Referral Process

Types of Referrals

Once it has been determined that a student is a candidate for screening, an online referral form should be completed by a classroom or homeroom teacher.  There are four types of SAGE referrals which include classroom teacher, parent/guardian, student, and peer.  Parents/guardians, students, and peers must request a referral through the classroom or homeroom teacher to begin the process.

Regardless of the type of referral, the classroom teacher completes the form using the online referral system.  Parents/guardians requesting their child be screened for testing must should communicate with the classroom teacher or the school counselor (middle school and high school) to have the referral completed.  Parents/guardians will be sent a link to complete an online observation form. School principals are notified of the SAGE referral through an email from the online referral system.  Referrals are reviewed once a month by the SAGE Panel Review Team. The entire referral process may take several weeks to complete.

Gifted Program Student from Another District

A student who was in a gifted program in another district must be pre-screened to determine if they qualify based upon North Kansas City Schools’ Board policy.  The classroom teacher should submit an online SAGE referral and include the student’s previous school records (including all information pertaining to the gifted evaluation process, gifted placement, gifted progress, etc.). Additionally, the teacher, principal, or school administrative assistant should notify the SAGE principal or administrative assistant, so student records can be reviewed as soon as possible. If the student meets qualifications within the board policy, the parents will be notified and services will begin as soon as possible.  If the student does not meet initial eligibility criteria, the SAGE Panel Review Team will review the referral to determine what, if any, additional SAGE cognitive or academic testing is appropriate. 

Returning NKC Schools SAGE Student

Once a student has qualified for the gifted program in North Kansas City Schools, the student maintains eligibility status.  If a student has withdrawn from the program and the parent desires the student to return, the student does not need to be re-screened. Instead, the parent needs to give written notification of the student’s desire to return to SAGE to the child’s school and to the Principal of Gifted Programs.

Student Who Did Not Previously Qualify

A student who has previously been referred to the gifted program but did not qualify must have an Appeal filed in order to be reconsidered.  Unless there was some type of problem (child was sick, death in the family) during the testing, the student must wait one year from the previous testing before appealing his/her results.  Board policy requires supporting documents (including new test data) to be included along with the Appeal Form.

Private/Parochial/Homeschool

Students who reside in the North Kansas City School District boundaries but attend a private or parochial school, or who are homeschooled, may be referred by a parent or teacher to determine if a student is eligible for gifted education services. Referral forms can be obtained by contacting the SAGE Center Office. Referred students will follow the regular screening process.  Those who qualified for further testing, will follow the testing process as indicated in the “Testing” paragraph.