Gifted Evaluation and Eligibility
Classroom teachers or parents generally refer students to the Gifted Program. Students who pass the screening will be referred to the School Psychologist for an evaluation.
All student referrals for gifted evaluations must be processed at their zoned district school. If you live in Sarasota County and your child attends a public or private school or is home-schooled, contact the ESE Instructional Facilitator (EIF) at your district school for assistance completing the written request. If your child currently attends a charter school, contact the ESE Instructional Facilitator at the charter school. If you reside in Florida outside of Sarasota County and your child is NOT currently eligible for the gifted program, you must contact the public school in your home district to request a gifted evaluation. If you are out of state and moving to Sarasota County and your child is already gifted, please view the In-State and Out-of-State transfers tab.
Gifted Screening/Evaluation
Any Sarasota County student may be referred for a gifted screening to determine the need for further evaluation. Students who meet the minimum score of 125 on an intelligence screening instrument may be referred for a full evaluation. Consent must be signed by a parent/guardian for an intellectual assessment to take place along with gifted rating scales. Any student with a current psychological evaluation that reports an intelligence quotient (IQ) that meets the IQ portion of the state criteria for the gifted is exempt from gifted screening and may be referred by the school for gifted eligibility determination. Gifted screenings are available for Sarasota County residents and students attending private schools in Sarasota County.
Gifted eligibility identification has three parts.
Standardized Test of Intelligence *Parents can seek a private psychological evaluation (IQ) at their own expense.
Gifted Rating Scales
Evidence of need for gifted service
Students must meet the criteria in all three parts.
Standardized Test of Intelligence : This instrument must be administered by a certified/licensed psychologist. Criteria for eligibility require an IQ score of two (2) standard deviations or more above the mean.
Examiners must utilize the most current version of the IQ test.
On the WISC-V, the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), General Ability Index, Verbal (Expanded Crystallized) Index, Expanded Fluid Index (EFI), and Nonverbal Index are the only Index Scores that will be considered.
Clinical justification, including a significant and unusual discrepancy (.15), in accordance with the test publisher's criteria, is required in those rare cases where a score other than the Full Scale/Composite score is recommended for eligibility determination.
The 90th percent confidence interval on the FSIQ or Composite Intelligence Index (CIX) can be considered. The evaluator must cite the confidence interval in the written psychological report and must specifically recommend its use for it to be utilized for eligibility.
All assessment results must be presented in a written, signed psychological report.
For students under the age of seven on the date of the evaluation, the intellectual assessments must be current within one year.
For students seven years of age and above on the date of the evaluation, the intellectual assessment must be current within three years.
Gifted Characteristics Scales: At least one of your child’s current academic teachers must complete this document. Your Sarasota County District School will provide your child’s teacher with this document. A majority of gifted characteristics are required for the student to be found eligible.
Evidence of Need for Services Need: This is a review of a student’s report cards, scores on state and district testing, scores on individual achievement testing, review of social/emotional needs, and scores on the gifted characteristics scales. The gifted eligibility process must be completed, and there must be evidence of gifted eligibility before the gifted magnet application process can be started. Please refer to the gifted magnet section of the website for deadlines, criteria, and procedures.