Gifted/Talented Programs - Assessment and Identification of Gifted/Talented Students - A Parent Informational Guide

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Riley

This parent informational guide explains how Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) identifies gifted and talented students through its GATE program. It defines gifted and talented students under California Education Code and outlines eligibility criteria across seven categories, including High Achievement, Specific Academic Ability, and Performing/Visual Arts, Creative, and Leadership abilities. The document details the screening and assessment process, required referrals, data collection, committee recommendations, parent consent, and category-specific requirements such as intelligence testing or auditions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

High Achievement Ability

Specific Academic Ability

Performing Arts Ability

Visual Arts Ability

Creative Ability

Leadership Ability

Gifted/Talented Programs Mission and Contacts

Assessment and Identification Process (Screening)

2. High Achievement Ability* Grade two only: Students taking the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, Eighth Edition (OLSAT-8) and meeting one of the qualifying scores below will be identified as gifted in the High Achievement Ability category. a. A score of 95% or above on the Total Verbal or Nonverbal, Age-Based Percentile Rank. b. Expanded criteria for students of low socioeconomic status – students with a Total AgeBased Score of 90% to 94% on the OLSAT-8 who meet the federally defined poverty level will be identified as gifted. Grade fifth or above: Two current consecutive years of advanced achievement in reading (elementary), English (secondary) and mathematics evidenced by: a. Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Test: Meeting the achievement level scale score range for “Standards Exceeded”on English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics. Or b. District-approved standardized achievement tests: Have a total national percentile scores of 95 or above in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. 3. Specific Academic Ability* Grade five or above: Three current consecutive years of advanced achievement in reading (elementary), English (secondary), or mathematics. Advanced achievement may be evidenced by: a. Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Test: Meeting the achievement level scale score range for “Standards Exceeded”on either English Language Arts/Literacy or Mathematics. Or b. District-approved standardized achievement tests: Have a total national percentile scores of 95 or above either in English Language Arts or Mathematics. Elementary: Report card grade of 4 in Achievement for the second and third grading period in reading or math. Secondary: 4.0 GPA (3 .5 if Honors) for both semesters in English or math. *Identification is automatically uploaded based on District data for all students attending LAUSD schools. 4. Performing Arts Ability – Grade two or above Talent assessment areas include dance, drama and voice and is accomplished through a Districtwide audition in the performing arts at a demonstration site. 5. Visual Arts Ability – Grade two or above Talent assessment areas include drawing and painting and consists of portfolio evaluation of student artwork and a Districtwide demonstration of student drawings at the demonstration site. 6. Creative Ability – Grade two or above Assessment of outstanding ability or the potential for such ability is based on accumulated evidence, including a required student portfolio. 7. Leadership Ability – Grade two or above Assessment of outstanding ability or the potential for such ability is based on accumulated evidence, including a required student portfolio. GIFTED/TALENTED PROGRAMS Dr. Lucy Hunt, Coordinator, Local District Central Susanna Furfari, Coordinator, Local District Northeast Dr. Robert Grubb, Specialist, Local District Northwest Kevin Kilpatrick, Coordinator, Local District South Dr. Nicole Niederdeppe, Coordinator, Local District East Erin Yoshida-Ehrmann, Coordinator, Local District West Wynne Wong-Cheng, Coordinator Psychological Services, Central Office Michelle Papazyan, Specialist Psychological Services, Central Office Anne Fleming, Psychologist Psychological Services, Central Office Arzie Galvez, Director Advanced Learning Options Web Page: [http://achieve.lausd.net/GATE](http://achieve.lausd.net/GATE) [Facebook:](Facebook: www.facebook.com/LAUSDGATE)[ ](Facebook: www.facebook.com/LAUSDGATE)[www.facebook.com/LAUSDGATE](Facebook: www.facebook.com/LAUSDGATE) [Twitter:](Twitter: twitter.com/LAUSDGATE)[ ](Twitter: twitter.com/LAUSDGATE)[twitter.com/LAUSDGATE](Twitter: twitter.com/LAUSDGATE) Los Angeles Unified School District Division of Instruction Advanced Learning Options Gifted/Talented Programs ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFICATION OF GIFTED/TALENTED STUDENTS A PARENT INFORMATIONAL GUIDE MISSION STATEMENT: Embracing our diversity to educate L.A.’s youth, ensure academic achievement a

FAQs

Who can make a referral to start the GATE identification process?

A referral can be made by parents/families, teachers, students, peers, community members, or the student can self-nominate.

What does the district use to help form an initial list of potential candidates?

The school develops an initial list through search and referral, then collects students’ data from sources such as cumulative records, standardized test scores, and report cards.

Are there category-specific requirements for identification?

Yes. Intellectual Ability requires an intelligence test administered by a designated LAUSD GATE psychologist, while Visual and Performing Arts require auditions or visual arts demonstrations.

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Riley