Parent and teacher nominations for the Gifted and Talented (GATE) Program will be open from November 1 to November 16 each year. Information and nomination packets may be obtained from the school office beginning November 1st and returned to the school office no later than November 16th.


Students in grades 2 – 7 are eligible for nomination. A student may test for GATE admission a total of 3 times, but not more than 2 years consecutively.  A student may be nominated for GATE testing twice by a parent, after that only by a teacher. Fountain Valley School District GATE status does not necessarily impact High School academic placement for 8th grade students.
 

During the nomination process for the GATE Program, the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) is administered to student nominees and used to help indicate a student's ability to do school-related tasks. It is not an IQ test, nor is it an achievement test, but rather a measure of learned or developed abilities. The test is divided into two portions: Verbal and Non-Verbal. The Verbal questions include comprehension and reasoning, mathematical reasoning, and logic. For example, students are asked to find similarities, sequence, and patterns, determine analogies, and classify. Vocabulary and language development may be enhanced through instruction and practice. The second portion, Non-Verbal, includes reasoning based on pictures and figures as well as quantitative reasoning. Students solve puzzles and identify how to solve various problems. This ability is not readily taught or learned and reflects a student's ability to learn in areas that do not require the knowledge of language. In addition to the OLSAT, the Naglieri Non-Verbal Test (NNAT) will be administered to all second grade nominees as another indicator of general intellectual ability. This test is solely non-verbal in nature. Students solve a series of figural puzzles. Neither of these tests is an indicator of reading or mathematical achievement. A team of qualified teachers administers the tests to provide consistent procedures and valid test results.
 

The testing occurs in January. The tests are scored in March. Parents are notified of the results at the end of April. Students who are admitted to the GATE Program begin the following school year and attend their home school of attendance. All eleven schools provide GATE instruction. Characteristics of Gifted Children The following list of characteristics represents some of the traits found in gifted children.
 

1. Has an advanced vocabulary for his/her age.

2. Is a keen and alert observer. Has good insight in cause-effect.

3. Is an avid reader, often far above grade level.

4. Is self directed, has tendency to compare, analyze, organize and reason things out for self.

5. Is curious, asks new or unusual questions.

6. Is a perfectionist.

7. May enjoy working alone.

8. Learns well by doing

9. Has emotional sensitivity to self and others, sensitivity to beauty, a keen sense of humor, concern about right and wrong.

10. Shows commitment to completing tasks or solving problems.