AIG | Academically or Intellectually Gifted Education
The AIG program has been serving the needs of students at Evergreen since 2008. It is overseen by the AIG Coordinator and is staffed by a full-time teacher (4th-8th) and a part-time teacher (K-3rd) with experience and training in serving academically gifted (AM—math, AR-reading, and AG-math and reading) and intellectually gifted (IG) students.
Because the teaching and learning methods of EL Education, which underpins our curriculum for all students, closely parallel the academic approach that research describes as best meeting the needs of advanced learners, many of the components of AIG take place in the regular classroom. All Evergreen students are engaged in projects, literature-based reading, and inquiry-based math and science. Teachers regularly differentiate instruction or employ flexible grouping to address the needs of diverse ability levels. Notwithstanding these opportunities, the faculty and administration recognize that some students need additional challenge in the classroom. AIG exists to meet the needs of these students.
AIG is not a traditional academically gifted program in which students are only pulled out of their regular classrooms for a specified period each week or placed in academically gifted classes from one year to the next. AIG will provide teachers, students, and families with the resources, rationale, and support to serve the special academic and intellectual needs of students who are especially motivated, intelligent, and high performing. These services will be provided in the regular classroom through differentiation, the AIG teacher, or a community member. The goal is to match AIG to students rather than the students to AIG.
NCDPI initiatives that Evergreen is integrating into our program.
Contact
Cameron Brantley
AIG Coordinator
(828) 298 2173 x1238
Evergreen AIG Identification Criteria Summary 2022-25
Evergreen Community Charter School has three criteria for identification: aptitude, achievement, and observable behaviors. Students must meet the criteria in one of the Pathways listed below to qualify for formal identification as Academically Gifted Reading (AR), Academically Gifted Mathematics (AM), Academically Gifted Reading and Math (AG), Intellectually Gifted (IG), or Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AI). Students who have partially met the criteria for identification are entered into the Evergreen Talent Pool.
You can review the full AIG plan approved by the Board here.
Academically Gifted Reading (AR)
AR Pathway 1: 93rd percentile or above in 2 of 3: aptitude or reading achievement or observable behaviors
AR Pathway 2: 99th percentile in reading achievement
AR Pathway 3: in the top 10% of the grade level in reading achievement
Academically Gifted Mathematics (AM)
AM Pathway 1: 93rd percentile or above in 2 of 3: aptitude or mathematics achievement or observable behaviors
AM Pathway 2: 99th percentile in mathematics achievement
AM Pathway 3: in the top 10% of the grade level in mathematics achievement
Academically Gifted Reading and Math (AG)
AG Pathway: one AR Pathway and one AM Pathway
Intellectually Gifted (IG)
IG Pathway 1: 97th percentile or above in aptitude
Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AI)
AI Pathway: one AG pathway and the IG pathway
Aptitude Criteria
An aptitude screening assessment (SAGES-3) will be administered to all students in 2nd grade as well as students new to Evergreen who have not already been identified at their previous school.
Ability testing (IQ such as Wechsler) done by an outside source or for EC services are considered as a valid criterion for aptitude.
The identification benchmark for AR, AM, and AG is the 93rd percentile or above. The identification benchmark for IG is the 97th percentile.
Achievement Criteria
An achievement screening assessment for reading (Read to Achieve (RtA) approved assessment) will be administered to all K-3 students three times per year. For the RtA approved assessment, the identification benchmark is 2 or more grade levels above the grade level benchmark for the assessment period.
Student achievement measures including SAGES-3 (K-3 mathematics), BOG (3rd reading), and EOG (3-8 mathematics and reading) assessments are compiled, analyzed, and documented annually.
The identification benchmark for AR, AM, and AG is the 93rd percentile or above. The identification benchmark for IG and AI is the 97th percentile or above.
Observable Behaviors Criteria
At the beginning of the school year (September - October) in grades K-8, a qualitative measure of student aptitude using the recognized and research-based Kingore Observation Inventory (KOI) is conducted by lead teachers. The KOI is a tool for classroom teachers to observe their class for an extended period (4-6 weeks) looking for gifted behaviors in advanced language, analytical thinking, meaning motivation, perspective, sense of humor, sensitivity, and accelerated learning. The results are normed for the school's population.
At the end of the year (April/May), lead teachers will complete the Renzulli-Hartman Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students (Renzulli, J. S. (1986)). Lead teachers rate students in Learning Characteristics and Motivational Characteristics.
The identification benchmark for AR, AM, and AG is the 93rd percentile or above in the KOI or Renzulli-Hartman Scales. The identification benchmark for IG is the 97th percentile.
Evergreen AIG Services Summary 2022-2025
Evergreen believes the program should fit the student and not that the student should fit the program. To reflect this belief, Evergreen's AIG program seeks to meet the needs of students in Kindergarten through 8th grade with a Levels of Service approach for both students formally identified and those in the Talent Pool:
Level 1: all students (core) - EL Education, differentiated curriculum, Lexile grouping, enrichment
Level 2: many students (93rd - ~95th percentile) - Level 1 + cluster grouping, extensions
Services in Levels 1 & 2 are delivered by classroom teachers with indirect support from the AIG teacher and AIG coordinator. Services for Kindergarten and 1st grade are primarily, but not exclusively, at these levels.
Level 3: some students (~95th - ~97th percentile) - Level 2 + subject acceleration, pull-out and push- in groups
Level 4: few students (~97th - ~99th percentile) - Level 3 + independent study, grade acceleration
Services in Levels 3 & 4 are delivered by classroom teachers and directly by the AIG teacher. Services for 2-8 are primarily, but not exclusively, at these levels.
Students who have partially met the qualifying criteria for identification are entered into Evergreen’s Talent Pool. Students in the Talent Pool are eligible for the same AIG services as those formally identified. Families will be notified when their student begins receiving direct services through the AIG program.
Evergreen’s 2022-25 AIG Plan was approved by the Board of Directors on June 16, 2022. For questions about the plan or identification, contact Cameron Brantley using the form below, or call 828.298.2173 x1238.