“Gifted and talented students have a right to an appropriate education, one grounded in the recognition of individual differences and unique learning needs.”
Identification is a multi-step process which consists of referral, screening, and assessment. The state of South Carolina has established three dimensions of giftedness as criteria for placement in the academically gifted program. In order to qualify for placement in gifted and talented programs, a student must meet the eligibility criteria in two of the three dimensions.
Dimension A: Reasoning Abilities
Students may be eligible for placement on the basis of aptitude scores alone if they score 96th National Age Percentile or higher on the composite score of a nationally-normed aptitude test. A student is also eligible if he/she scores in the 93rd national age percentile on a nationally normed aptitude test in verbal, non-verbal, quantitative, or composite score.
Dimension B: Achievement
Students may be eligible for placement if they score at the 94th national percentile or higher on approved subtests (reading comprehension and/or mathematical concepts and problem solving).
Dimension C: Academic Performance
The STAR test is administered in March of each year to those students in grades 2-5 who have met either dimensions A or B. The two-day performance tasks test yields a nonverbal and verbal score. Qualifying scores vary per grade level.
