Frequently Asked Questions:



Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Gifted Education Program in PSD?

The Gifted Education Program in Poudre School District is committed to identifying and serving gifted learners. All schools in the district identify gifted learners based on a body of evidence that indicates high potential, write Advanced Learning Plans for all gifted learners, and serve gifted students by differentiating instruction, providing enrichment opportunities, or providing specific services based on the needs of gifted learners.

Who do I talk to about my gifted child?

Each school has a Gifted and Talented Site Coordinator. This staff member coordinates any identification efforts and is a liaison between the district office and the school site. The GT Site Coordinator should have the most updated information about gifted identification and services available at their school. For a list of GT Site Coordinators, please visit this site.

Who do I talk to about my child’s Advanced Learning Plan (ALP)?

If you have questions about your child’s ALP, the first person to contact will be your child’s teacher in the area in which your child is identified (a specific content area such as Math or Language Arts). The classroom teachers have access to all Advanced Learning Plans and can help guide you if you have more questions. The GT Site Coordinator will also have helpful information. You can find each site’s GT Site Coordinator contact information here.

How are students identified in PSD?

Gifted Students in Poudre School District are identified based on a body of evidence that includes achievement scores, intellectual ability scores, and behavior rating scales. Performance indicators are most often used for additional information in the body of evidence. Students who have two qualifying scores of 95th percentile or higher in at least two categories of the body of evidence will have an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) in the area of strength (such as a content area, creativity, visual arts, music, or leadership).

All 3rd graders take the Cognitive Abilities Test, and the CogAT along with CSAP and MAP are used in the initial body of evidence.

Students in grades K-3 are put on a “gifted watchlist” if they demonstrate advanced learning abilities in the early primary grades.

For more specific information about Gifted and Talented Identification, please visit the PSD GT website that explains identification.

How are students new to PSD identified?

Because Poudre School District uses a “body of evidence,” any assessments your child has taken previous to their attendance in Poudre School District can be used. The criteria of scoring 95th percentile in at least 2 different categories of the “body of evidence” remains the same. If your child does not have test scores from previous schools, please contact your GT Site Coordinator at your school site to receive up-to-date information about next steps.

Who do I talk to if I feel my child could benefit from more challenge?

The first step is always to contact your child’s classroom teacher. They can give you direct information about what is happening in the classroom. Your school’s GT Site Coordinator can offer additional information about your school’s GT program and additional services.

Which school should my gifted student attend?

The PSD GT Website has a list of all schools in the district. Each school is encouraged to develop a part of their school website that is devoted to communicating opportunities for gifted learners at that site. You can visit this website here to see what different schools offer for gifted learners.

If the school has not posted current GT information on their website, please contact the GT Site Coordinator for more specific and up-to-date information.

Each school has different strengths and different programs based on the curriculum and resources available at the school. Though PSD does not have a designated gifted magnet school, each school is encouraged to offer rigorous coursework for advanced learners.

What GT opportunities are there for English Language Learners?

English Language Learners have specific needs in terms of curriculum, instruction and assessment. Teachers receive professional development on ways to differentiate instruction for students learning English. Identification process in Poudre School District are flexible and dynamic, meaning teachers look at growth and behaviors as well as achievement and aptitude scores when considering students for gifted services.

Are there classes I can take to learn more about giftedness?

Poudre School District offers parent education opportunities through our Parenting Gifted Children Program. A core group of parents of gifted learners plan for both educational and networking opportunities that specifically relate to the unique needs you have as a parent of a gifted child.

Please fill out this form if you would like to be added to the district GT email list. For the most updated information, visit the parent page of the PSD GT website.

Are there services available for affective needs of gifted students?

Some schools do offer “GT Discussion Groups” for gifted learners that focus on topics such as perfectionism, confidence, motivation, self-esteem, stress, self-expectations, underachievement, and social relationships. Books such as When Gifted Kids Don’t have aAll the Answers by James R. Delisle and The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide by Judy Galbraith. To find out if your site offers these services, contact your GT Site Coordinator.

What is the distinction between GT identification and qualifications for advanced classes?

Advanced classes require evidence of high achievement and potential. Gifted identification looks at scores in the area of achievement, aptitude, and behaviors in the 95th percentile. While sometimes these scores overlap, an advanced class might have different criteria than gifted identification. Because advanced classes have a faster pace and require a student to go deeper into the content, certain skills and characteristics (such as work habits, attendance, past performance, and motivation) are considered before enrollment in an advanced course. These courses can be of great benefit to a gifted learner as they allow them to work at a faster pace and learn with other motivated students.

Are GT Services school based or are there district-wide services available?

Gifted services are site-based. Each site makes decisions based about how to best serve its gifted population.

What is RtI (Response to Intervention?)

Colorado Definition of RtI:  “Response to Intervention is a framework that promotes a well-integrated system connecting general, compensatory, gifted, and special education in providing high quality, standards-based instruction and intervention that is matched to students' academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs.”

To learn more about Response to Intervention visit this website:



How does RtI intersect with GT services?

Colorado RtI and GT – A PowerPoint Presentation

What role does outside testing (e.g. IQ) play in the identification process?

