DeKalb presents plan to expand gifted screening after data show wide racial and geographic gaps

DeKalb County School District officials told the school board on May 6 that white students are disproportionately identified in the district’s gifted program while Black, Latino, English learners and students with disabilities are under-identified, and proposed policy and practice changes to close the gaps.

At a work session presentation, the district’s gifted coordinator said data through December 2023 show white students make up roughly 43% of the gifted program while representing about 11% of overall enrollment. By contrast, Black students represent about 30% of gifted enrollment yet about 60% of total enrollment, and Latino students make up about 9% of gifted enrollment while comprising about 24% of the district. The presentation also showed geographic differences: Area 1 elementary schools had more than 1,100 identified students compared with about 162 in Area 3.

"We identified nearly 25,000 students this year that we think could benefit from another at bat," the presenter said, arguing that current practice often gives a student a single qualifying opportunity (MAP) and that adding other allowable instruments and schedules would let more students qualify. He proposed offering an additional achievement instrument (ITBS), broader use of CogAT for students who qualify in motivation/creativity, and considering MAP scores from all three annual windows rather than a single administration.

Board members welcomed the focus on equity but pressed for implementation details, including which students would be re-tested, how testing windows would be scheduled, whether alternate-language instruments would be available and the staffing and budget impacts of expanding identification. One trustee asked how many additional endorsed teachers would be required; staff said models exist that do not require simply hiring large numbers of new certified teachers but admitted some sites could need additional personnel if identification increases substantially.

District staff also said they will strengthen fidelity of Renzulli (Renzulli teacher-rating) administration, use a Spanish-language ITBS where available, and expand professional learning for teachers and parent education so families understand the identification process. Officials emphasized that state regulations allow multiple pathways to qualify for gifted services and that the district is adjusting local practice to better use the options the state permits.

What’s next: staff said the changes are being planned for next school year, with details about exact eligibility thresholds, grade bands and calendar placement to be provided to the board before implementation. The board asked that slide decks and page numbers be added to future materials so members and the public can follow the specifics of the proposed rollout.