FCPS Office of Advanced Academics - Elementary Gifted and Talented Services - Information for Caregivers of Homeschooled, Private/ Parochial, or Out-of-State/County Students

Oct 5, 2026

Guide for caregivers regarding gifted and talented screening and identification for elementary students served by FCPS. Covers the identification process required by the Code of Maryland, starting with records review for enrolling students and steps caregivers take to initiate participation. Outlines measures that may be reviewed, including cognitive ability testing such as CogAT and other nationally normed assessments, plus evaluation notes for students with IEP/GIEP/504. Explains homeschool eligibility, testing windows, planning requirements, and eligibility parameters tied to district contracts and standardized testing participation rules. Also clarifies the focus on specialized services and differentiated learning access.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Gifted & Talented Screening & Identification

Records review and caregiver actions

Measures reviewed (ability, performance, potential)

Special note for IEP/GIEP/504 students

Homeschooled eligibility and testing windows

FCPS Office of Advanced Academics: Elementary Gifted and Talented Services Information for Caregivers of Homeschooled, Private/ Parochial, or Out-of-State/County Students Gifted & Talented Screening & Identification Per the Code of Maryland for Gifted and Talented Education, identification for gifted and talented services must include measures of ability, performance, and potential. The Office of Advanced Academics begins the process of identification by conducting a records review for students who enroll in FCPS. ❏ Caregivers should initiate contact with the Office of Advanced Academics in order for this to occur. ❏ A copy of these records should be faxed from the student’s previous school to the Office of Advanced Academics. ❏ Caregivers should be prepared to sign a formal release statement for the school from which the student is transferring. Most likely, that school will want to reach out to the Office of Advanced Academics directly in order to formalize the process and protect the security of the student’s records. ❏ The table below outlines some of the measures that may be reviewed. | Ability* | Performance
Measures of Aptitude/Achievement | Potential | | --- | --- | --- | | ➢ Cognitive Abilities Testing (CogAT )
○ Almost every Maryland school district administers the CogAT
➢ Naglieri Nonverbal
➢ Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) | The following are some nationally-normed assessmentsand are typically are reported as percentiles
➢ Iowa Test of Basic Skills ➢ Stanford 10
➢ Terra Nova
➢ MAPs
➢ i Ready | The following are some nationally-normed assessmentsand are typically are reported as percentiles
➢ Iowa Test of Basic Skills ➢ Stanford 10
➢ Terra Nova
➢ MAPs
➢ i Ready | | ➢ Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition ➢ Wechsler Intelligence Scale
for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V)
➢ Woodcock Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities | ➢ Performance Series ➢ Woodcock Johnson:
Achievement Other suitable assessments:
➢ ACCESS for ELLs
➢ State Testing scores, such as PARCC/MCAP
➢ Torrance Tests of Creativity | ➢ Performance Series ➢ Woodcock Johnson:
Achievement Other suitable assessments:
➢ ACCESS for ELLs
➢ State Testing scores, such as PARCC/MCAP
➢ Torrance Tests of Creativity | | --- | --- | --- | * Note: Students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP), or 504 Plan have undergone extensive testing, both ability and achievement. Caregivers may work with both the Advanced Academics and other offices to provide the assessment documents that accompanied the process for developing these plans. What if my child does not have an ability score? Students must be enrolled in Frederick County Public Schools in order to participate in the universal screening process, which includes the administration of CogAT. Homeschooled students are the exception. The CogAT is administered to all Grade 2 students, as well as those students in Grades 3 and 4 who do not already have an ability score; there are separate guidelines for homeschooled students (see below) . CogAT administration occurs during its scheduled assessment window each year, only. Students are not retested. What if my child is homeschooled? FCPS establishes testing windows for multiple PreK-12 assessments each year. Per the Code of Maryland Regulation for Home Instruction (13A.10.01.02): Voluntary Participation in Standardized Testing,“Upon request of a parent or guardian, a child receiving home instruction may participate in the regularly scheduled standardized testing programs that are administered in the public school the child is eligible to attend.” Homeschooled students are eligible to participate in CogAT testing during the district’s established testing window. However, the child’s caregiver must plan in advance in order for the home schooled child to participate. Caregivers may request that their child be assessed;

FAQs

How does FCPS begin the gifted and talented identification process for students who enroll?

FCPS Office of Advanced Academics starts with a records review. Caregivers need to initiate contact so the review can occur, including faxing a copy of records from the previous school.

What measures may be reviewed during screening and identification?

Screening may review measures of ability, performance, and potential. Examples include cognitive abilities testing such as CogAT, Naglieri Nonverbal, OLSAT, and nationally normed assessments typically reported as percentiles.

Can homeschooled students participate in CogAT testing, and what are the eligibility requirements?

Homeschooled students can participate during the district-established testing window, but caregivers must plan in advance. Eligibility depends on factors such as testing parameters for grade-level census testing and completion/submission of the FCPS Homeschooling Contract with required parts done in advance.

Oct 5, 2026

Uploaded by Lucas Martin