Welcome to Miramar Ranch Elementary GATE/Seminar Parent Meeting

1. Welcome toMiramar Ranch Elementary GATE/Seminar Parent Meeting October 22, 2015

2. Miramar Ranch GATE Team Principal – Peggy Grane GATE Lead – Susan Darragh GATE DAC Reps – Amy Hill & Jennifer Andrews Site School Psychologist – (Name)

3. GATE at the District Level • Stephanie Ceminsky, Manager • Michelle Crisci, Coordinator • Leslie Caporale, Administrative Assistant • April Dorman, GATE Programs San Diego Unified School District District 504/ADA/Title IX/GATE Department Education Center, 4100 Normal St., Rm 2129 Phone: (619) 725-7087

4. Where to Go for Information • At School: • Your child’s Teacher • Your GATE-DAC Representative • GATE Team Leader • Administrator in • charge of GATE (at elementary site this will likely be your principal) • Site School Psychologist • At Central office: • GATE Office • (619) 725-7087 • www.sandiegounified.org • Related/Specialized • Services-School • Psychology Services • (858) 573-5941

5. GATE at the District Level • Become familiar with this GATE website (currently being redesigned) • Many resources posted there • Notices, meetings, articles www.sandiegounified.org/ gifted-and-talented-education-gate

6. District Setting Area 6 – Crawford, Hoover and Scripps Ranch Cluster The Scripps Ranch Cluster includes SR High School; Marshall Middle; and E.B. Scripps, Dingeman, Jerabek and Mirarmar Ranch elementary schools. Area 6 Superintendent – Fabiola Bagula fbagula@sandi.net Graciela Gutierrez, Administrative Assistant Phone: (619) 725-7210 ggutierrez@sandi.net Board of Education – District B Kevin Beiser kevinbeiser@sandi.net

7. GATE Testing • Testing protocol has recently changed • No longer using Raven test – Board decided in June 2015 to change the test • Incoming students in 2015-16 will now be tested using CogAT (& re-tests) • Schools decide when – but school choice deadline is Feb 15! • All Grade 2 students are tested unless parents opt out

8. Historical Context(from Board presentation 23-June-2015 see BoardDocs tab on SDUSD website) September 2009. BOE approved elimination of initial GATE testing after the 5th grade August 2011. The five designated GATE Department school psychologists were assigned back to the Related and Specialized Services (RSS) program. RSS then determined a new process for the 83 school psychologists who were now responsible for the GATE testing of more than 13,000 students November 2013. The Advanced Placement and School Psychology offices merged to create a Workgroup consisting of community and district stakeholders Spring 2014. A sample multi-factor identification matrix was presented to the GATE Workgroup Fall 2014. “Newcomer” process was introduced to the Workgroup

9. Recommendations • Universal GATE screening at Grade 2 • GATE identification process to include multiple sources of data (e.g., tests, teacher input, parent input, etc.) • Adoption of a multi-factor GATE eligibility matrix (e.g., economic challenges, transiency, disability, English learner) • District policy revision • Further exploration of GATE testing that is aligned with CCSS timelines • GATE Assessments/Tools that are appropriately normed and administered • Use of a computer-assisted GATE identification tool • Ongoing examination of the identification process to align with SBAC

10. Immediate Next Steps Board Action • Approve GATE Identification Process (multiple factors and criteria) • Approve GATE Assessment Tool (Cognitive Abilities Test/CogAT) Supports and Services • Quarterly meetings of the GATE Workgroup • Personal/Social support (possible referral to MHRC, SpEd, etc) for some GATE identified students Supports and Services cont. • Continued meetings between GATE advisory committee and senior leadership • Ongoing program/ progress monitoring and “End of Year” evaluation • Focused GATE PD for school psychologists (e.g., during distinguished lecture series)

11. GATE Testing • CogAT = Cognitive Abilities Test • Developed by David F. Lohman • Consists of 3 parts: • Verbal • Quantitative • Non-Verbal See Lohman, D. F. & J. L. Gambrell (2012) J. Psychoeducational Assessment 30(1):25-44

12. GATE Testing Sample Grades K-2

13. Testing & Identification Identification will be based upon a variety of inputs (including CogAT test scores) as part of a multi-factor eligibility matrix Psychologists are currently being trained to administer the CogAT CogAT is done via computer so IT services are still working on rolling it out As a result, the new testing may not be ready until the Spring, after the Feb 15 School Choice deadline If your child is identified as Seminar and your school doesn’t offer it, you may request to be placed into the next closest school (geographically) that does

14. Cluster At least 25% of each GATE Cluster Class identified in PowerSchool is comprised of students identified as GATE; the remainder of the students in the class must reflect the diversity of the school’s population. Seminar A minimum 50% of each class identified as Seminar in PowerSchool is comprised of students identified as GATE Seminar; the remainder of the students in the class are identified as GATE Cluster.

15. GATE District Advisory Committee (GATE DAC) • The District has a GATE Advisory Committee • Meets monthly at Ballard Ctr (Old Town) • Schedule is posted on SDUSD GATE website • Your school DAC reps are: Amy Hill & Jennifer Andrews • They attend these meetings on your behalf and report back to parents

16. GATE District Advisory Committee (GATE DAC) Monthly DAC Meetings are intended to: • Inform parents about important issues in the district • Inform parents about what to expect from, and ask for, at their schools • Give parents a chance to network with other schools in their high school feeder pattern • Educate parent representatives and the parents at their sites about gifted education and timely issues

17. GATE DACInform, Educate, Engage • www.sandiegounified.org • The DAC is a volunteer organization • Led by parent coordinators (Katie Anderson & Elizabeth Nagy) • Needs new leaders to join • Dec 14th Steering Committee Meeting

18. You Can Help Your Child by • Getting Involved! • Participate in parent/ teacher • Conferences • Participate in GATE parent • meetings at your school site • Become involved in the GATE • District Advisory Committee • (DAC) - 2nd Mon monthly • Participate in your Site • Governance Committee/SSC • Attend School Board Meetings • Connect with other GATE parents

19. Parent involvement leads to greater student achievement!

20. Parent Involvement Opportunities • Letters to the Board of Education • Letters to Legislators • Help with/attend DAC meetings • Participate in SENG parent support groups • Talk to your teacher!!!! They need your support!

21. We want to hear from you! • Questions you have for DAC? Send to your DAC Reps! • Want to access other parents learning about the social and emotional needs of GATE students? We have info! • 5th grade parents moving onto Marshall with questions? Let’s consolidate them! • Interested in organizing a GATE Open House to showcase student work?!!?

22. Resources • San Diego Unified Schools GATE Department www.sandiegounified.net • California Association for the Gifted www.cagifted.org • Supporting Emotional Needs of theGifted sengifted.org • National Association for Gifted Children www.nagc.org • Hoagies Gifted Education www.hoagiesgifted.org