Ralston’s Gifted & Talented (GT) program
Jeffco GT website
Ralston Contacts:
Amy Heyman, amy.heyman@jeffco.k12.co.us
Mrs. Heyman is Ralston’s GT Building Liaison and 2nd grade teacher. Mrs. Heyman is here as an advocate for your GT learner. She is here to connect you with Jeffco information and to be a bridge with the people you need to contact to promote your child’s progress.
Erica Davis
Is our paraprofessional beginning August 2022 supporting our advanced learners and GT students!
Craig Walker, [email protected]
Craig Walker is our district Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher.
The GT Process:
CogAT
The CogAT is the Cognitive Abilities Test and it measures cognitive abilities, reasoning skills, and problem-solving aptitude. It is a standardized, multiple-choice test and is given in 9 sections over the course of 3 days during school hours. For more information, see www.cogat-test.com.
Second grade students take the CogAT in October. Results are shared with parents as soon as the district makes them available for sharing. You can also schedule to take this test during other, scheduled times.
Body of Evidence
Jeffco began using a comprehensive “Body of Evidence” to support a child’s “giftedness” as opposed to only CogAT scores beginning in 2016.
The MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) test is given three times during the school year to students in grades 2 - 6 and measures a student’s progress in reading and math. It is a computerized, adaptive test. For more information, see www.nwea.org.
The GT program also uses the SIGS, the Scales for Identifying Gifted Students Survey when considering giftedness. Parents fill out a narrative survey from the Jeffco GT website to support this. Formerly, the program utilized a “15 traits of giftedness” survey that parents and teachers filled out. It has been replaced with SIGS.
The “body of evidence” incorporates test scores, SIGS, teacher input, and parent input. A student needs a qualifying score of 95%+ twice in a calendar year in one content area of MAP, plus a minimum of one qualifying data point of 95%+ in one CogAT strength area.
ALP (Advanced Learning Plan)
An ALP is initiated for a student after a body of evidence supports the findings of a need for accelerated learning. The ALP is used to challenge students within the classroom environment. The ALP should incorporate challenging extensions of what students are learning in class and ensure the student is engaged and progressing.
Parent Resources
The Jeffco GT program has resources throughout the year to support GT students and families. Click here to access a Parent Resource Page containing informational meetings and seminars, GT presentations, useful links and more.