UNIVERSAL SCREENING

Casting a Wide Net

Each member district in South Central BOCES uses universal screening as one method of locating students who may benefit from gifted programming. A cognitive ability test, the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) is administered during 1st or 2nd grade (depending upon the school district) and again during 5th or 6th grade, at the transition to middle school. The NNAT is a computer-based test and uses shapes and colors to assess students' reasoning ability without the use of language. NNAT scores may be used as a starting point in building a body of evidence for gifted identification.