Talented And Gifted (TAG)
Welcome to Beaverton School District's Talented and Gifted home page. The purpose of this page is to inform students and parents about resources and opportunities available for high achieving students.
Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) COORDinating the Talented & Gifted Program
Kathy Foulger tag@beaverton.k12.or.us
Resources
General Information
General Information
ACCORDING TO OREGON LAW:
Talented and Gifted Education is “needs-based” instructional programming for which a student should be identified to receive services.
This population of students demonstrates exceptional performance when compared to applicable development or learning progressions with consideration given for variations in student’s opportunities to learn and to culturally relevant indicators of ability.
- Oregon TAG Law
As of Spring of 2023, the Oregon Department of Education requires every district to have a district TAG Plan. This is the Beaverton School District TAG Plan 2023.
Currently, because of a transition of personnel, a lot of the links do not work. If you need specific information, use the tag@beaverton.k12.or.us email address to ask.
If you think your child is gifted, or want to learn more about it,
check out the resources for parents on the ODE's TAG page,
the Oregon Association for Talented and Gifted
and the National Association for Gifted Children.
Here is a link to the BSD's Parent Information Sheet (english) for parents of newly identified TAG students.
You Know Your Child is Gifted When......Book by Judy Galbraith, M.A.
Bright Child vs. Gifted Learner
Building TAG Facilitators
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There is one or two people at each BSD school who have the role of TAG Facilitator. These people should be your first points of contact for TAG questions.
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Testing
Fall 2024 Timing
The dates that testing will take place at the Elementary School are not yet decided. There are several factors that go into determining the exact dates. The school itself is the source of that information for you, once it has been decided. Usually 3rd grade universal Screening happens in October/November, and full-CogAT testing happens about 1 month later, in November/December.
Standardized, Nationally, State or District-normed testing is part of the TAG Identification process.
TAG Testing for 2024-25
Expectations for TAG Testing for 2024-25
UNIVERSAL SCREENING: 3rd grade
For years we have used the CogAT for screening our student population. We give virtually all enrolled 3rd grade students the "CogAT Screener." The CogAT has three "batteries" or categories of tests: Verbal, Nonverbal, and Quantitative. Each of those batteries have three subtests, so the full CogAT is made up of nine 10-minute subtests. The CogAT Screener is a way that we can give the first subtest in each battery, so a 10-minute verbal, a 10-minute nonverbal, and a 10-minute quantitative tests, to virtually all enrolled 3rd graders. This is given during the regular school day in their regular classrooms.
When those results come back, we proctor the remaining six sections of the test to those students who scored in the 90th percentile or above. Parents must give permission for those students to finish their tests, since they are pulled out of regular instruction to finish. The remaining six subtests are sometimes referred to as the "Post-Screener," but the scores for all 9 tests are tabulated and reported back as a full CogAT score.
TESTING BASED ON TEACHER REFERRALS
Using the Kingore Observation Inventory, teachers look for evidence of gifted characteristics in their students. Their observation forms are processed, and lists of students to be tested are compiled. Parents are notified, and must give permission for these students to be tested with the full CogAT, since the testing is done during the school day, and those students are pulled out of regular instruction.
TIMING
The timing for testing can vary by several months depending on the schools. The larger a teacher's student load, the longer it takes for teachers to feel confident in their observations, so middle school testing usually happens in the beginning of second semester--February. The elementary schools aim to complete their testing by December.
Some Frequently asked Questions from the Fall 2024 Elementary Testing
As all of the universal screening of 3rd graders has completed, there are several questions that we are hearing:
Where can I see the Screener results?
Ans: The percentiles are available in ParentVUE under Test History
What is the cut score in order to take the rest of the test (also called the "post screener")?
Ans: The BSD is only testing students who have screener scores at the 90th percentile or above.
Also, note: If your student is already TAG identified, unless they are in 5th grade, they will not be given the full CogAT. This testing is about helping teachers to know who they need to be providing more challenge to. If your student is already identified, teachers are already doing what they can to meet their needs.
When will the school give the rest of the CogAT?
Ans: There are many variables in determining when the second half of the testing will happen. Some schools started their post-screening and full CogAT testing in mid-November, but considering the weeklong fall break, most schools will complete the testing in December. The testing happens over several days--usually consecutive days.
What if my student misses the other portion of the testing?
