Gifted & Talented Education (GATE)
Questions? Contact Ms. Lisa Veal lveal@rbusd.org
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is GATE?
Local GATE programs are developed to provide unique opportunities for pupils in California public elementary and secondary schools that have been identified as gifted and talented, including those who are high-achieving and underachieving.
2. How does my child qualify for GATE program participation?
GATE students are identified in grade 3 by participating in either the Otis Lennon School Ability Test assessment or the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test3 assessment and scoring at or above the 95th percentile.
3. Why is state testing no longer being used as identification for the GATE program?
Upon re-evaluation of program eligibility criteria, and due to the suspension of the California Standards Test (CST), RBUSD will no longer be using assessments that measures knowledge derived from classroom instruction. In our interest to identify gifted students, RBUSD will be using assessments that measure a student’s natural cognitive ability. These are not assessments in which students can prepare for ahead of time. Students should approach the assessment with no inhibitions.
4. What is the OLSAT?
The Otis–Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) is a test of abstract thinking and reasoning ability of children. The OLSAT is group-administered, multiple choice, taken with pencil and paper, measures verbal, quantitative, and spatial reasoning ability. The test yields verbal and nonverbal scores, from which a total score is derived, called a School Ability Index (SAI). The OLSAT is a paper and pencil test.
5. What is the NNAT?
The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test3 (NNAT3) is a nonverbal measure of general ability. Like all nonverbal ability tests, the NNAT is intended to assess cognitive ability independently of linguistic and cultural background. This assessment is typically used with students whose first language was something other than English. The NNAT3 is administered online.
6. When can my child take the OLSAT/NNAT3?
The OLSAT/NNAT3 assessment takes place in January of each school year. Each school site will have a designated day to administer the assessments, as well as one designated make up day.
7. Can I choose to not have my child assessed?
Yes, all third grade parents will have the option to have their child opt-out of OLSAT/NNAT3 testing.
8. My child has an IEP, can they still participate in the assessments?
Yes.
- My child has a 504 plan; can they still participate in the assessment?
Yes.
10. My child is an English Language Learner; can they still participate in the assessment?
Yes.
11. What happens after the OLSAT/NNAT3 assessment?
You will be notified of your child’s assessment results in June or early July, when you receive a copy of the OLSAT/NNAT3 Student Score Reports for your records and notification of GATE eligibility.
12. If my child is in GATE, will they automatically be enrolled in advanced courses in middle and high school?
No, GATE participation is not one of the criteria used for class placement at any of our middle schools or our high school. Therefore, participation in GATE does not guarantee that secondary students will be identified for honors/AP courses, and students not participating in GATE still enroll in honors/AP courses.
13. Can my 4th or 5th grader take the OLSAT/NNAT3?
For the 2019-20 school year, 4th-7th grade students who have not been assessed, were assessed in the 2018-19 school year and scored between the 90th and 94th percentile, and students new to RBUSD can participate in OLSAT/NNAT3 testing in 2020 upon parent request.
15. If I feel my child is gifted at an age younger than 3rd grade, can I recommend that they be tested?
No, students are only eligible in the winter/spring trimester of their 3rd grade year.
16. Are there any exceptions made to GATE identification criteria?
Yes, 4th through 7th grade students who are new to the Redondo Beach Unified School District and have not been previously GATE identified may participate in OLSAT/NNAT3 testing upon parent request.
17/. Who can I contact with questions about GATE?
Each of our K-8 school sites has a GATE Site Specialist, a current classroom teacher, who oversees all activities related to the GATE program at his/her school site. A list of current GATE Site Specialist is located at: http://www.rbusd.org/gate.