The purpose of the referral procedures is to identify a pool of potentially gifted students. Students may be considered for eligibility by a written referral or by annual review of test data by gifted education teachers.

Reported Referral: A student may be referred for consideration for gifted educational services by teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, peers, self, or other individuals with knowledge of the student’s abilities. Referral forms may be obtained from the local school, or by downloading the MILE Parent Referral Form or MILE Parent Referral Form (Spanish).

Automatic Referral: Students who score at the 85th percentile or higher on the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) in either reading or math will be considered for further assessment to determine eligibility for gifted services.

Determination for Formal Evaluation

Once a student has been referred, the school’s MILE Eligibility Team (MET), consisting of a minimum of one gifted education teacher, one administrator, and one regular classroom teacher/counselor, will review the referrals for evidence of behaviors synonymous with gifted characteristics. The MET will make one of three determinations: not recommended for formal evaluation; recommended for formal evaluation, or “watch and wait” to see if testing at a later date is warranted. The MET will notify parents or guardians in writing of the student’s referral and will obtain their written consent for formal evaluation.

Formal Evaluation Procedures

1. Written consent from the parents or guardians must be obtained before testing.
2. Data must be collected in four areas: mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation.
3. Assessment data from sources outside the school system may be considered as part of the evaluation process, but not substituted for data the school system generates in determining eligibility.
4. Assessment data must be no more than two years old at the time the eligibility decision is made.
5. Parents and/or guardians must be notified in writing of the eligibility or ineligibility status of each tested student.
6. Parents and or guardians must give written consent before placement of eligible students in gifted classes.
7. When testing does not warrant placement, students are not eligible for re-testing for a minimum of two calendar years.