Highly Capable (Gifted)

i-Ready replaces IOWA for Highly Capable Program Universal Eligibility Testing

Beginning this year, overall winter i-Ready Reading and Math scores will be used for Kindergarten and Second Grade Highly Capable Program universal eligibility testing. In recent years, the IOWA Achievement Test has been used as the grade level content test for reading and math. These scores will be combined with CogAT scores for kindergarten and CogAT and TTCT scores for 2^nd grade students to determine eligibility for the Highly Capable Program.

Students will take i-Ready Reading and Math Assessments in the classroom with peers during the district windows. Staff will be trained to provide a standard testing environment and follow a standardized implementation plan. The K-5 i-Ready Testing window for Reading is January 12-26 and for Math is February 6 - 17.

Private school and home-based students will take i-Ready tests at the ISD Administration Building. The Reading test will be administrated on Wednesday, January 18. The Math test will be administered Wednesday, February 8 - Math. Logistics will be shared with participating private and home-based families directly by email.

Private school and home-based families must register online to participate by 12/9/2022 at 4:00 PM. 

For more information on the districts use of i-Ready, see Elementary District Assessments. 

• Assessments used to determine highly capable eligibility are the Cognitive Aptitude Test (CogAT), The Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) and i-Ready Math and Reading. The i-Ready is replacing the IOWA Achievement test (see below) for elementary students beginning this year as the content assessment. Secondary students will continue to use the IOWA Achievement Test.
• i-Ready will be taken in the classroom in January and February during the school day per the district testing calendar.
• The CogAT and TTCT will be administered in classrooms March 7, 8 , 9, and 10, 2023. 
• Private school/home-based registration: Families with students attending home-based and private school settings may register a student to a participate online.  Registration must be completed by Friday, December 9 at 4:00pm.  Registration is required to be submitted this early so accounts can be made for private and home-based students, so they take the i-Ready math and reading tests during the same window as enrolled students. After a registration is submitted, the school staff will contact families to provide more information about testing schedules:

REGISTER A STUDENT TO TEST

•  Opt-Out of highly capable eligibility testing: To opt your student out of second grade highly capable program eligibility testing complete the opt-out form:

Opt-Out Form 

Kindergarten Screener Testing is now Complete.

Schools will be returning testing materials to the Administration Office the week of November 14th where they will be mailed to the scoring agency, Riverside Insights.  Families of students who meet the ISD Criteria for full Highly Capable Program testing  will be notified via email mid-December.  Full Testing will be administered to students at the neighborhood school by the SAGE teacher or other proctor trained staff during December and/or early January. Students will take i-Ready reading and math assessments in classrooms in January and February during the district established testing windows. Eligibility results are expected around mid-winter break. 

For New Students to the District who have missed participation in the Kindergarten or Second Grade testing or were not able to refer during the September Referral window.  Not necessary for 2023 Kindergarten incoming students.  

 Refer a Student