The Collingswood School District provides a variety of services for its Gifted & Talented (G&T)  students. Identified kindergarten and first grade students receive a combination of whole-class  and small group instruction using the Primary Elementary Thinking Skills (P.E.T.S) Program and  STEAM activities. Second through Fifth grade students are identified for participation in one or  more of the small group programs for the following units of instruction: Mathematics, Reading and Literacy, and Science.

The OLSAT 8 assessment (a universal screener), will only be given to third grade students. Any student who has taken the OLSAT 8 assessment in a previous year will not be eligible to take it again.

Secondary (6-12) Level Program

Students in grades 6-12 are served through comprehensive accelerated, honors and advanced  placement programs in the humanities, STEM, the arts, and leadership.

Supervisor K-12
Dr. Karen Principato

Grade K students will receive whole class instruction for the first 20 minutes of the session. Kindergarten students may be selected to receive the last 10 minutes of small group instruction using the P.E.T.S. Framework (Primary Elementary Thinking Skills) and STEAM activities. Multiple measures are used to identify students: 

• Into Math Growth Measure score of 81 or higher (Above Grade Level) on the  mid-year Into Math Growth Measure.

  
  

• A DIBELS Composite Score of 393 by the Mid-Year (MOY) DIBELS Benchmark  Assessment (Exceeds Expectations),

If a class does not have any qualifying students, then the two students with the highest Dibels scores will be invited into the program. 

Kindergarten instruction will commence at the beginning of the third trimester.

First Grade students will receive whole class instruction for the first 20 minutes of the session.  First Grade students may be selected to receive the last 10 minutes of small  group enrichment instruction using the P.E.T.S. Framework (Primary Elementary Thinking Skills) and STEAM activities. Multiple measures are used to identify students: 

• Into Math Growth Measure score of 181 or higher (Above Grade Level) by the 1st  interval November-December 2024, and,

  
  

• A DIBELS Composite Score of 424 by the Mid-Year (MOY) DIBELS Benchmark  Assessment (Exceeds Expectations).

  
  

*If a class does not have any qualifying students, then the two students with the highest Dibels scores will be invited into the program. 

First Grade instruction will commence at the beginning of the second trimester.

Second grade students may be selected for participation in one or more of the small group  instruction for the following units: 

First Marking Period: Mathematics Requirements 

• The beginning of year Into Math Growth Measure score of 281 or  higher (Above Grade Level), and,

• Earn an E in Mathematics on their final 1st grade report card. 

  
  

Second Marking Period: Reading and Literacy Requirements 

• A DIBELS Composite Score of 423 by the Mid-Year (MOY) DIBELS Benchmark  Assessment (Exceeds Expectations), and,

• Earn an E in Reading, Writing, and Word Study on their most recent report card.

*If a class does not have any qualifying students, then the two students with the highest Dibels scores will be invited into the program.

Third Marking Period: Science Requirements 

• Teacher Recommendation based on Science Assessment, and, 

• Earn an E in science on their 1st and 2nd trimester report card.

Third Grade students may be selected for participation in one or more of the G&T programs  for the following units if they receive a score of 95% on the OLSAT8 (a universal screener)  or: 

First Marking Period: Mathematics Requirements 

• Beginning of year Into Math Growth Measure score of 381 or higher (Above Grade Level), and,

• Earn an E in Mathematics on their final 2nd grade report card. 

  
  

Second Marking Period: Reading and Literacy Requirements 

• A DIBELS Composite Score of 427 by the Mid-Year (MOY) DIBELS Benchmark  Assessment (Exceeds Expectations), and,

• Earn an E in Reading, Writing, and Word Study on their most recent report card.  

  
  

* If a class does not have any qualifying students, then the two students with the highest Dibels scores will be invited into the program. 

Third Marking Period: Science Requirements 

• Teacher Recommendation based on Science Assessment, and,

• Earn an E in science on their 1st and 2nd trimester report card. 

Grade 4 students may be selected for participation in one or more of the G&T programs  for the following units: 

First Marking Period: Mathematics Requirements 

• Beginning of year Into Math Growth Measure score of 481 or higher (Above Grade Level), and,

• Earn an E in Mathematics during each previous year’s trimesters.

Second Marking Period: Reading and Literacy Requirements 

• A DIBELS Composite Score of 431 by the Mid-Year (MOY) DIBELS Benchmark  Assessment (Exceeds Expectations), and,

• Earn an E in Reading, Writing, and Word Study on their most recent report card.

* If a class does not have any qualifying students, then the two students with the highest Dibels scores will be invited into the program

Third Marking Period: Science Requirements 

• Teacher Recommendation based on Science Assessment, and,

• Earn an A in science during the 1st and 2nd trimester report cards.

Grade 5 students may be selected for participation in one or more of the G&T programs  for the following units: 

First Marking Period: Mathematics Requirements 

• Into Math Growth Measure score of 581 or higher (Above Grade Level), and,

• Earn an A in Mathematics during each previous year’s trimesters. 

Second Marking Period: Reading and Literacy Requirements 

• A DIBELS Composite Score of 421 by the Mid-Year (MOY) DIBELS Benchmark  Assessment (Exceeds Expectations), and,

• Earn an E in Reading, Writing, and Word Study on their most recent  report card.

*If a class does not have any qualifying students, then the two students with the highest Dibels scores will be invited into the program.

Third Marking Period: Science G&T Requirements 

• Teacher Recommendation based on Science Assessment, and,

• Earn an A in science during the 1st and 2nd trimester report cards

Grade 6 students will be eligible for enrollment in the 6th Grade Accelerated Mathematics course if they attain two of the three criteria:

• Enrollment in 5th grade G&T program for Mathematics,

• Exceeds Expectations on 4th Grade NJSLA Mathematics,

• Exceeds Expectations on 5th Grade End-of-Year Into Math Growth Measure. 

Grade 6 students will be informed of their acceptance into the Accelerated Math program by June 30, 2025. If a student does not meet the entrance criteria, and a family wishes to  have their child considered for this course, an appeals process will be followed. The  primary source of appeal will be a score of Exceeding Expectations on the 5th grade New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) Mathematics. The scores for this  assessment will be received during the summer months. 

Students who transfer into the Collingswood Public Schools will be screened for eligibility  for participation in the Gifted & Talented Program. In order to be eligible for the program,  transfer students must meet the established criteria. The data used to determine eligibility will be taken from the cumulative records of the student as well as from the current testing results using the district or state standardized  tests.

Parental Permission - Parental permission to participate in the program must be provided for students in grades K-5.

Students who have demonstrated unusually high performance but have not successfully  met the requirements may qualify for further screenings if requested by the  administration or the parent.

A formal conference will be held with the student, the parent/guardian, and all involved personnel  to discuss the student’s progress in both the classroom and the Gifted & Talented Program.   Following the formal conference, immediate withdrawal may be recommended, or a  conditional period may be determined.

If it is determined that a conditional period would benefit the student, a contract will be written establishing the expectations to be achieved during the conditional  period. At the conclusion of the conditional period, a second formal conference will be held to determine whether the student will continue in the program or be dismissed.

A legal guardian may appeal a decision by requesting in writing that the student be re-evaluated for the program. Upon receipt of the appeal request, a meeting will be scheduled with the parent/guardian, the program teacher, the homeroom teacher, and the principal. ∙The parent shall receive written notification of the outcome of the appeal. The Appeal  Committee shall make such notification. 

An individual who believes that the Collingswood Public School District has not complied with  the provisions of our district Policy 2464: Gifted and Talented Students, may file a complaint with the  Board of Education. In that complaint, please include the following: 

1. The full name of the parent/guardian; 

2. The full name, school, and grade level of the student; 

3. The nature of the complaint, including the specific area or areas of Policy 2464 that have  not been followed; and 

4. An explanation of the steps taken to remedy those concerns prior to filing the  complaint. 

The board shall issue a decision, in writing, to affirm, reject, or modify the district's action in the  matter. The individual may then file a petition of the appeal of the Board's written decision to the Commissioner of Education through the Office of Controversies and Disputes in accordance with N.J.S.18A:6-9 and the procedures set forth in State Board of Education regulations. 

Supervisor K-12
Dr. Karen Principato