First Grade Screening

All first grade VBCPS students are screened for gifted program services. With parent/guardian permission for continued assessment, students who score at the 90th percentile or higher on the screening instrument are referred for additional testing. All students referred for testing are reviewed by the Gifted Identification and Placement Committee. Assessment specialists from the division’s Gifted Education Testing Office administer screening for first graders in October through December and for fifth graders in September or October. Based on screening results, students may be referred for further testing with parent/guardian permission.

Any parent/guardian may initiate testing for gifted services (intellectual, visual arts, dance education) by submitting an online application available at giftedapplication.vbcps.com. A teacher, peer, student response team or any person who has knowledge of the student’s abilities may also initiate an application for gifted services testing by contacting the gifted resource teacher (GRT) at the student’s neighborhood school. Students may be tested for gifted programs one time within a school year. Once a completed application has been submitted, the student’s teacher of record is contacted to submit a Teacher Information Form for the student. An application for gifted visual arts testing will automate your child’s art teacher information. An application for gifted dance education testing does not require teacher information. Parents/guardians will be contacted with more information about scheduled testing/assessment, auditions, or the full-day art assessments for selected students. Parents/guardians with questions about intellectual gifted testing should email Martha Palmer or call 757.263.6870. For questions about gifted dance education or gifted visual arts testing, please contact Old Donation School at 757.648.3240.

Identification and Placement

Once a student has been tested, data are compiled and forwarded to an identification and placement committee that determines eligibility for gifted services. Eligibility for gifted services is determined through the review of multiple criteria, including:

• Academic achievement
• Achievement test scores
• Teacher information
• Ability test scores
• Audition or portfolio (visual and performing arts programs)
• Student interview responses

*Note: Parents/guardians are notified of the committee's decision by email.

Change in Program Placement

Students who are identified for gifted services retain their identification from the point of identification until graduation. Virginia Beach City Public Schools believes that students need learning experiences based on their readiness level, interest and learning profile. Parents/guardians may request that the students not take part in the gifted services that are offered. This is a school-level decision that is facilitated by the parents/guardians, teacher(s), principal and gifted resource teacher. When this occurs, parents/guardians write a letter requesting the change in service which is then placed in the student’s file. The student maintains eligibility for gifted services and can participate in activities offered by the gifted program. Gifted staff remain in contact with the student and parent/guardian.