Identification Services FAQs and Forms

When will my child be screened for AIG identification and what does that mean? ALL students in KCS are screened (tested) using the Nagliari Non-Verbal Aptitude Test [NNAT] at the end of 3rd grade and at the end of 5th grade.  Additionally, students who score above the 80th percentile on their End-of-Grade tests (in either Math or ELA) are given the NNAT in the fall following the high standardized testing results.  Students who are new enrollees to the district will be automatically screened at the start of the school year.

What if my child doesn't do well on the universal screener, or doesn't meet the criteria for a local screener? Students who have potential for high achievement or aptitude can be referred for testing at any time of the school year by their classroom teacher.  Referral requests are intentionally collected quarterly after state benchmark testing.  Parents may also request their child be tested, using the Naglieri Non-Verbal Aptitude Test, at any time.  

If my child is transferring from another district, will their AIG identification transfer with them? KCS does not believe in "degifting" a child and therefore will accept identification results from other districts.  Placement of students who transfer with AIG paperwork from other districts is left to the discretion of the district and will be determined using standardized test results and the NNAT screener results.  Students are NOT guarenteed to receive the same services they received at their previous school.

How does my child qualify for AIG identification in KCS?  Once the screening and/or state testing and referral process are complete, students are identified using a point scale.  Students need a total of 14 points to officially identify as AIG in KCS.  Students can identify as AIG (14 points in aptitude and both Math and ELA achievement categories), AG (14 points in both Math and ELA achievement categories), AR (14 points in ELA achievement), AM (14 points in Math achievement), or IG (14 points in aptitude).

What if I disagree with the identification or "non-identification" of my student? If you have concerns about your child's placement/non-placement in the KCS AIG Program, please refer to the District Grievance Policy for the stages of due process.

What options are available for advanced pre-school age children? If you believe your child is exhibiting above age-level knowledge and social skills on a consistent basis, early entrance to Kindergarten may be an option.  Review the KCS Policy on Early Entrance to Kindergarten for more information and contact the district AIG Coordinator to set up further communication.

What services are available for my early elementary student? The KCS AIG program serves students in kindergarten through third grade under a nurturing program framework.  This framework, built around the PETS Curriculum, identifies students through whole class lessons provided by the elementary specialist.  In between whole class cycles, the elementary specialist pulls small groups of students who showed critical thinking and/or high-academic ability on PETS lessons and/or in the classroom.  Students in nurturing groups receive weekly services ranging from 30-90 minutes (depending on grade level).  Students are formally assessed for identification in the spring of their third grade school year.

What services are available for my upper elementary student? The KCS AIG program serves students in fourth and fifth grade under a talent development framework.  This framework serves all identified students as well as students who score in the top 20% of their subgroup/demographic on state-normed assessments.  Students in talent development groups are pulled for small group services by the elementary specialist for 90 minutes on a weekly basis.  During these sessions students work on problem-based learning tasks as well as the district developed Social Emotional Curriculum.

What services are available for my middle school student? Daily services in advanced ELA and Math are provided to high-achieving and/or identified students in grades 6-8 based on their identification.  Students identified as Highly Gifted (AIG) or Academically Gifted (AG) receive both Advanced Math and ELA services with a state certified AIG Specialist.  Students identified in reading receive Advanced ELA with a state certified AIG Specialist.  Students identified in math receive Advanced Math with a state certified AIG Specialist.  Students with high-ability receive honors reading and/or math (based on need) with a teacher who has been/is being guided through state and/or local training in gifted education.  Identified students (all academic identifications listed above as well as Intellectually Gifted students) also receive social-emotional instruction provided by a state certified AIG Specialist during their flex period every other day.  Two Encore classes (Speech and Debate and Odyssey of the Mind), taught by a state licensed AIG Specialist, are also open to identified students. 

