Parent Letter and Information 24-25 English - 2024-25 GATE Testing

Oct 3, 2026

Letter to parents/guardians of San Diego Unified School District students describing the 2024-25 GATE testing process. Explains universal evaluation for second grade, district-new testing for grades three to five with required parent permission, and possible re-testing criteria for fifth graders. Provides reminders for corrective lenses, notification if a student cannot perform, ethics in testing requirements, and directs questions or appeals to the school GATE Team. Includes a student/parent information form and opt-in/opt-out choices.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

2024-25 GATE Testing Overview

Opt out vs. opt in and permissions

Retest criteria for eligible fifth graders

Testing reminders and ethics requirements

Student/Parent Information Form and signatures

Date: To: Parents/Guardians of San Diego Unified School District Students From: Re: 2024-25 GATE Testing This year your child will be evaluated via the multi-criterion assessment process to determine identification for the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program. ● Second grade students are universally evaluated, and parents will need to “opt out” on thereverse side of this letter if they choose not to have their student tested. ● Third, fourth, and fifth grade students who are NEW to the district will be tested in the third through fifth grades. Parent permission is NEEDED on the reverse side of this letter if they choose to have their student tested for assessment. ● Fifth grade students who meet the following retest criteria may be re-tested. Parent permission is NEEDED on the reverse side of this letter if they choose to have their student tested for assessment. All testing concludes at the end of fifth grade. RETEST criteria for students not yet identified for GATE Cluster (5th grade only) : Previous CogAt score of 85 percentile or above and a total score of 4 “Standard Exceeded” in English Language Arts and Math on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) assessment. RETEST criteria for students not yet identified for GATE Seminar (5th grade only) : Previous GATE identification and a total score of 4 “Standard Exceeded” in English Language Arts and Math on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) assessment. Things to remember: ● If your child wears corrective lenses, please make sure s/he has them during the testing period. ● If for some reason your child is not at his or her best the day of their scheduled test, please notify the school so that other arrangements can be made during the testing window. We are unable to test outside of the time frame noted below. Documentation from a physician or school nurse may be required. ● After the testing has been completed, parents will be notified through the school site whether or not their child qualifies for the GATE program. ● All GATE program and placement questions or appeals should be directed to the school site’s GATE Team. ● To ensure valid assessment, it is important that your child is not introduced to the actual test materials prior to the test administration. Please sign regarding the “Ethics in Testing Statement” on the reverse side. We request that you complete the questions attached to this letter and return them to the school site as soon as possible. Information supplied by the parent is helpful in the evaluation of a student’s abilities. TESTING WINDOW for the CogAt screener will be conducted at your school during: SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION *PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO THE SCHOOL* STUDENT/PARENT INFORMATION FORM STUDENT’S NAME (Last/First) DATE of BIRTH TEACHER / GRADE NO, DO NOT TEST MY CHILD Please sign here ~~ ~~ Signature of Parent or Guardian / Date YES, TEST MY CHILD ETHICS CLAUSE AND POSSIBLE FUTURE GATE PLACEMENT ~To my knowledge, my child has not been tested with the CogAt Screenerin the past 6 months nor practiced with the test in any way. Please sign here ~~ ~~ Signature of Parent or Guardian / Date • Does your child have an active Special Education IEP or 504 Plan? YES NO • Other information to assist us in assessing your child?

FAQs

Which students are automatically evaluated for the GATE program in 2024-25?

Second grade students are universally evaluated. Parents who do not want their student tested must opt out on the reverse side of the letter.

When is parent permission needed for testing?

Parent permission is needed for third, fourth, and fifth grade students who are new to the district if they choose testing. It is also needed for fifth graders requesting a possible re-test based on the stated criteria.

What ethics requirements apply before the test?

The letter requests that parents sign the “Ethics in Testing Statement” on the reverse side and emphasizes that students should not be introduced to the actual test materials before administration.

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by WPS_1790064749