The “Gifted” program is under the auspices of ‘Special Education’.  Children certified as ‘Gifted’ by a clinical psychologist have special educational needs and are afforded entry.  The Psychologist involved may work either for the school system or work independently in a private practice.  Psychologists offering gifted evaluation must meet certain professional requirements that have been established by the Louisiana Department of Education. 

Children already enrolled in the public schools may be recommended for gifted-evaluation by their teacher, guidance counselor or parent.  The System is obliged to screen children when they receive a parental request.  In the screening process children are given a preliminary assessment exam and their academic record is reviewed.  Children scoring sufficiently well in this screening exam are recommended for a full evaluation by the EBR-PSS Pupil Appraisal Department, which acts as the final arbiter of gifted qualification for the System.  Children deemed certifiable by the Pupil Appraisal Department are granted entry to the program.  Others may be offered alternative placement in the Scholastic Academy.

Few schools want to loose high achieving students and parents may be dissuaded initially from seeking a gifted evaluation.  The EBR-PSS Gifted Programs Office can arrange special screenings and offers 'Screening Clinics' throughout the year.  Parents may contact the Gifted Office to arrange screening of their children regardless of whether they are enrolled in private schools, home schools, are newly transferring into the district, or are already enrolled in the EBR-PSS.  Depending on the results of that screening, the Gifted Office too can recommend children to the Pupil Appraisal Department for further evaluation and possible certification.

Parents also may seek evaluation for giftedness outside of the EBR-PSS using the services of a private psychologist.  Private evaluation usually requires several visits to the psychologist’s office but has the benefit of testing children in a familiar more controlled atmosphere. Independent psychologists frequently administer a greater variety of screening tests and delve somewhat deeper into each child’s individual personality characteristics.  The time that independent psychologists can spend discussing their test results also can give parents many unique and valuable insights into their children that they did not know before. The Gifted Program is not for everybody and an independent psychologist can help parents decide on the best educational course for their individual child.  If that course is to use the EBR-PSS Gifted Program, the psychologist’s recommendation is forwarded to the Pupil Appraisal Department where it is further evaluated for their concurrence.

Your AGTS Board is thoroughly familiar with the details of this process.  If you have any questions or would like additional information, follow the “Contact” tab above and send e-mail to a Board member. 
 

"Talented Certification"

Certification and entry into the 'Talented' program follows generally the same  procedures as that of the 'Gifted' program, but involves obviously different evaluation criteria. In addition, there are no private Talented evaluators and certification for Talented can only be obtained through the school system. Either  certification, Gifted or Talented, is a notable exceptionality that merits special education needs in Louisiana and affords the student entry into the G/T program in Baton Rouge.  

Students may be certified as Talented in Art, Drama, Music or Dance.  Many students are noted to have dual exceptionalities and may be certified as both Gifted and Talented simultaneously.  Talented students receive special instruction in their area of primary exceptionality and are eligible to take elective courses in other Talented areas as well.  The Baton Rouge Talented program is very well developed  and services are offered on many campuses.  The program affords children unique instruction and performance opportunities that nurtures and enhances their abilities, and it encourages participation in state and national competitions.