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District proposes changes to STEP/gifted identification: switch from OlSAT to I‑Ready screeners, broaden profile‑based review
Summary
District staff proposed revising the gifted identification process used for STEP: replacing the group‑administered OlSAT cognitive screener with I‑Ready academic screeners plus Gifted Rating Scales and Smarter Balanced data, shifting some screening grades and keeping teacher recommendation and appeals processes.
District staff presented proposed changes to the Wallingford STEP (gifted services) identification process, explaining the rationale and addressing several board member concerns during a prolonged discussion.
Amy Turner introduced the revised procedures with STEP teacher colleagues (Mr. Pekakis and Mr. Andresen). The recommendation replaces the group‑administered OlSAT cognitive screener — which staff said produced inconsistent and unreliable percentile results across years when administered on a computer to groups — with a screening approach that begins from students’ I‑Ready reading and math results (fall and winter administrations). Students who fall within a designated I‑Ready range would be flagged for further evaluation rather than…
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