What is Talented and Gifted?
“Talented and gifted children” means those children who require special educational programs or services, or both, beyond those normally provided by the regular school program in order to realize their contribution to self and society and who demonstrate outstanding ability or potential in one or more of the following areas: (a) General intellectual ability as commonly measured by measures of intelligence and aptitude. (b) Unusual academic ability in one or more academic areas. (c) Creative ability in using original or nontraditional methods in thinking and producing. (d) Leadership ability in motivating the performance of others either in educational or noneducational settings. (e) Ability in the visual or performing arts, such as dance, music or art. [1959 c.528 §2; 1963 c.570 §22; 1965 c.100 §409; 1971 c.613 §2; 1979 c.385 §2; 1987 c.335 §1; 2011 c.440 §2]
(Oregon Department of Education, 2012)

TAG Referral Process: 

There are three areas that PPS currently assesses for: intellectual giftedness, talent in mathematics, and/or talent in reading. Starting with assessment data collected in the fall, teachers build portfolios for potential students that include work samples and qualitative checklists. If the body of evidence supports a need for TAG services, families will be notified and asked to provide consent for their child to be identified.

Starting in 2023-2024, TAG referrals for grades 3-8 will be data driven using Spring OSAS and fall assessment data. Teachers will be notified to provide additional classroom data to complete the referral and families will be notified for consent to identify their child as TAG. Families can also refer students for TAG after the first round of referrals is complete.

Students in Grade 2 will be assessed by their classroom teacher using the Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test (NNAT). Students who are referred using this assessment are identified for intellectual ability. Families will be notified for consent.

Students in grades 9-12 can be referred for TAG identification by the teacher, parent/guardian, or themselves.

If you are considering referring your child for TAG, start by reaching out to their teacher. They will be able to answer many of your questions about TAG services in the classroom.  

If you have any questions about the process, please reach out to the TAG facilitator at your child's school. The complete list can be found here.

For additional information, please visit the website for the Office of Talented and Gifted Education, www.pps.net/tag.