Interesting. The paper is available for free.
Here's how the kids get into the GT program:
Eligibility is identified by two well-defined cutoffs on an index score that is based on achievement tests, a non-verbal ability test, grades, teacher recommendations, and socioeconomic status.
Admission to the district GT program is based on a set of points gained through scores as follows:
- A standardized test (Stanford Achievement, aka SAT) (56 possible points)
- The non-verbal portion of the NNAT (30 possible points)
- Your report card (20 possible points)
- Teacher recommendation (10 possible points)
- Whether or not you have obstacles (15 possible points)
- Total is 131 points
You qualify for the program if you get...62 points. See page 35 of the manuscript for the form showing the points.
This could be achieved with the following:
- SAT scores from 70th-79th percentile in all subtests (12 total points)
- The second lowest score band (104-107) listed on the NNAT (10 points). Not sure what 104-107 means in terms of percentiles. Anyone know? I read in one place that they correspond roughly to IQ distribution scores. Is this correct?
- 90-94% on the report card (15 points)
- Top teacher recommendation (10 points)
- Three obstacles (15 points)
- Total is 62 points
So, this pretty much means that average kids can qualify if they get good grades, their teachers like them, and get extra points for the obstacles listed on the form.
The study compared kids close to the cutoff on both sides. So it compared average kids in a gifted program with other average kids not in a gifted program.
Gotta go.
