Identification –Assessment of students for gifted/talented CHALLENGE programs include measures collected from multiple sources for each area of giftedness served by the district. Instruments and procedures used to identify students measure diverse abilities and intelligences and provide students an opportunity to demonstrate their talents and strengths. Criteria have also been selected that ensure the fair assessment of students with special needs, such as the culturally different, the economically disadvantaged, and the handicapped.

Notification - Parents and students are notified in writing of selection for the gifted program. Participation is voluntary; and before a student is placed in the CHALLENGE program, the District obtains the parent's permission.  Notification procedures and forms for assessment of gifted/talented students will be in a language and form that the families understand or a translator or interpreter will be provided.

Nomination - A student may be nominated for the CHALLENGE program at any time in his school career by teachers, counselors, parents or other interested persons. However, screening will take place during designated times. Therefore, parents should be informed of screening dates so that, if they wish to nominate their children for the program, they may do so in advance of those dates.  Nomination procedures and forms for nomination of gifted/talented students are communicated to families in a language and form that the families understand or a translator or interpreter is provided.

Assessment – All first grade students will automatically be screened for advanced level services.  Students will be assessed in languages they understand or with a nonverbal based assessment. Data collected through both objective and subjective assessments shall be measured against the criteria approved by the Board of Trustees to determine individual eligibility for the program.  Assessment tools may include but not be limited to the following: Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT), nonverbal based test, achievement tests, intelligence tests, behavioral checklists completed by teachers and parents, teacher nominations based on classroom observations, student work products and planned experiences.  SAGES-2 will be administered to students entering grades 4th, 6th & 8th for proper program placement.

Selection - Final selection of students is made by a committee of at least three local or campus educators that have received training in the nature and needs of gifted students and are familiar with the state guidelines for gifted and talented programs. This committee evaluates each nominated student according to the established criteria and selects those students for whom the gifted program placement is the most appropriate educational setting.

Re‑assessment - Once identified for a gifted program, the student shall not be re‑identified in order to stay in the program. The District, however, shall re‑assess students to determine program placement when they move from elementary to intermediate school; from intermediate to middle; and from middle school to high school level.  Reassessment of gifted/talented students is based on performance in the program for gifted/talented.