What services are available for my high school student? Daily services in honors and AP coursework are provided to high-achieving and/or identified high school students based on their needs and interests.  Numerous career and/or technical path programs are also available in honors format.  Teachers of these courses are highly encouraged to take the local AIG module on gifted education.  The AIG Specialist at the high school also collaborates with honors and AP teachers in a PLC setting to help meet gifted students’ instructional needs.  Coursework scheduling and guidance and social-emotional counseling are provided for identified students through a high-school AIG Specialist who serves as their counselor of record.  

How does the district monitor identified students to ensure their differentiated educational needs are met? All students identified under the district AIG requirements are provided with a Differentiated Education Plan (DEP) to ensure academic pathways are tailored to their specific needs.  District staff maintain the data records in the student's DEP and parents, teachers, and students meet to review the student's DEP at transition years (identification year, transition between 5th and 6th grade, and transition between 8th and 9th grade). 

How are my student's needs differentiated for in the regular setting? High-ability students (whether formally identified or not) are flexibly grouped at all levels (K-12).  Flexible cluster grouping is defined as 6-8 students of similar ability placed in the same classroom and/or small group in order to intentionally meet those students' academic needs.  Cluster groups are flexible and change regularly based on classroom data collection and needs of the students.  When administration is placing students in cluster groups, they highly consider which staff are state and/or locally certified in gifted education.  The AIG department also works closely with teachers of cluster groups to ensure differentiatied instruction is provided on a regular basis. 

What enrichment opportunities are available for my student outside of the regular classroom? If your student is looking for engaging experiences that attend to their individuals needs outside of the classroom, KCS has many clubs tailored to high-ability learners meant to foster their creativity and develop well-rounded students.  See the list below for options that are available at each academic level for your student.

Elementary School Level:
* Robotics/STEM (Students present final Robotics and STEM projects at the close of the school year.)

Middle School Level:
* Battle of the Books (Students compete annually in March.)
* NJHS (Students complete monthly service hours in the community and are required to maintain high academic and behavioral standards.)
* Art Club (Students develop products shared at local events and around the school and district.)
* Drama Club (Students develop products shared at local events and around the school.)

High School Level:
* NHS (Students complete monthly service hours in the community and are required to maintain high academic and behavioral standards.)
* Beta Club (Students complete monthly service hours in the community and are required to maintain high academic and behavioral standards.)
* Robotics (Students compete multiple times throughout the year.)
* Math Team (Students compete annually at Lenoir-Rhyne University.)
* High School Newspaper (Students collaborate to write articles that will be interesting to their peers.)

How can my student get involved in service learning? Service learning is a research-proven method of molding individuals who are socially and emotionally ready for "the real world."  The KCS AIG Program has many service learning opportunities for students and their families.  Please see the list below to better understand the opportunities available for service learning in KCS.

* Operation Christmas Child: Families of identified and talent development students come together to donate and wrap gifts for families in need. Middle school gifted students deliver the presents and complete holiday activities with the students receiving the gifts.

* Relay for Life: Students in the program are invited to participate in the annual community Relay for Life event. Students and their families donate to the event, work at the event, and walk throughout the event.

* Mentoring: Students at the middle school and high school level participate in weekly mentoring with students younger than them. Mentors serve as role models for their mentees, work on homework with them, and discuss concerns about life.

What events does the AIG Department offer for our family to participate in together?  The KCS AIG program believes in bringing families together for academic and community building opportunities.  See the list below to learn about our three academic family nights (Operation Christmas Child shared in the Service Learning FAQ is the other family event held by the KCS AIG Program).

* Rube Goldberg: The AIG Department holds an annual Rube Goldberg event for students and their families where participants use random materials to create a machine. A showcase of machines is held at the end of the event.

* Young Authors: Students in the AIG program are highly encouraged to participate in the state (fall) and local (spring) Young Authors writing competitions. Each writing competition has a presentation component (fall- Open Mic event at the local high school, and spring- presentation at the local board meeting and graduation ceremonies) to which families are also invited.

* Research Gala: Students in the AIG program complete End-of-Year research projects and come together (grades 3-8) to present projects in May. The EOY projects mirror senior project expectations.