Referrals for Cognitive Screening (GATE)

South Carolina identifies gifted and talented students according to their cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and/or intellectual/academic performance.   The cognitive abilities test measures the ways a student thinks and solves problems.  This screener, in combination with other academic achievement and performance data, will be used to determine if a student meets state gifted criteria. If a student meets state criteria, they will be served in our district’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.

If you want to refer your 3rd – 8th grade student for cognitive abilities testing, please complete the requested information via Parent Portal in the forms section.  All referrals for this screening must be submitted no later than October 21, 2024, at 11:59 pm.

Referred students will be screened with a cognitive abilities test at their school during the month of November 2024. Specific dates and times will be communicated to you by your student's school before the testing window opens in November.

Families of referred students participating in this fall’s cognitive screening will be notified of their student’s results in January 2025.  Should you want to learn more about what data points are used to identify academically gifted learners in SC or read about how these students are served in Dorchester Two, please visit the GATE website at www.ddtwo.org/gate.

NOTE: If your student has already been state-identified as academically gifted and talented in SC, do NOT refer them.

NOTE: This form will be active until October 21, 2024 when the referral process for cognitive screening ends at 11:59 pm. There will be no student referrals for cognitive screening accepted after October 21, 2024.

 

Use the links below for instructions on how to access the forms in the PowerSchool Portal:

 

Parent Portal Forms - English (PDF)

 

Parent Portal Forms - Spanish (PDF)