Skip to main content Fountain Valley School District
Educational Services Department » Gifted & Talented Program (GATE)

Gifted & Talented Program (GATE)

Overview of GATE Instruction

Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) instruction in the Fountain Valley School District is designed to meet the academic needs of GATE-identified students through enriched or advanced instruction. The program allows students to access resources, collaborate effectively, explore innovative solutions, and challenge their creative abilities. GATE students receive instruction in core subjects that align with California’s rigorous academic content standards.

Instruction includes:

  • Depth and Complexity: This approach differentiates learning by focusing on the complexity of subjects, fostering advanced reasoning, and encouraging creative thinking.
  • Understanding of Self and Others: GATE also promotes self-awareness, building on students' unique learning styles, interests, and talents.

The district provides two instructional settings for GATE students:

  • Cluster Groupings (Grades 4-5): Identified GATE students are grouped within the regular classroom and receive differentiated instruction during the school day from a GATE-certified teacher.
  • Part-Time Core Grouping (Grades 6-8): Identified GATE students are grouped in middle schools for core content classes, typically in English Language Arts and History/Social Science. An Advanced Math pathway is also available for GATE students. Differentiated instructional activities are provided by teachers who meet district certification criteria.

Whether teaching in the Cluster Groupings or Part-Time Core Grouping model, GATE teachers use various instructional methodologies—including the Depth & Complexity Prompts—to address the unique needs of gifted students. Some teachers may employ an integrated approach to differentiate the core curriculum by extending instruction before, during, or after a unit of core study. Teachers may also intertwine two or more elements of depth and complexity while teaching a specific core content topic or make connections between two core content areas or disciplines. They prioritize a differentiated curriculum approach as the focal point of their classroom program.

GATE Identification Timeline

Please note: Testing is only for students currently enrolled in FVSD schools.

  • October: GATE Parent Consent Forms are available online for 3rd graders. Forms are also available in the school office for grades 4-7 who need repeat testing.
  • November 30: Parent Consent Forms are due by 3:00 pm. This deadline is firm.
  • January/February: Parents are notified about GATE testing.
  • Late February/March: GATE test (Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, OLSAT 8) is administered at each school site.
  • June: Parents are notified electronically of the test results.
FVSD GATE Qualification Criteria (Grades 3-7)
 

The screening process for identifying gifted students is based on multiple measures. Students in grades 3-7 may test for GATE a total of three times (never more than two consecutive years) during their enrollment in FVSD. Universal screening occurs in the 3rd grade and through the parent nomination process for students in grades 4-7.

 

In FVSD, there are two sets of GATE qualification criteria. One criterion applies to the general student population, while the second criterion applies to students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in GATE programs. The second criterion pertains to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, English learners, those receiving special education services, or other underrepresented groups.

 
General Population Criteria
Pathway #1
General Intellectual Ability (Students must meet all criteria to qualify)
Screener Minimum Score
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) 95th Percentile
Teacher Survey Minimum Score of 14
Pathway #2
High Achievement (12 points needed to qualify)
Screener Minimum Score
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) 95th-99th Percentile 6 points
89th-94th Percentile 5 points
Teacher Survey Score of 14-15 3 points
Score of 12-13 2 points
SBAC Results - ELA Level 4 3 points
Level 3 2 points
SBAC Results - Math Level 4 3 points
Level 3 2 points


Special Populations Criteria
Pathway #1
General Intellectual Ability (Students must meet all criteria to qualify)
Screener Minimum Score
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) 93rd Percentile
Teacher Survey Minimum Score of 13
Pathway #2
High Achievement (12 points needed to qualify)
Screener Minimum Score
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) 93rd-99th Percentile 6 points
85th-92nd Percentile 5 points
Teacher Survey Score of 13-15 3 points
Score of 11-12 2 points
SBAC Results - ELA Level 4 3 points
Level 3 2 points
SBAC Results - Math Level 4 3 points
Level 3 2 points
Contact: Dominique Riutort
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 714-843-3269

General Population Criteria

Pathway #1 – General Intellectual Ability

Students must meet all criteria to qualify.

Screener Minimum Score
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) 95th Percentile
Teacher Survey Minimum Score of 14

Pathway #2 – High Achievement

Students must earn a total of 12 points to qualify.

Screener Score Points
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) 95th–99th Percentile 6 points
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) 89th–94th Percentile 5 points
Teacher Survey Score of 14–15 3 points
Teacher Survey Score of 12–13 2 points
SBAC Results – ELA Level 4 3 points
SBAC Results – ELA Level 3 2 points
SBAC Results – Math Level 4 3 points
SBAC Results – Math Level 3 2 points