Toronto District School Board - Universal Screening Process for all Grade 3 Students - Information for Parents May/June 2016

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Adam

Universal Screening Process for all Grade 3 students from the Toronto District School Board provides parents with the rationale, timeline, and assessment steps of the new gifted identification approach. The process explains how classroom teachers use CCAT results and subsequent Gifted Rating Scale and School Support Team review, moving beyond a single IQ criterion to a multi-criterion, multi-step model. It defines screening tools and probability thresholds that guide recommendations for further testing, including potential use of WISC-V.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

Rationale

The New Screening Process Will

Screening Tool Being Used

Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT)

Assessment Considerations

Criterion and Suggested Thresholds

CCAT Criterion

Gifted Rating Scale (GRS-S) Suggested Criterion

Toronto District School Board Universal Screening Process for all Grade 3 Students Information for Parents May/June 2016 Rationale The New Screening Process Will: 1. Provide information to classroom teachers in terms of strengths and needs (classroom profile) so that teachers can better program for all students in their class Rationale Cont‘d 2. Improve equity of access for all students to differentiated programming • Including a universal screener will better ensure equitable opportunities for each child to be considered for differentiated programming Rationale Cont‘d 3. Align current processes for identifying students with an exceptionality of giftedness, with other Boards across the province • Move beyond the current single criterion of IQ score to a multi-criterion and multi-step model. This attempts to capture students who possess a broad range of characteristics which may be associated with the exceptionality of giftedness, such as creativity and academic excellence. Screening Tool Being Used-Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT) Assessment Considerations 1. Gifted Screening Parental Consent Forms will be sent home for signature by parents/guardians Screening Tool Being Used-Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT) Cont’d 2. Administered in the early fall of Grade 3 • All Grade 3 students will be offered the CCAT • This is a paper/pencil group test administered by classroom teachers Screening Tool Being Used-Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT) Cont’d 3. Students meeting criteria on CCAT will be considered through In-School Team (IST) for the next step in the process. This will include a Gifted Rating Scale completion by classroom teachers 4. Students meeting criteria on Gifted Rating Scale, after meeting criteria on CCAT, will go forward through School Support Team (SST) to be considered for an enhanced IEP or individual intelligence testing using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) Screening Tool Being Used-Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT) Cont’d 5. After the WISC-V has been completed, the information will be brought forward through the School Support Team (SST) regarding next steps Criterion for Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test – CCAT Criterion CCAT Criterion – Specific Criterion Being Reviewed: • Percentile scores on the Verbal, Nonverbal and Quantitative Indices will provide a composite score • This will be used to determine whether a student should be recommended for a GRS Gifted Rating Scale – GRS Criterion Gifted Rating Scale – School Form (GRS–S) Suggested Criterion: Students who meet CCAT criterion and who also obtain a GRS-S score at or above the High Probability range on any of the scale’s 6 dimensions will be recommended for an individual psychological test. • A score below 69th percentile indicates a low probability of being identified as gifted; • A score between 69th–83rd percentile indicates a moderate probability of being identified as gifted; • A score between 84th–97th percentile indicates a high probability of being identified as gifted; • A score above 98th+ percentile indicates a very high probability of being identified as gifted.

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Universal Screening Process for Grade 3 students?

It provides classroom teachers with strengths and needs information (classroom profile) and improves equitable access to differentiated programming. It also aligns giftedness identification processes with other boards across the province.

Which screening tools are used, and when are they administered?

The Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT) is administered in the early fall of Grade 3 to all Grade 3 students. Students meeting CCAT criteria proceed to an In-School Team (IST) stage that includes a Gifted Rating Scale completed by classroom teachers.

What thresholds on CCAT and the Gifted Rating Scale determine next steps?

CCAT percentile scores across Verbal, Nonverbal, and Quantitative Indices are combined into a composite score used to determine whether a student should be recommended for a GRS. On the Gifted Rating Scale (GRS–S), students meeting CCAT criteria and scoring at or above the High Probability range on any of six dimensions are recommended for an individual psychological test.

Oct 3, 2026

Uploaded by Adam