Gifted Education

Montgomery County Public Schools

Montgomery County, Virginia

Gifted Identification and Referrals

Identification Process for Gifted

Nominations for gifted identification can take place at any time of the year. In order to have the placement/identification process completed during the current school year, a nomination must be received by February 1.

Step 1:      Observation (K-12)

The classroom teacher will note student questions, responses, examples of unusual thinking or exceptional creativity and consistently strong academic performance using the Kingore Observation Inventory (grades K-8) or Identification Jot Down (grades 6-12).

Step 2:      Referral

1)   A teacher, other staff member, parent, peer, or self may submit a referral at any time of the year. The referring individual will fill out a nomination form and return it to the gifted resource teacher.

2)  Once a referral is initiated, parents will be asked to complete a permission to evaluate form, the Parent Information Form, and gather two portfolio items. Teachers will be asked to fill out Content Rating Scales, and gather four portfolio items. 

Step 3:      Formal Assessment

1)    Forms from parents and teachers will be collected and scored.

2)   Classroom teachers will assist the student in compiling items for a portfolio. 

3)   Portfolio items from home will be collected.

4)   The gifted resource teacher will administer planned experience lessons and conduct an interview with each student.

5)   Grades and test scores will be collected. (Grades 4-12)

6)   Standardized ability and/or achievement tests may be administered.

Step 4:      Identification Placement Committee Meeting

1)   The Gifted Committee will meet and review collected criteria. Parents and teachers will be informed as to the date and time of the meeting.  Parents are requested to RSVP if they plan to attend the committee meeting.

2)   Parents, principals, and teachers will be informed of the decision.

3)   Parents, principals, and teachers have the right to appeal the committee’s decision.  This is to be done in written form and sent to the County Gifted Program Supervisor within ten school days after receipt of the original committee decision.    

Click here to view the Appeals Process

Click here to view the Reciprocity Policy for previously identified students transferring into MCPS