GIFTED SCREENING PROCESS FOR ENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM FOR ACADEMIC AND CREATIVE EXTENSION (PACE) ELEMENTARY - Stage-Based Admissions Procedure

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

York Catholic District School Board outlines a three-stage gifted screening process for Grade 4 students seeking entry into the PACE (Program for Academic and Creative Extension) Elementary program. Stage One uses the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT-7) group administration with 92nd percentile subtest cutoffs or a 98th percentile composite score. Stage Two applies an individual intellectual ability screening using WISC-V (GAI) with parental permission. Stage Three identification, IPRC review, and IEP planning for extensions in English and Mathematics.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Stage One: Board-Wide Screening

CCAT-7 scoring criteria

Stage Two: Individual Screening of Intellectual Ability

WISC-V (GAI) and parent permission

Stage Three: Identification, Program and Placement

IPRC meeting and IEPs

Transportation for Elementary Students

Students With an Assessment Not Completed at YCDSB

Documentation deadlines and eligibility conditions

York Catholic District School Board GIFTED SCREENING PROCESS FOR ENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM FOR ACADEMIC AND CREATIVE EXTENSION (PACE) ELEMENTARY Students Currently Registered and Attending a York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) School Each academic school year, YCDSB screens grade four students for identification of Giftedness. This screening involves a three stage process. Occasionally, students who are new to YCDSB and did not participate in this screening process, may be considered upon consultation with board level staff. Stage One: Board-Wide Screening takes place in the fall, which involves the group administration of the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT-7) to all Grade 4 students. The completed CCAT-7 tests are forwarded to the test publishers to be scored. The CCAT-7 criteria for students to move forward to Stage 2 is as follows: Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal subtest scores must all be at or above the 92nd percentile OR a Composite Score must be at or above the 98th percentile. Parents of students who meet this criteria will be notified by the school Principal. All parents can obtain their child’s results by contacting the school Principal. Stage Two: Individual Screening of Intellectual Ability takes place in late fall/winter. Principals will be notified which students meet criteria for an individual screening and the Questionnaire for Grade 4 Candidates for PACE Program is completed by the Classroom Teachers in consultation with the Special Education Teacher (if applicable) . Once parent permission is provided, the individual screening is completed by, or supervised by, a Registered Psychologist or Psychological Associate. Students are typically screened using the General Abilities Index (GAI) score of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fifth Edition (WISC-V) . A report of the results is given to the parents and a copy is placed in the OSR. Students whose score on the GAI is at or above the 98th percentile will be considered for the PACE program. PACE schools are determined based on the home address and can be confirmed using the YCDSB school locator ([http://locator.ycdsb.ca/schoollocator/](http://locator.ycdsb.ca/schoollocator/)). Parents/guardians of students who meet criteria for the PACE Program are invited to a Parent Information Night prior to accepting placement. Stage Three: Identification, Program and Placement takes place during the months of May through to June. Parents/guardians will receive an invitation to an Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) meeting. See Parent’s Guide to Special Education for more information. All identified gifted students in the fully self contained PACE Program will receive an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for extensions in the area of English and Mathematics. Students identified as gifted, who choose to remain in a regular classroom placement, will receive an IEP with accommodations only. Transportation for Elementary Students: All eligible students identified as gifted living further than 1.6 km from the PACE school have access to transportation to the nearest Elementary PACE school. All gifted students living within 1.6 km distance to the nearest PACE school are not eligible for transportation. Please refer to YCDSB Policy 203 for further details. Students With an Assessment Not Completed at York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) Current YCDSB Students: In order for consideration for placement in September, all documentation must be received by April 1st. Documentation submitted after April 1st may be considered, but placement is subject to availability and is not guaranteed. Students not currently attending a YCDSB School: All students must be registered at their home school in YCDSB prior to the review of their documentation and consideration for identification/placement. In order for consideration for placement in September, all documentation must be received by April 1st. Placement is subject

FAQs

What is the CCAT-7 used for in Stage One?

Stage One administers the CCAT-7 group test to all Grade 4 students in the fall, then forwards completed tests for scoring by the publishers. Students must meet the stated percentile criteria to move forward to Stage Two.

How is intellectual ability assessed in Stage Two?

Stage Two includes an individual screening in late fall/winter using the WISC-V General Abilities Index (GAI) score. With parent permission, the screening is completed or supervised by a Registered Psychologist or Psychological Associate, and GAI at or above the 98th percentile qualifies for consideration.

What happens in Stage Three after a student is identified as gifted?

Stage Three occurs from May through June and includes an Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) meeting. Identified students in the fully self-contained PACE program receive an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for extensions in English and Mathematics, while students remaining in a regular classroom receive an IEP with accommodations only.

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang