The Mission of the GATE program is to provide an enriched and differentiated curriculum and appropriate learning experiences for identified gifted and talented students. Standards-based curriculum supported with the elements of depth, complexity, novelty and acceleration ensure that students are provided with challenging learning experiences. Through a differentiated approach, students will develop their intellectual, emotional, creative and social gifts to the fullest.

With the passage of Assembly Bill 2313, the focus of elementary GATE services has shifted to the regular classroom. The elementary GATE Program at VUSD is implemented in the form of cluster groupings and enrichment activities. Cluster groupings are groups of identified GATE students within a regular classroom. Gifted students will be offered challenging & enriching activities commensurate with their abilities by their classroom teacher. Enrichment programs occur after the school day and on weekends.

To be considered for the GATE program, students will need a referral from a certificated staff member or parent, and at least one of the following: 

• High  Academic Achievement based on the California Standards tests (CST)  - 
  • Two scores at or above 430 in Math and English Language Arts [approximately 40 points above the Advanced  Proficient Range on the CST]
• Ability and Academic Achievement
  • 1. California Standards Test [CST] – one total score at or above 450 in English Language Arts or Math 
    and
  • 2. A score at or above the 90th percentile on   either the Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT) or the Cognitive Abilities Test [CogAT]
• Intellectual Ability
  • Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) – score at or above the 97th percentile
  • Cognitive Abilities Test [CogAT] - score at or above the 97th percentile

The NNAT [Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test] is a brief, culture fair and nonverbal measure of intellectual ability. The assessment consists of 38 questions that rely upon reasoning using figural designs not upon verbal skills. The ‘problems’ are challenges in Pattern Completion [PC]; Reasoning by Analogy [RA]; Serial Reasoning [SR]; and Spatial Visualization [SV]. For more information and to view sample test questions go to http://www.thinkingtolearn.com/btslv1sp1.pdf

The Cognitive Abilities Test [CogAT] is the second norm-referenced assessment we integrate at VUSD. The test consists of nine sections. Currently, we administer the Verbal Battery of the CogAT. The three remaining sections are: verbal classification [20 Q] sentence completion [20Q], and verbal analogies [25Q] for a total of 65 questions. For more information and to view sample test questions go to http://www.riverpub.com/products/group/cogat6/input.jsp