Pine View part 2
Posted 01-10-2010 at 12:57 PM by SoFLGal
TO: Psychologist
FROM: Liz Elliott, ESE Specialist
DATE: 2007-2008 school year
RE: District requirements for gifted eligibility determination
Parents who are moving to Sarasota County may, at their own expense, provide psychoeducational evaluations that report both IQ and academic achievement scores necessary for gifted eligibility determination.
The following tests are required:
IQ Test
Either of the following IQ tests should be administered:
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV)
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale-Fifth Edition (SB5) The minimum required IQ score on either test is: Full-Scale IQ of 130 Some partial scores of 130 may be considered with acceptable written justification from the examiner. A student with an IQ below 130 will be determined ineligible for gifted. If the child's score is below 130, further academic achievement testing is not needed.
Academic Achievement Test
Either of the following two academic achievement tests should be administered if you child meets the minimum Full-Scale IQ score of 130:
Woodcock-Johnson III: Tests of Achievement (Form A or B; Normative update required effective January 2008)
The evaluation must report standard scores (age based) for:
Reading Comprehension Composite
Broad Math
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-II
Report standard scores (age based) for:
Reading Composite
Math Composite
A student must meet the minimum IQ score for consideration for gifted. In addition, he or she must meet the total composite points requirement on the Gifted Profile Worksheet that is completed at the school level prior to final eligibility determination. Points are assigned based on grades, academic achievement scores, and gifted rating scales.
March 25, 2008 is the deadline for parents to submit the psychological evaluation, gifted rating scales and report cards, including proof of residency in Sarasota County, to their Sarasota County districted school for consideration for Pine View. Pine View will not be an option for any student whose file was submitted after the deadline; however, gifted cluster sites and districted school gifted programs will be options for students determined eligible for gifted services after the deadline.
Additional information for private practitioners is attached to this memorandum. Please call Liz Elliott, ESE Specialist, (941) 927-9000, for general questions regarding gifted program eligibility. Specific questions related to the administration of the test instruments or preparation of the written report should be addressed to Tim Gissal, Chairperson, School Psychology Department, (941) 927-9000.
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF SARASOTA COUNTY
PUPIL SUPPORT SERVICES
1960 Landings Boulevard Sarasota, FL 34231 (941) 927-9000
Dear Private Practitioner,
This letter has been prepared to make you aware of changes in the procedures for the identification and staffing of children into Gifted Programs in Sarasota County. These changes were put into effect in August of 2004. In June of 1996 a similar letter was distributed outlining changes that at that time were new. Several of these changes are included in this letter as policy reminders.
ADOPTION OF WISC-IV AND SB5 AS INSTRUMENTS FOR ASSESSING INTELLIGENCE
Beginning with the first day of school (August 9) in 2004 the Sarasota County Public Schools transitioned to the updated version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (SB5) for gifted evaluations. Therefore, all evaluations for determining the eligibility for gifted programming beginning in the 2004-2005 school year must utilize the most current measure of intellectual functioning. Intellectual results from outdated versions of either scale (the WISC-III or SB: FE) that were obtained prior to August 9, 2004 may still be considered. WISC-III and/or SB: FE scores obtained after August 9, 2004 will not be considered.
ACCEPTANCE OF PARTIAL SCORES FROM WISC-IV AND SB-5
In some situations, part scores from the WISC-IV and SB5 may be a better indicator of a students functioning than the global score. When using the WISC-IV, the publishers suggest that it is appropriate to use the VCI, PRI, or GAI scores for part score interpretation. Publishers of the SB5 state that the VIQ and NVIQ scores are acceptable to use for part score interpretation. Written, clinical justification for using a part score must be provided within the psychoeducational report. For additional information, please reference the 2005-9 Technical Assistance Paper issued by the Florida Department of Education at the following website: http://www.firn.edu/doe/commhome/pdf/y2005-9.pdf
SELECTING AGE APPROPRIATE INSTRUMENTS
Sarasota County Public Schools will not accept scores from measures that do not include a child's chronological age within the normative sample. For example, a child under the age of six should not be given the WISC-IV, as that instrument contains normative data for children aged six-years, zero-months to 16-years, 11-months. Although it may be an intuitively correct assumption that a five-year-old child scoring above 130 on the WISC-IV would be able to maintain and/or improve on that score at age six, there remains no standardized population to compare the child to at the time the test was administered. This lack of standardized comparison sample renders the WISC-IV invalid. A separate, age-appropriate measure (such as the SB5 or WPPSI-III) should be considered.
