GATE Program

The following video, GATE 101 Parents English, explains: the seven different ways to become identified as gifted, how to check and see if your child has been identified as gifted by the district, the only means to becoming identified as "highly gifted" or "highly gifted applicable" and what those terms mean, how to request the assessment results if your child was tested for the "Intellectual Ability" category by a GATE psychologist, how long does the identification of "gifted" stay with a student in their educational career, what a "gifted cluster" is, what GATE classes look like at the secondary level, the other types of LAUSD schools gifted identified students are eligible to attend, what the Saturday Conservatory of Fine Arts is, and where you can find resources about giftedness.

After watching the above video, you should be able to understand the different pathways to gifted identification and the terminology used in the informational paragraphs below specific to Eagle Rock Elementary.

Our campus currently has 29% of students identified as gifted, exceeding the LAUSD Strategic Plan goal of 14.5%. The school follows LAUSD’s established referral and screening procedures to ensure that each student is considered carefully and consistently using multiple sources of evidence. Because the process involves collecting documentation, reviewing student data, and completing required district procedures, it may take several months from the initial referral to a final determination. Families of students identified as gifted in another school district should provide copies of the student’s gifted identification documentation to the school’s GATE coordinator. The coordinator will submit the documentation to the LAUSD GATE Office for review and a determination regarding LAUSD GATE identification.

The GATE Screening Committee at Eagle Rock Elementary is responsible for reviewing student referrals and determining whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with an assessment for gifted identification. The committee consists of the GATE coordinator, Magnet coordinator, a school administrator, a district GATE psychologist, and the student’s classroom teacher. District Visual and Performing Arts teachers may also participate when appropriate.

A referral submitted by a teacher or parent does not automatically result in a gifted assessment. The GATE Screening Committee reviews multiple sources of student data and makes a data-driven decision regarding whether an assessment is warranted. The following protocols are used when screening referrals for gifted identification in the various identification categories:

Intellectual Ability: This assessment measures cognitive thinking ability and thus potential to think. This assessment is also used to determine whether a student qualifies as highly gifted. This assessment measures potential and not achievement. If your child is referred for this assessment, there are usually two testing dates each year: one in December and one at the end of May (subject to change). Referrals need to be requested to the GATE Coordinator by November 1st for the fall testing, and by April 1st for the spring testing date in order for the screening committee to have enough time to complete the required analysis of data and paperwork. If a student did not take the OLSAT in 2nd grade, the parent may request an Intellectual Abilities assessment by emailing the GATE Coordinator.

Visual and Performing Arts (visual arts, dance, voice, drama): This category can be auditioned for once every year in only one category and requires the parent to drive their child to a mass audition held by the GATE office. Auditions are either on the third Saturday of November or the third Saturday of May. The deadline to request a GATE assessment referral to the Magnet Coordinator is October 1st for the fall audition date and March 1st for the spring audition date as these spots fill up quickly and there is substantial paperwork involved. VAPA identified students are eligible to participate in the district-run Saturday Conservatory of Fine Arts. All Conservatory paperwork must be printed and submitted to the district by the parent. Please note the principal’s signature is required. More information on this program can be found at: https://gate.lausd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4408943&type=d&pREC_ID=2638375

Creative or Leadership: requires a portfolio and usually takes two years of the classroom teacher(s) guiding the student to create 3 to 5 portfolio projects with reflections; the portfolio is a pictorial and written analysis of their student work products. Portfolios are submitted to the GATE Office for all decisions.

GATE Informational Parent Meetings:

Because navigating the gifted process can be complex and can sometimes confusing for parents, the school’s GATE Coordinator or Magnet Coordinator will hold two meetings a year (usually one on the last Thursday of September, and the other on the first Thursday in March) to answer questions about the gifted identification process and the three instructional programs offered on our campus. All parents of Eagle Rock Elementary are welcome to attend. If you would like to receive an email with the zoom ID for the next GATE Parent Informational Meeting please fill out this interest form: https://forms.gle/qLoZWpeoreaVWqSDA

Second Grade Parents:

The district’s universal screening for giftedness occurs in March of their 2nd grade year. The assessment used is the OLSAT-8. Should a student qualify on this assessment, they are determined gifted in the High Achievement category. This assessment cannot deem a student to be highly gifted. The district’s GATE Office does hold a parent webinar in late January or February explaining this assessment. You can find great information on giftedness as well as view many of their parent webinars by visiting their website here: https://gate.lausd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4408943&type=d&pREC_ID=2638083

GATE Identified Resident School Students:

All students with a gifted identification will automatically be placed in a gifted cluster class to receive a differentiated curriculum that offers depth, complexity, novelty, and acceleration. Parents should speak with their child’s individual classroom teacher if they have specific questions. Each LAUSD school has a public GATE Report that can be found on the internet through a simple google search.