receive services.
  3. Students with scores below the 97th percentile on state approved tests for gifted education will be considered for services on a rank-order basis, pending space available within each school site.

Placement Process for Middle School GATE Resource
Middle schools are responsible for enrolling students in GATE resource classes. The central GATE Office does not place or register students for middle school GATE resource classes. Site administrators, teachers, and counselors are responsible for ensuring equal access for students.

Each spring the GATE Office sends the names of students who scored a 97th percentile on the GATE test to neighborhood middle schools. These students are eligible for services and should be offered a GATE resource class.

Each spring the GATE Office sends the names of all 5th grade students participating in the GATE Pull-out program to neighborhood middle schools for enrollment in a resource GATE class.

Placement Process for the High School GATE Block Program
High schools are responsible for enrolling students in GATE block classes for 9th and 10th grade. The central GATE Office does not place or register students for the high school GATE block program. It is recommended that high school personnel coordinate with their feeder pattern middle schools to recruit potential students for enrollment in the GATE block program. Site administrators, teachers, and counselors are responsible for ensuring equal access for students.

Each spring the GATE Office sends the names of all self-contained 8th grade GATE students to neighborhood high schools for fall enrollment. These students are excellent candidates for participation in the GATE block program. Each spring the GATE Office sends the names of all 8th grade GATE resource students to neighborhood high schools for fall enrollment. These students may also be excellent candidates for participation in the GATE block program.

In addition to the student lists generated by the GATE Office, high schools may use other indicators to identify potential candidates including Stanford 9 or Aprenda scores, GPA, teacher recommendations, or other indicators of potential giftedness.

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Recruitment

Early in the fall semester the GATE office disseminates information to all elementary and middle schools regarding procedures for referrals and testing of students. Parents, school staff, or community members may obtain additional information by contacting the GATE office. All students referred for evaluation must have a Permission to Evaluate form signed by the parent/guardian on file in the GATE office prior to evaluation.

Students Developing Proficiency in English (SDPE) will have access to all GATE program opportunities at any school through special recruitment, language-modified evaluations, classroom adaptations, and schedule coordination. Procedures for equal access for SDPE students are detailed in the TUSD Compliance Procedures Manual for Bilingual Education.

GATE test announcements are posted in all elementary and middle schools during the fall semester. The majority of GATE testing is completed during January each year. Test announcements are published in all individual school newsletters in the fall. GATE test dates are published in the TUSD district calendar and on the district's web site. Additional announcements appear in the Tucson Star/Citizen and other community publications.

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Referral and Selection

The Arizona state mandate for gifted education defines a "gifted child" as a child who, due to superior intellect or advanced learning ability, is not afforded an opportunity for otherwise attainable progress and development in regular classroom instruction and who needs special instruction or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his/her intellect and ability.

Referrals for evaluation for gifted education programs may originate from any source. The GATE office disseminates information to all schools regarding procedures for referrals and testing of students. All students referred for evaluation must have a Permission to Evaluate form signed by the parent or guardian on file in the GATE office prior to evaluation.

For more information, see Eligibility Criteria.

Testing
Students in kindergarten through eighth grade participate in group administered testing and should be referred prior to mid-November as testing for these students takes place in all elementary and middle schools in January and February. Students who participate in the group administered testing in January and February will be considered for placement for the following school year. Testing offered by the district is free of charge to parents or guardians. Parents should contact their neighborhood school or the GATE office to determine exact testing dates.

In general, students selected to participate in the full-time programs demonstrate the capability to perform academically at or above the 97th percentile as measured by state approved standardized tests. Part-time programs are more inclusive and accommodate a broader range of student abilities.

Registration and Enrollment
The GATE office determines assignment of all students placed in the full-time and GATE Pull-out program. However, schools housing full-time GATE programs coordinate registration and enrollment. A geographic feeder pattern is used to assign students to self-contained GATE school sites. Students identified for part-time programs enroll in their home school, and then are added to the GATE class list after the start of the school year. High school students are assigned to GATE classes as part of the registration process. High school counselors should be consulted for participation in GATE classes.

It is important to note that admission to elementary self-contained GATE classes does not guarantee admission to middle school self-contained GATE classes, and admission to middle school GATE classes does not guarantee admission to University High School or other high school GATE classes. Participation in the part-time GATE program does not guarantee placement in the full-time program.

Transportation
District transportation is provided for students selected for placement in self-contained GATE programs as defined in Board Policy EEA. The GATE office provides the Transportation Department with the students' address and any changes of pick-up or drop-off points. All transportation scheduling and routing is done by the Transportation Department. The Transportation Department sends routing information to all families approximately one week prior to the first day of classes in the fall semester. Please contact transportation directly at 225-4800 for transportation questions.

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Report Card Rubric

The GATE Pull-out report card rubric defines criteria for evaluating student learning in the following areas:

  • Academic Behaviors
    • Connects content to theme
    • Applies knowledge and skills
    • Takes academic risks/accepts challenges
    • Completes assignments
  • Thinking Behaviors
    • Demonstrates ability to use problem-solving strategies
    • Considers new and different approaches to ideas, issues, and problems
    • Contributes new ideas or alternative solutions
    • Analyzes and evaluates information
  • Motivating and Social Behaviors
    • Participates in classroom activities with a positive attitude
    • Produces high quality of work
    • Cooperates with others
    • Self-directed learner

For complete information, download the rubric, available in English or Spanish.

GATE Pull-out Report Card Rubric
In MS Word | In Adobe PDF

Rúbrica de Libreta de Calificaciones de GATE Pull-out
en MS Word | en Adobe PDF

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