Poudre School District uses a “body of evidence” to support GT identification. If your child has had previous testing done, scores will need to be submitted to the GT Site Coordinator. The GT Site Coordinator will then determine which areas of the body of evidence (achievement, aptitude, demonstrated behaviors, or performance) are addressed through previous scores. For example, and IQ score such as the WISC will be an “intellectual aptitude” score.

How do I know if I should pursue gifted identification for my child?

Consider the following information:

Twelve Traits of Giftedness

Bright vs. Gifted

How do I refer my student for review for gifted eligibility?

Contact your GT Site Coordinator for the most up-to-date information about gifted identification. The GT Site Coordinator will start reviewing current assessment data and evidence to determine if testing for GT is the next step. This process might take several weeks as evidence is gathered. Classroom teachers are also part of the process as they will observe your student’s learning behaviors in the classroom.

What happens once I have referred my child for testing?

The GT Site Coordinator will contact you by either email or phone if additional information is needed from you. When the decision has been made, the GT Site Coordinator will contact you with relevant information.

Is there a test for giftedness?

There is no single test for giftedness. A “body of evidence” is used to determine a child’s potential. In this manner, no single test is the gatekeeper for gifted identification. Though, historically, IQ tests have been used in identifying gifted learners, because of the diversity of the students in our schools, a body of evidence is a much more equitable approach to identification.

Are students in the program for all the years they attend PSD schools?

Once identified gifted, students will have an Advanced Learning Plan for the remainder of their PSD education unless you wish to “opt out.” Gifted identification, however, does not guarantee specific GT services. Services and programs are matched to strength areas of the student, and each site will determine which services best meet the needs of its gifted population. An Advanced Learning Plan will document agreements between parents, teachers, and students regarding GT services available.

What happens once a student is identified as “gifted?”

Once a student is identified “gifted,” an Advanced Learning Plan will be written and implemented. The Advanced Learning Plan will initiate collaboration between the parents, students, and teachers regarding educational opportunities for your student. To learn more about the components of an ALP, visit the ALP section of the PSD GT Website.

I understand what the ALP is. What are the next steps?

Each year, your child’s school will communicate with parents regarding ALPs. Your input as a parent is valuable, and parents are encouraged to learn more about the Advanced Learning Plan and the expectations set for the student. If you have questions about the ALP, please contact your child’s classroom teacher (in the area of gifted identification) first. Counselors and GT Site Coordinators can also help you learn more about how to contribute to the ALP process.

How is the ALP communicated to parents?

ALP’s are available for review at any time. Your child’s school will communicate yearly with parents about updates, changes or new goals or interventions on the ALP.

What do I do if I have general questions about Advanced Learning Plans?

Please visit these websites if you have general questions about the ALP for gifted learners.

PSD Gifted and Talented:

CDE Gifted and Talented:



What do I do if I have questions or feedback specific to my child’s Advanced Learning Plan?

The first step is to contact your child’s teacher in the content area of strength. Most questions can be answered in this manner, as the teacher in your child’s area of strength will have valuable information to share.

What can I do to support ALP goal achievement?

Parents are an important part of a child’s education. Parents can assist by encouraging the child in the area of strength. Another way to support the ALP is to help monitor the progress of goal achievement. If you would like to be part of monitoring progress, please contact your child’s teacher or your school’s GT Site Coordinator.

Will the ALP move to the next grade/school with my student?

ALP’s exist in EXCEED, a program that houses student information for all students in PSD. When a child moves from one grade level to the next, or from one school to the next, the ALP will follow automatically. EXCEED is accessible to all teachers at your child’s school.

How does an ALP correspond with being in advanced classes or honors classes?

ALP’s are individualized based on strengths, needs, and interests. Advanced or honors classes are a way for schools to provide challenge to your student through a more rigorous format of instruction. An ALP does not mean that your student will automatically be in an advanced class. While these classes are meant to be more challenging, there are criteria that must be met in order to be placed in one of these classes. An advanced class can be an “intervention” for a gifted learner, but not all learners are prescribed the same intervention. Gifted students sometimes need support in organizational or study skills before an advanced class can be a successful option.

How will the ALP benefit my child?

Because an ALP follows each student from grade-level to grade-level and from school to school, teachers know when a student has previously been identified gifted. The ALP is documentation of strengths, interests, and goals. It is always beneficial for a teacher to know the history of a learner. Because the ALP documents “high potential,” teachers will be aware of this potential from year to year. The ALP also provides individual consideration of strengths when determining instructional options for students.

Who and what is the “Responsible Person?”

The “Responsible Person” is the person at your child’s school who monitors the progress of goal achievement. This person is usually the teacher in your child’s area of strength or the GT Site Coordinator.

Does an ALP mean more work for my student?

An ALP is not designed to be more work for students. It is a way for students to possibly do different work. It provides a format for which students and teachers can make educational decisions for your child based on strengths, interests, and needs. Best practices in gifted education support differentiation of instruction and assessment, enrichment, and acceleration with the goal of providing a challenging and rigorous learning environment that motivates students to be life-long learners. Teachers in Poudre School District are trained in providing quality instruction to many different types of learners, including gifted learners. This sometimes means adjusting the curriculum, not adding more to the workload.

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