STANDARD ERROR OF MEASURE (SEM) NOT CONSIDERED IN PLACEMENT PURPOSES
As first discussed in 1996, the Standard Error of Measure (SEM) will not be considered in the eligibility determination of students in the Gifted Program. This decision was informed by a technical assistance paper form the Florida Department of Education and met Sarasota School Board approval.
TO AVOID SUPERIOUSLY HIGH SCORES DUE TO A PRACTICE EFFECT, A PARTICULAR INTELLECTUAL MEASURE WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF IT HAS NOT BEEN ADMINISTERED WITHIN 12 MONTHS.
To avoid any potential difficulties in this area, the Sarasota County Public Schools District strongly recommends private practitioners query their clients regarding any previous evaluations conducted with the child. Regarding standardized academic tests such as the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement-Third Edition (WJ III ACH), examiners may administer "Form B" if "Form A" has been administered within in 12 months. However, if two "Form A" or "Form B" measures are administered within 12-months of each other, the second administration of the same form will be considered invalid. Note: Normative update required starting January 2008 for WJ III ACH.
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION OF PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL REPORTS
It is the parent's responsibility to submit a private evaluator's evaluation to the child's district school during the school year. The ESE Liaison at the district school will coordinate the collection and submission of all data required for gifted program eligibility determination. To assist in this process, the private evaluator is encouraged to include (on the first page of the report) basic information such as the date of evaluation, the child's date of birth, the chronological age of the child at the time of evaluation, and the school the child attends.
NOTE
Gifted Program eligibility is based on a number of factors, including the standardized scores described in a psychoeducational report. In addition to these scores students must demonstrate a need for gifted services as evidenced by outstanding grades and teacher recommendation. All evaluations must include a statement of the examiner's professional judgment as to the reliability/validity of results. In the case of re-evaluations (within 12-months) the report must include a statement of the examiner's professional judgment as to the validity of the need for a second evaluation.
FROM: Liz Elliott, ESE Specialist
DATE: 2007-2008 school year
RE: District requirements for gifted eligibility determination
Parents who are moving to Sarasota County may, at their own expense, provide psychoeducational evaluations that report both IQ and academic achievement scores necessary for gifted eligibility determination.
The following tests are required:
IQ Test
Either of the following IQ tests should be administered:
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV)
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale-Fifth Edition (SB5) The minimum required IQ score on either test is: Full-Scale IQ of 130 Some partial scores of 130 may be considered with acceptable written justification from the examiner. A student with an IQ below 130 will be determined ineligible for gifted. If the child's score is below 130, further academic achievement testing is not needed.
Academic Achievement Test
Either of the following two academic achievement tests should be administered if you child meets the minimum Full-Scale IQ score of 130:
Woodcock-Johnson III: Tests of Achievement (Form A or B; Normative update required effective January 2008)
The evaluation must report standard scores (age based) for:
Reading Comprehension Composite
Broad Math
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-II
Report standard scores (age based) for:
Reading Composite
Math Composite
A student must meet the minimum IQ score for consideration for gifted. In addition, he or she must meet the total composite points requirement on the Gifted Profile Worksheet that is completed at the school level prior to final eligibility determination. Points are assigned based on grades, academic achievement scores, and gifted rating scales.
March 25, 2008 is the deadline for parents to submit the psychological evaluation, gifted rating scales and report cards, including proof of residency in Sarasota County, to their Sarasota County districted school for consideration for Pine View. Pine View will not be an option for any student whose file was submitted after the deadline; however, gifted cluster sites and districted school gifted programs will be options for students determined eligible for gifted services after the deadline.
Additional information for private practitioners is attached to this memorandum. Please call Liz Elliott, ESE Specialist, (941) 927-9000, for general questions regarding gifted program eligibility. Specific questions related to the administration of the test instruments or preparation of the written report should be addressed to Tim Gissal, Chairperson, School Psychology Department, (941) 927-9000.
