CUSD GATE Testing Information

Dear Parents,

If you are interested in having your child tested for the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE), please read the information below:

Criteria Based GATE Testing Requirements:

During the first week of December, all CUSD 3^rd-7^th grade students who meet the Criteria Based GATE Test requirements will be mailed an invitation for the Criteria Based GATE Test. Due to budget constraints, GATE testing will no longer be administered at individual school sites during the school hours. Instead, GATE testing will now be conducted on two Saturdays in January at Niguel Hills Middle School in Laguna Niguel. To view the Criteria Based GATE Testing requirements and the GATE testing dates, please visit the CUSD GATE website at http://gate.schoolloop.com .

New/Transfer Students:

·         If a 3^rd-7^th grade student is new to CUSD or did not take the 2009 STAR Test at a CUSD school in the spring of 2009, that student will not be mailed an invitation for January GATE testing unless the student’s parent mails or faxes one of the following documents to the GATE office:

o        A copy of the new/transfer student’s 2009 STAR Student Report demonstrating that the student has met the above GATE testing criteria. (Please do not send STAR reports older than 2009.)

o        A copy of the new/transfer student’s 2009 standardized test report from his/her prior school demonstrating that the student’s average English-Language Arts or Reading AND Mathematics score is at or above the 95^th percentile. (Example:  A reading score of 99% and a math score of 93% equals an average score of 96%. Please do not send a standardized testing report older than 2009.)

·         Documentation Deadline for New/Transfer Students:  One of the above documents must be faxed to the GATE office at (949) 489-0467 or mailed to the CUSD GATE Office at 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 no later than October 29, 2009. Along with your documentation, please include a cover letter with the following information:

1.        Parent’s name, address, and phone number

2.        Student’s name, grade level, birthday, CUSD school name, and CUSD ID number

3.        Former school’s name, address, and phone number

Fee-Based OLSAT GATE Testing:

Parents may nominate 3^rd -7^th grade students who do NOT meet the requirements for January Criteria Based GATE testing to take the OLSAT for a non-refundable fee on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Niguel Hills Middle School. The Fee Based OLSAT GATE Test is available to all 3^rd -7^th grade public and private school students residing within the CUSD District boundaries.  Applications for the Fee Based OLSAT GATE Test can be printed from the CUSD GATE website at http://gate.schoolloop.com . The Fee Based OLSAT GATE Test application deadline is January 27, 2010.