Gifted And Talented Education (GATE)
Differentiated Instruction at Roosevelt
Differentiated instruction throughout the school day provides opportunities for learning that match the unique needs of all students in Kindergarten through 6th grade.
GATE Program
Roosevelt School provides testing opportunities for all students to identify those who qualify for GATE. The GATE program is currently offered at Washington Elementary School.
SB Unified is committed to an educational program that recognizes the unique value, needs, and talents of individual students. In the grade 2 test, no reading is required of students. Students answer picture-based questions by clicking the circle under the picture that represents the best answer.
GATE testing will occur on school campuses from November 1 through November 22, 2024 and will be administered by trained school staff. Results will be mailed in late December 2024.
Grade 2 Students
As a practice, all students in grade 2 are automatically screened for GATE. If parents want their 2nd grader to take the GATE test, then they should take no action.
However, if parents do NOT want their 2nd graders tested, they may choose to opt them out of testing. In order to Opt Out your 2nd grader from GATE testing, families must either:
Complete and submit an online Grade 2 GATE Opt Out Form by Thursday, October 31, 2024.
Complete an Opt Out form at the school office and submit it by Thursday, October 31, 2024.
Grade 3-5 Students
Parents/guardians may choose to refer students in grades 3-5 for retesting; however, students in grades 4 and 5 may not test if they took the GATE test last year.
Parents of eligible students may submit an online Grades 3-5 Referral form or may request a Referral form at the school office. Forms are due by Thursday, October 31, 2024, either online or returned to the school office.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact your student’s school office for testing details, such as upcoming test dates and times at their school.
For more information about GATE at SB Unified, please refer to our website at: Advanced Learning Programs / GATE - Santa Barbara Unified School District
If you have any questions about the SB Unified GATE identification process, please contact Harriet Whaley, Assessments and Accountability Specialist, at 805.963.4338, x6277 or hwhaley@sbunified.org.
If, on test day, you are worried that your child is ill or not able to do their best, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office and do not send your child for testing. You will be offered the option of having your child take a make-up test at their school.
Note: Both Opt Out forms (grade 2) and Referral forms (grades 3-5) are due by Thursday, October 31, 2024. We are not able to accept late submissions.
Identifying GATE Students
Students who participate in the GATE cluster are identified through the Santa Barbara’s School Districts GATE identification process.
GATE Clustering Model in Grades 3 through 6
Identified GATE students in Grades 3 through 6 are regrouped (or clustered together) within the grade level for part of the instructional day in Language Arts and Mathematics. These students follow a specially-designed standards based instructional program that is defined by curriculum compacting, acceleration and enrichment in core subjects.
Students are clustered for approximately 140 minutes or more each day as determined by the teachers at each grade level. Clustering for specified times and for specially-designed instruction provides additional learning opportunities that encourage the development of higher level thinking skills. It also allows time for intellectual and social interaction with peers of similar interests and at similar levels of academic achievement.
Academically Talented Students and Ongoing GATE Assessment
Students in grades 3-6 who are academically talented but not identified as intellectually gifted can be included in the GATE cluster. In the beginning of the year, throughout the year and as classroom space permits, students can be considered for inclusion in the re-grouping for instruction in the GATE cluster in Language Arts and/or Mathematics. Teachers review standardized testing, grade level assessments and the ongoing academic performance of students to determine if a student not identified as gifted but who is performing beyond grade level expectations can benefit from inclusion in the GATE cluster.