QUEST is the name of the program serving identified gifted students in grades 1 through 8 in Bulloch County. QUEST is an acronym for Quality and Unique Experiences in Study and Thought. The program provides special instruction for gifted students so they may achieve at levels commensurate with their intellectual abilities. QUEST provides both group and individual learning experiences to develop cognitive skills, leadership potential, thinking abilities and creative abilities. Students in grades 1 - 5 are served in a resource room by a teacher certified in gifted education one day per week. Middle school students, grades 6 - 8, are served 1 period each day.
Quality
Unique
Experiences in
Study and
Thought |
The QUEST curriculum provides opportunities that enhance the following skills: Communication, problem Solving, Creative and Critical Thinking, Research and Study, Guided Independent Study, and Self Evaluation.
QUEST Spring 2013 Test Window
Bulloch County Gifted Services will be conducting a spring review of students who are nominated for gifted services. We will receive nominations from teachers, parents, students, or peers. Nominations will be accepted beginning January 9, 2013 . The window for submitting nominations closes on January 18, 2013. All nominations must be submitted to the QUEST facilitator at each elementary or middle school by that date. Bulloch County's Spring Test Window is open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Auto referrals will be reviewed using the latest MAP test scores in reading and math.
It is Bulloch County Policy that a student is not tested more than once in a calendar year. Thus, students tested in the fall are not eligible to participate in the spring review. Any nominations received after the test window closes on January 18th, will be held until next review. Once the nominations are closed, the eligibility team at each school will review the data submitted to determine if a student requires a formal evaluation for gifted services. Nominations are a request for a review of information. The nomination does not guarantee formal evaluation. If after the review, it is determined that a student needs formal evaluation for gifted services, the parents of those students will receive a Permission to Test form to sign and return to their child's school. Testing will follow the receipt of this form. Testing will not begin until early March to allow time for the review process. If selected to participate in the formal evaluation process, a student will take standardized tests in Mental Ability, Achievement, and Creativity. Grades or a Rating Scale will be used to assess a student's motivation. The chart below provides the test measures used in each area, and denotes the required scores for eligibility.
Gifted Program Assessment and Eligibility Criteria – Chart One
| Mental Ability |
Achievement |
Creativity |
Motivation |
| CogAT Test of Mental Ability:
Full scale or appropriate component score the 96th percentile (by age)
|
NWEA MAP Test Academic Achievement: Score the 90th percentile or greater (by age or grade) on --
- Total Reading, or
- Total Math, or
- Total Battery
|
GIFT, GIFFE, Torrance Test of Creativity
Score the 90th percentile or greater (by age or grade) on the Total Battery percentile |
GPA 3.5 or greater (as defined in Rule and Regulation) on a 4.0 scale for grades 6 and above, OR
Gifted Rating Scale: Score the 90th percentile or greater for grades 1-5.
The GRS may be used in grades 6-8 as another indicator of eligibility.
|
Gifted Eligibility is determined using one of two options:
Under Option A, a student must be eligible in these two areas…
|
Mental Ability
|
Achievement
|
|
Grades K-2 -- 99%tile
Grades 3-12 -- 96%tile or higher
on a composite of a standardized mental ability test
|
90%tile or higher
On Total Reading
OR Total Mathematics
on MAP achievement test
|
Under Option B, students must eligible in three of the four areas listed in chart one.
Information shall be gathered in each of the four data categories. At least one of the criteria must be met by a score on a nationally normed standardized test. Any data used to assess one category, may not be used to assess another category. Assessment data must be current within two years.
Bulloch County does not use private test data to determine eligibility. It may be used as a referral for further evaluation. Gifted students who enroll from an out-of-state program must meet Georgia requirements in order to be placed in Bulloch County’s QUEST program. All scores must be current within two years and additional assessment may be necessary.
If a student is determined to be eligible for gifted services during the spring test window, service will begin at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. Test results will be available by the end of May, 2013.