Ans. Unless your child is in 5th grade, if your student misses the testing, they will have an opportunity to be tested in 4th or 5th grade. If they are currently in 5th grade, we will do everything we can to find time to finish their testing.
Please note, TAG testing is only for students currently enrolled in Beaverton School District schools.
Summa
Note: Summa is not an acronym, so it does not need to be written in all capital letters.
Summa is a BSD-created program, designed for a subset of TAG-identified 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Summa is intended to provide a differentiated, challenging experience aligned to grade level learning targets that meets the cognitive, emotional, and social needs of eligible students.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is the Summa program located?
- What are the class sizes for Summa?
- What are the hours for the Summa program?
- Is the Summa program completely separate from the standard middle school?
- Is there a Summa curriculum?
- Are teachers trained in differentiation strategies to meet student needs?
- What are the homework expectations for students in the Summa program?
- How does Summa impact high school classes?
- When can I expect to be notified of my child's eligibility?
- How does Summa eligibility impact Option School opportunities?
- How can non-BSD enrolled students find out about their eligibility for Summa?
Where is the Summa program located?
- For eligible students from Cedar Park, Five Oaks and Meadow Park
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Elementary Feeders: Barnes, Beaver Acres, Bethany, Elmonica, McKinley, Oak Hills (west of Bethany Blvd), Ridgewood, Rock Creek, West TV, William Walker
- For eligible students from Stoller
- Elementary Feeders: Jacob Wismer, Sato, Springville
- For eligible students from Conestoga, Highland Park, Mountain View and Whitford
- Elementary Feeders: Aloha Huber Park, Chehalem, Cooper Mountain, Errol Hassell, Fir Grove, Greenway, Hazeldale, Hiteon, Kinnaman, McKay, Montclair, Nancy Ryles, Raleigh Hills, Raleigh Park, Scholls Heights, Sexton Mountain, Vose
- For eligible students from Tumwater
- Elementary Feeders: Bonny Slope, Cedar Mill, Findley, Oak Hills (east of Bethany Blvd), Terra Linda
Note: Students are enrolled in the specific school designated by their physical address. If you want to attend a different school's Summa program, you would have to be eligible for and work through the standard transferring process for any BSD student.
What are the class sizes for Summa?
What are the hours for the Summa program?
Is the Summa program completely separate from the standard middle school?
Is there a Summa curriculum?
No. Specific learning targets are established for all BSD courses by grade level, Summa classes follow these same learning targets. Summa is intended to provide a differentiated, challenging experience aligned to grade level learning targets that meets the cognitive, emotional, and social needs of eligible students.
Are teachers trained in differentiation strategies to meet student needs?
What are the homework expectations for students in the Summa program?
How does Summa impact high school classes?
There is no Summa program in high school.
Summa is a BSD-created program, designed for a subset of TAG-identified 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Summa is intended to provide a differentiated, challenging experience aligned to grade level learning targets that meets the cognitive, emotional, and social needs of eligible students.
When can I expect to be notified of my child's eligibility?
How does Summa eligibility impact Option School opportunities?
Summa-eligible 5th graders are not asked to commit to Summa program before the Option School lottery. Like all students, Summa-eligible students may apply for one Learning Option. After the Option Schools decisions have been communicated, parents and students will need to make their choice between an Option School or Summa.
Students can confirm or commit to Summa and remain on an Option School waitlist. If they are offered a spot at an option school, that's when they have to decide between Summa and the Option school spot.
Summa eligibility remains valid until a student's 8th grade year starts. If students have turned down their spot in Summa, but change their mind for the next year, parents should contact the registrar at the building of the specific Summa program in the spring in order to reclaim a Summa spot for the fall.
How can non-BSD enrolled students find out about their eligibility for Summa?
Summa Eligibility for Fall 2025
Summa-eligible students entering Summa in Fall 2025 must be...
TAG-identified
and
either have scored in the 99th percentile--age-based, composite(VQN)--on the full CogAT
or have scored in the 99th percentile on either the total ELA OSAS test, or the total ELA Math test
AND have a supporting 97th or 98th percentile on the other half of the OSAS or on the composite (VQN) CogAT
Test scores must be from a test given within an Oregon public school system.
Test scores from public school districts outside of Oregon will be evaluated by the district TAG Coordinator.
The Beaverton School District does not accept private testing, nor does BSD test students who are not currently enrolled.
Students must be TAG identified and live within the Beaverton School District Boundaries.