IDENTIFICATION FOR FAIRFAX COUNTY RESIDENTS NOT ENROLLED IN AND ATTENDING FCPS

How Children are Identified for GT Center Placement (Level IV)

Step 1
Parents/Guardians prepare a screening file of academic information for their child. 
Forms are available on the GT web site www.fcps.edu/DIS/gt or at any FCPS elementary school.  Please refer to page 11 of the Parent Information Packet for detailed directions. 

The 8½” X 11” standard buff file folder includes the following:

Required Information	Where It Comes From
GT Screening Summary Sheet	Parents/Guardians
Gifted and Talented Center Referral Form	Parents/Guardians
Progress reports and comments	Child’s current school
Gifted Behaviors Rating Scale with Commentary	Child’s current school (Parents give this form to the school)
Ability test results include one or more of the following: CogAT NNAT OLSAT WISC IV Stanford Binet CAS	Child’s current school or GMU* testing clinic or Other school districts *Parents may have their child tested through George Mason University Psychological Clinic 703-993-4200.
Optional Information	Where It Comes From
Parent/Guardian Questionnaire	Parents/Guardians
Other test results to include achievement tests if available and the results of individual intelligence tests.	Parents may submit additional testing results by following guidelines listed in the Parent Information Packet.
Examples of student work	Parents may submit up to five pages (single-sided, 81/2 by 11")
Academic certificates and awards	Parents may submit up to five pages (single-sided, 81/2 by 11")

Step 2
Parents/Guardians submit the screening file in person to the GT Programs Office
(3705 Crest Drive, Annandale, VA 22003) according to published timeline.

Required Documentation: 

• Proof of Fairfax County residency
• $50 processing fee (check payable to Fairfax County Public Schools – please no cash or credit)

Step 3
March and April

A central selection committee determines a child's need for GT center placement.
Once submitted, all files of students not enrolled in and not attending FCPS are screened along with the FCPS files.

Who is on the committee?	What do they do?
Committee members are professional educators and include GT resource teachers, GT center teachers, school administrators, school psychologists, guidance counselors, ESOL teachers, central office staff members, and other education specialists.	Committee members read each file and look for compelling evidence that a child needs Level IV services. All eligible children are offered GT center placement. Parents are notified by mail in May.

Step 4
April

An oversight committee reviews the files of all children not selected by the central selection committee.
What is the oversight committee?

• This committee monitors the consistency of central selection and reviews all ineligible decisions
  
  
• The committee may select additional students for the GT center.
  
  
• Committee members are central office staff members.

Step 5
May

Parents are notified of child's selection by mail.

Step 6
(Optional) June

Parent may appeal committee decision.

How does a parent appeal the selection decision?

• Parents submit  the GT Center Appeal Form, located online at  http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/gt/forms.html.
  Information on how to submit an appeal is also provided in the ineligibility letter.
  
  
• Parents include new data not included in screening file.
  
  
• Appeals committee reconsiders placement based on combination of child's screening file and new data.
  
  
• The decision of the appeals committee is final.

Step 7
(Optional) July

Parents are notified of the decision of the appeals committee by mail.

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Identification for School-Based GT Services (Level II and III)

Questions regarding student eligibility or placement in the school-based program should be directed to the school principal. The principal reviews all pertinent information with the local GT screening committee and informs parents/guardians of the decision. Gifted and Talented School-Based Services Referral (Level III) (pdf)