Students are identified for services in English (language) and mathematics from kindergarten through grade twelve. Identification for services in history and social science and in science begins in grade six and continues through grade twelve.
Starting the Process
A parent or legal guardian, an administrator, a teacher, a school counselor, or a gifted education resource teacher may refer a student for consideration for gifted education services. A student may refer himself or herself. Students may also be referred by their peers or by community members. The referral form is available on the Gifted Education Web page. Referral forms are also available in all schools. Before the process can begin, parents or legal guardians must sign a permission form giving permission for the identification process.
The Multi-Criteria Process
Information from Multiple Sources
Examples of student work are collected for consideration. Teachers submit work, but parents and guardians and students themselves may also submit examples of work. All elementary and middle school students also complete a mathematics problem-solving packet. Parents or legal guardians are asked to submit a parent report. Teachers are asked to submit a professional report. Classroom grades are reviewed. For elementary children, reading levels are considered. For middle and high school students, the level of difficulty of their courses is considered. Standards of Learning test scores are included for students who have taken these Virginia tests. Tests from other states are included if these scores are available.
Aptitude Test Scores are included. Students in kindergarten and grades one, two, and three are given a Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test. This is a test that is administered individually to each student. All second grade students are given a Naglieri NonVerbal Abilities Test. All students who are reviewed for identification for services after grade two are given a Cognitive Abilities Test and a Naglieri Non-Verbal Abilities Test. These are group tests.
Profile Development Committee
A Profile Development Committee reviews all information. This committee meets in each school and considers the information in each of the categories. This committee includes an administrator, a school counselor, and classroom teachers. It is chaired by a gifted education resource teacher.
Identification and Placement Committee
Information is forwarded to an Identification and Placement Committee. Committees are established on the elementary, middle, and high school levels. These committees include administrators, school counselors, and classroom teachers from across the School Division. These committees review the evidence in each of the areas and make three decisions:
- Is this student eligible for services? Does this student need gifted education services above and beyond what is offered through our regular or advanced curriculum in order to fulfill his or her academic potential?
- If the student is eligible for services, what should the placement of this student be? Does this student need services in language or in mathematics or in both areas? Does this student also need services in history and social sciences and/or in science?
- How should those services be delivered? Should those services be provided through direct instruction by a gifted education
resource teacher or should those services be provided by a classroom or subject teacher with support from the gifted education resource teacher?
Once these decisions are made, parents or legal guardians are notified of the Identification and Placement Committee decision.
The Appeals Process
If a parent or guardian or School Division professional staff member does not agree with the determination of eligibility, of placement, or of services, that person can appeal the decision of the Identification and Placement Committee. Requests for appointments with the Appeals Committee should be submitted within 90 instructional days after parents or guardians have been notified of the Identification and Placement Committee’s decision.
Appeals appointments are usually requested through the gifted education resource teacher who serves the school. Parents or legal guardians may also call 703.791.7400 or email the Supervisor of Gifted Education to request an appointment. That email address is posted under Office and Staff on the Gifted Education Web page.
While the process is called an appeals process under Virginia regulation, in Prince William County Public Schools the Appeals Committee functions as a diagnostic committee. Committee members review all evidence with the resource teacher present. Classroom teachers, school administrators, parents or guardians, and students may present additional evidence. The committee aligns all of the evidence to make a decision for eligibility, for placement, and for services.
- Referral form is completed and submitted to gifted education resource teacher.
- Resource teacher receives permission from parents or legal guardians to begin the identification and placement process. The process is completed within 90 instructional days.
- Resource teacher collects evidence from multiple sources:
- Examples of student work;
- Reports from parents and professionals;
- Documentation of classroom achievement;
- Results of aptitude testing.
- School Profile Development Committee reviews the evidence and, based upon that evidence, provides information to the School Division Identification and Placement Committee.
- Identification and Placement Committee makes a determination of eligibility for services. If a student is found eligible for services, the committee then makes a decision on the appropriate placement and services for the student.
- If the Identification and Placement committee needs additional evidence in order to make a decision on eligibility, placement, or services, with parental notification, the student profile is monitored until additional evidence can be collected to make the decision.
- The resource teacher sends a letter to inform parents or legal guardians of the Identification and Placement Committee’s decision.
- If parents or legal guardians have concerns about the eligibility, placement, or services decision, an appeals request may be submitted through the resource teacher or directly to the Supervisor of Gifted Education. The request should be submitted within 90 instructional days after the notification of the decision.