PS: DIBELS assessments vary by grade. They are different tasks for different grades. In 4th, there were 2 tasks: reading a passage for accuracy/speed; and reading a story and selecting the correct word that would work to keep going in the story (about 1 word per every 2 sentences). This demonstrates comprehension as well as fluency. For 3rd grade there were 4 subtests. For 5th, I am not sure. But it is different from the PALS. Which at the 4th grade typically has a 25 questions spelling assessment, sight word reading (NOT NONSENSE), which places you into a story to start with, you read the story for fluency, and answer questions (basic multiple choice). Depending on how you do on the first passage, you could be asked to read a higher or lower level story and then keep going up or down until you reach the "ceiling". It only goes up to an 8th grade level passage. And also, there is not a correlation of PALS passages to DRA or Fountas and Pinnell levels so we don't know the exact criteria for the PALS stories.

It has to be a normed General Abilities or Specific Aptitude test. Not just any old normed test. Normed just means it is comparing kids against a national sample vs a specific criteria (that's a criterion referenced test, like PALS). So for PALS you don't get a percentage because you get a summed score which is how many points you earned for getting correct answers. In DIBELS your performance on the various subtests is compared to same-grade students in Beginning, Middle, or End of grade assessments.

Hope that makes sense. There are normed tests for lots of things- physical education even.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes parent referrals can be done but there must be a normed test provided as a general screener to identify those who might not be referred. Without that there won't be an identification process (we have been told). It could certainly change. The assessment usually happens in 2nd and 4th grades but if your child misses it they take it the following year. For example, if they come to APS in 3rd grade they take the NNAT when the 2nd graders do but the norming is done compared to same-age peers. Students can take COGAT in 5th as well if they miss the 4th grade option.

Honestly gifted options in APS are pretty minimal so it doesn't really matter. Then in middle school the only difference is that it's part of the consideration for starting Pre Algebra in 6th but most identified students don't go into that class- it's a subset of identified students who must demonstrate high level math skills and readiness, not just being identified.

So if DIBELS is a normed test why doesn't that qualify for screening?

I'm guessing you didn't see your kid's DIBELS screening. Its like asking why PALS isn't used for GT screening. They ask you to read nonsense words, then read a passage out loud, and then answer a handful of questions. Its not like COGAT where the questions require thought. Its just testing to see if your kid has basic reading comprehension and decoding skills.
FWIW, my kids scored in the 99% on the COGAT for fourth grade-- they were starting the process to identify her as gifted, but it kind of got derailed because of covid. Her teacher last year said not to sweat it because they mainly group kids based off of their school performance, so if your kid is high performing then they are getting the same general benefits as having been identified as gt. Her teacher from this year said the same basic thing -- that she knew my kid was smart and that they were already differentiating her appropriately.

Anonymous wrote:Yes parent referrals can be done but there must be a normed test provided as a general screener to identify those who might not be referred. Without that there won't be an identification process (we have been told). It could certainly change. The assessment usually happens in 2nd and 4th grades but if your child misses it they take it the following year. For example, if they come to APS in 3rd grade they take the NNAT when the 2nd graders do but the norming is done compared to same-age peers. Students can take COGAT in 5th as well if they miss the 4th grade option.

Honestly gifted options in APS are pretty minimal so it doesn't really matter. Then in middle school the only difference is that it's part of the consideration for starting Pre Algebra in 6th but most identified students don't go into that class- it's a subset of identified students who must demonstrate high level math skills and readiness, not just being identified.

So if DIBELS is a normed test why doesn't that qualify for screening?

Yes parent referrals can be done but there must be a normed test provided as a general screener to identify those who might not be referred. Without that there won't be an identification process (we have been told). It could certainly change. The assessment usually happens in 2nd and 4th grades but if your child misses it they take it the following year. For example, if they come to APS in 3rd grade they take the NNAT when the 2nd graders do but the norming is done compared to same-age peers. Students can take COGAT in 5th as well if they miss the 4th grade option.

Honestly gifted options in APS are pretty minimal so it doesn't really matter. Then in middle school the only difference is that it's part of the consideration for starting Pre Algebra in 6th but most identified students don't go into that class- it's a subset of identified students who must demonstrate high level math skills and readiness, not just being identified.

Anonymous wrote:
RE: Gifted Screening
Here is the info on VDOE: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/gifted_ed/gifted_regulations.pdf

A normed screening test is required to be given. I don't know if they will be giving it this year virtually so if it can be given in person (once hybrid begins) then screening can happen. Or they can figure out how to give COGAT virtually. We've been told it's not been decided if it will happen for sure.

Teacher and parent referrals have always (in the past) been allowed. Are they not allowing that this year? My kid is going to enter third grade without ever having the opportunity for any normed test.

RE: Gifted Screening
Here is the info on VDOE: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/gifted_ed/gifted_regulations.pdf

A normed screening test is required to be given. I don't know if they will be giving it this year virtually so if it can be given in person (once hybrid begins) then screening can happen. Or they can figure out how to give COGAT virtually. We've been told it's not been decided if it will happen for sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do APS kids as a cohort generally score better than the Natl Average? (I'm guessing they do).

Are the composite scores going to be used in helping determining GT placement? My kid, who tends to drift off in class and not pay attention, scored super high. I'd like to use that as motivation to get her a little extra attention (I know APS doesn't do much for GT but anything would help).

1) I don't know. It's the first year of us giving this assessment and we haven't seen any score information higher than our particular grade level at our school.

2)No. Will definitely not be used for GT identification. It's a SCREENER for reading difficulty. Not an identifier for high readers. COGAT is the test for GT identification and we aren't sure if it will be given this year. We have been told there is no GT identification without testing per VDOE rules.

Since when? Is this just during Covid?

What are you seeing anecdotally in your class? Are most kids scoring well or is it all over the place?

Anonymous wrote:

Do APS kids as a cohort generally score better than the Natl Average? (I'm guessing they do).

Are the composite scores going to be used in helping determining GT placement? My kid, who tends to drift off in class and not pay attention, scored super high. I'd like to use that as motivation to get her a little extra attention (I know APS doesn't do much for GT but anything would help).

1) I don't know. It's the first year of us giving this assessment and we haven't seen any score information higher than our particular grade level at our school.

2)No. Will definitely not be used for GT identification. It's a SCREENER for reading difficulty. Not an identifier for high readers. COGAT is the test for GT identification and we aren't sure if it will be given this year. We have been told there is no GT identification without testing per VDOE rules.

Since when? Is this just during Covid?

Anonymous wrote:DIBELS is not new. It has been used for a LONG time by many schools. Please do your research.

Who are you talking to?

DIBELS is not new. It has been used for a LONG time by many schools. Please do your research.