Gifted Identification Process - Pinellas County Schools

*This process applies to k-12 students. PCS cannot begin the gifted eligibility process before the student is of kindergarten age and placed in kindergarten.  

STEP 1: Gifted Screening

CogAT or NNAT is administered by school personnel at school. A student can be nominated by a parent, a teacher, a peer, or themselves. Click here for the nomination form.

• Results sent home from school
• Results at or above 90%, Further Testing Recommended, Packet will come home from school. Including an "Informed Consent" which will allow PCS to perform an IQ Test.
• Results LESS than 90%, NO Further Testing Recommended

STEP 2: IQ Evaluation

By Licensed Psychologist 

• Administered through PCS at school

PCS IQ Evaluation By Licensed PCS Psychologist 

• PROVIDED AT NO COST (this process can take up to 90 school days from when the request is made)
• During school year, psychologist will come to the child's school and perform the IQ Test there. Parents will not be notified when the school psychologist is coming to evaluate the student. 
• During summer, psychologist will contact parent to set up a time to perform the IQ test. Summer testing is not always offered, but is sometimes available to those next in line at the close of the school year. Summer break does not count as part of the 90 school day window for conducting evaluation. 
• 2 copies of the results will be sent to school, one for the eligibility folder and one to be mailed to the parents. 
• If extenuating circumstances existed during IQ testing and parent feels that IQ test may need to be repeated, contact school. A meeting will be set with school staff, psychologist, and parent to discuss any extenuating circumstances that warrant a repeat test. Otherwise, PCS will not begin the process for at least another 3 years.
• PCS evaluations can be conducted upon request for students qualifying based on screening scores a total of 2 times during their PCS career.  
• IQ testing is valid for 3 years. 

Questions regarding testing or schedule, contact psychology dept at 588-6047

OR

NOTE: PRIVATE IQ Evaluation Private IQ tests can be performed at any time, at parent’s expense. Please see details below. 

By Licensed Private Psychologist

• *AT PARENTS EXPENSE*
• Parent contacts private psychologist to perform. Psychologist conducting evaluation must be licensed with a clear and active license. 
• A full copy of the report and analysis must be provided. The copy must be wet/psychically signed by the administering psychologist and have the psychologist's license number included. 
• IQ Test. PCS does not have a list or make recommendations for private psychologists.
• After private testing is done, results will be mailed to parent. Parent will need to send a copy to the gifted teacher at your child's school. Parent will also need to fill out additional paperwork for the eligibility folder.
• Parents should make sure they notify psychologist if their child has had any previous IQ testing, as test results will be found invalid if same test is used within one year of previous evaluation(s) date.
• Evaluations prior to KG should be administered with one year of the student starting KG to be considered.

STEP 3: Eligibility Folder Created

By school staff (counselor, gifted teacher, compliance diagnostician) 

• All required documentation for gifted eligibility is gathered.
• After folder is complete, it is sent to CED (Compliance Diagnostician) to review and then sent to the district eligibility team for review.

STEP 4: Gifted Eligibility Meeting

District Meeting with gifted staff, psychologist, compliance diagnostician

• At eligibility meeting, team reviews the eligibility folder and evaluates the contents based on FL RULE 6A: 6:03019 which details the state of Florida criteria for gifted identification.
• Student must meet state criteria to be found eligible for gifted services.
• Meetings are held weekly and folders are evaluated in the order they are received.  Results of meeting are mailed to parent and school. 

IF Found Eligible for Gifted

• Letter will be mailed home, Gifted teacher will contact parent to set up an initial EP (Educational Plan) meeting.
• At this meeting parent will sign a consent form for child to begin services.
• Parent will also work with gifted teacher to create unique goals for child's EP plan.
• After the consent is signed and EP created, student may begin gifted services. 

IF Found Ineligible  for gifted, Letter will be mailed home.

• Although not eligible for gifted under Florida's Rule, they are still highly capable and may benefit from more challenging work.
• Suggestion: Meet with child's classroom teacher to discuss enrichment and differentiation options for child.