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF SARASOTA COUNTY
PUPIL SUPPORT SERVICES
1960 Landings Boulevard Sarasota, FL 34231 (941) 927-9000
Dear Private Practitioner,
This letter has been prepared to make you aware of changes in the procedures for the identification and staffing of children into Gifted Programs in Sarasota County. These changes were put into effect in August of 2004. In June of 1996 a similar letter was distributed outlining changes that at that time were new. Several of these changes are included in this letter as policy reminders.
ADOPTION OF WISC-IV AND SB5 AS INSTRUMENTS FOR ASSESSING INTELLIGENCE
Beginning with the first day of school (August 9) in 2004 the Sarasota County Public Schools transitioned to the updated version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (SB5) for gifted evaluations. Therefore, all evaluations for determining the eligibility for gifted programming beginning in the 2004-2005 school year must utilize the most current measure of intellectual functioning. Intellectual results from outdated versions of either scale (the WISC-III or SB: FE) that were obtained prior to August 9, 2004 may still be considered. WISC-III and/or SB: FE scores obtained after August 9, 2004 will not be considered.
ACCEPTANCE OF PARTIAL SCORES FROM WISC-IV AND SB-5
In some situations, part scores from the WISC-IV and SB5 may be a better indicator of a students functioning than the global score. When using the WISC-IV, the publishers suggest that it is appropriate to use the VCI, PRI, or GAI scores for part score interpretation. Publishers of the SB5 state that the VIQ and NVIQ scores are acceptable to use for part score interpretation. Written, clinical justification for using a part score must be provided within the psychoeducational report. For additional information, please reference the 2005-9 Technical Assistance Paper issued by the Florida Department of Education at the following website: http://www.firn.edu/doe/commhome/pdf/y2005-9.pdf
SELECTING AGE APPROPRIATE INSTRUMENTS
Sarasota County Public Schools will not accept scores from measures that do not include a child's chronological age within the normative sample. For example, a child under the age of six should not be given the WISC-IV, as that instrument contains normative data for children aged six-years, zero-months to 16-years, 11-months. Although it may be an intuitively correct assumption that a five-year-old child scoring above 130 on the WISC-IV would be able to maintain and/or improve on that score at age six, there remains no standardized population to compare the child to at the time the test was administered. This lack of standardized comparison sample renders the WISC-IV invalid. A separate, age-appropriate measure (such as the SB5 or WPPSI-III) should be considered.
STANDARD ERROR OF MEASURE (SEM) NOT CONSIDERED IN PLACEMENT PURPOSES
As first discussed in 1996, the Standard Error of Measure (SEM) will not be considered in the eligibility determination of students in the Gifted Program. This decision was informed by a technical assistance paper form the Florida Department of Education and met Sarasota School Board approval.
TO AVOID SUPERIOUSLY HIGH SCORES DUE TO A PRACTICE EFFECT, A PARTICULAR INTELLECTUAL MEASURE WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF IT HAS NOT BEEN ADMINISTERED WITHIN 12 MONTHS.
To avoid any potential difficulties in this area, the Sarasota County Public Schools District strongly recommends private practitioners query their clients regarding any previous evaluations conducted with the child. Regarding standardized academic tests such as the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement-Third Edition (WJ III ACH), examiners may administer "Form B" if "Form A" has been administered within in 12 months. However, if two "Form A" or "Form B" measures are administered within 12-months of each other, the second administration of the same form will be considered invalid. Note: Normative update required starting January 2008 for WJ III ACH.
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION OF PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL REPORTS
It is the parent's responsibility to submit a private evaluator's evaluation to the child's district school during the school year. The ESE Liaison at the district school will coordinate the collection and submission of all data required for gifted program eligibility determination. To assist in this process, the private evaluator is encouraged to include (on the first page of the report) basic information such as the date of evaluation, the child's date of birth, the chronological age of the child at the time of evaluation, and the school the child attends.
NOTE
Gifted Program eligibility is based on a number of factors, including the standardized scores described in a psychoeducational report. In addition to these scores students must demonstrate a need for gifted services as evidenced by outstanding grades and teacher recommendation. All evaluations must include a statement of the examiner's professional judgment as to the reliability/validity of results. In the case of re-evaluations (within 12-months) the report must include a statement of the examiner's professional judgment as to the validity of the need for a second evaluation.
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