Identification of Advanced Learners

Who is an advanced learner? 

MPS screens students at a district-level in order to find:

• students who perform at an advanced academic level when compared with others of same age, experience or environment,
• students who show the potential for performing at an advanced academic level, and
• advanced learners representative of all of our diverse student body, including those who are culturally, linguistically and economically diverse (CLED).

When are students identified as advanced learners?

MPS currently screens and identifies students yearly in grades K-4:

• All 2nd grade students who are enrolled in any MPS school universally screened
• Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd and 4th grade students who are not previously identified may be referred by a teacher or parent.

Students may be screened yearly.  Once a student has been identified as an advanced learner in MPS, they do not need to be evaluated again.  The process begins in November with final decisions made by the end of March each year. There is no screening available outside of this process.

How are advanced learners identified?
Decisions about advanced learner identification for currently enrolled MPS students will consider the following multiple-measure identification criteria:

• Assessment of cognitive ability (Cognitive Abilities Test - CogAT7) 
• Assessment of academic achievement in reading and mathematics (FAST)
• Information from rating scales from teachers and parents about demonstrated advanced learner characteristics in and out of the classroom (e.g., motivation, leadership, creativity, and learning)

Students Not Currently Enrolled in an MPS School
At this time, there are no MPS schools that require advanced learner identification for entrance requirement or placement purposes. MPS does not administer individual intelligence tests for the identification of advanced learners.  However, MPS will accept a full scale score of 130 or above on an IQ test administered in the last two years by an approved, licensed psychologist/psychiatrist.  Contact the Office of Talent Development for more information. Once a student is enrolled in an MPS school, he/she may be evaluated to determine the appropriate level of service.  Screening will take place yearly.