Gifted And Talented Education (GATE)

Referral information and process

For students enrolled in a CBE school:

1. The family and current teacher/principal discuss students learning and programming needs.
2. Explore the need for a psycho-educational assessment and/or alternative programming options. Arrange for
necessary assessments.
3. Review the assessment results and the referral criteria for GATE to determine if a referral should be considered.
4. Determine what needs are not/cannot be met in the current classroom with support from the Individualized
Program Plan (IPP). Please note a referral for GATE goes beyond just being identified as a gifted learner.
5. If a referral is appropriate, the CBE Student GATE Referral form is completed.
6. The Parent form, as part of the CBE form, is returned to the current school to be included in the referral.
7. The current school personnel will forward the completed referral to the GATE Placement Committee, Learning
th
6 Floor, Education Centre.
Referrals for CBE students are only accepted directly from CBE schools.
For Non-CBE students:
Please complete steps 2 & 3 above, as well as the NON-CBE Student GATE Referral form (obtained from the
Specialist for Gifted Education). Send the completed referral to the GATE Placement Committee, Learning,
th
Calgary Board of Education, 6 Floor - 1221 8 St SW Calgary AB T2R 0L4.
Please note:
Creating the GATE referral takes time, so this process should be started well before the submission dates.
Completed referrals will be accepted for placement between the dates listed below.
All referrals received between these dates are considered on an equal basis.
GATE referrals are accepted after these date, if space is available.
Further information regarding GATE may be obtained from the CBE Gifted Education website or from Dr. Laurie Alisat,
Specialist, Gifted Education at lalisat@cbe.ab.ca

The following locations are the designated GATE schools by residential area. Please indicate the appropriate GATE
school on the referral form.
GATE
Area I

Area II

Area III

Area IV
Area V

Grade 4-6

Grade 7 9

Hillhurst School

Queen Elizabeth High School

Hillhurst School

Queen Elizabeth High School

Hillhurst School

Queen Elizabeth High School

Louis Riel School

Louis Riel School

Louis Riel School

Louis Riel School

Grade 10 12
Queen Elizabeth High School
Henry Wise Wood High
School
Queen Elizabeth High School
Henry Wise Wood High
School
Queen Elizabeth High School
Henry Wise Wood High
School
Henry Wise Wood High
School
Queen Elizabeth High School
Henry Wise Wood High
School
Queen Elizabeth High School

Main GATE referral submission dates: 2nd & 3rd weeks of February

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GATE referral criteria

The key considerations for a GATE placement include:
The psycho-educational assessment report indicates a full scale score within the very superior range (at or
above 130). Full Scale IQ scores lower than 130 may be referred, if the psychological assessment identifies
extenuating factors.
The students primary special education programming needs arise from his/her giftedness and his/her needs
may not be met in a community classroom.
There is a clear match between the students primary learning needs and GATE.
If there are questions regarding alignment between the student profile and eligibility criteria for GATE, please contact the
CBE Specialist for Gifted Education.
GATE referral documents
The following are required for a student to be referred for a GATE placement:
1. Current psycho-educational assessment report, providing the results and interpretation of an individually
administered cognitive test. Acceptable test instruments are the WISC-IV or V (including IQ and all Index
scores, reported using Canadian norms) or the Stanford-Binet V. The assessment must have been conducted
within three years of the date of referral for a GATE placement. Please note: cognitive assessments conducted
before the student is 7 years of age will not be accepted. An updated assessment would be required even if
such an assessment is less than three years old.
2. Results of standardized, individually administered, achievement tests (using current test versions and
Canadian norms, where available) conducted within one year of the date of referral for a GATE placement.
Acceptable instruments are limited to the WIAT-III, KTEA-II, and Woodcock-Johnson III (Tests of Achievement).
Other achievement measures may also be included but do not replace the need for the standardized
assessment.
Notes for those who conduct the standardized achievement assessment (i.e. psychologists or qualified
educators administering specialized Level B assessments). If the assessment is being completed, by a private
psychologist or any other non-CBE psychologist, please ensure they are aware of each of these test
requirements and they request any clarification needed.
The GATE placement committee is particularly interested in current levels of achievement with respect to both
basic skills and application of those skills in the areas of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. For example, in
each area, and where possible, it is helpful to have one or more measures of skill requirements (e.g. decoding,
sounding out, spelling, numerical operations, fluency measures) and some measure of how the student makes
use of those skills (e.g. comprehension, reasoning, expression etc.). Composite scores in reading, writing, and
math should be provided wherever possible. Standard scores from these achievement tests are particularly
critical in the students area of exceptional strength, or in areas of relative weakness for students who, although
cognitively gifted, may have experienced challenges in one or more academic areas.
3. A completed CBE Student or Non-CBE Student GATE Referral form.
4. A copy of the students most recent report card.
The following documents, when available, are requested:
5. School Learning Team (SLT) notes or summaries.
6. A copy of the students Individualized Program Plan (IPP). Include the assessment of goals identified in the IPP
and how well the strategies have worked to address goals.
7. A copy of the results of Alberta Provincial Achievement Tests or other standardized achievement tests
NOTE:
Documents provided for a GATE referral become the property of the Calgary Board of Education and become part of the
permanent Student Record. (Administrative Regulation 6024 Student Records; and the School Act of Alberta, Section
23). Please do not submit additional information or materials.
GATE placement student residency important information for parents
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It must be determined if the student is a resident of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) as defined under legislation.
Section 45(3) of The School Act state that a school board can enrol a non-resident student (whose parents have
requested that their child enrol in that school board) if, in the opinion of that board, there are sufficient resources and
facilities available to accommodate the non-resident student. Students who are not Canadian citizens must first be
referred to the Admissions Office located in Kingsland Centre.
If the parents live apart and in different attendance areas, the parents shall identify in writing which address is
considered the primary residence. It is important to determine the residency of a student to:
Determine the admission priority for the student if sufficient resources or facilities in the school are limited.
Confirm, in writing, to the parent or independent student the duration of the acceptance if the student being
admitted is a non-resident.
A student is resident to the CBE if one or more of the situations below are true: Geography: The parent/guardian(s) who
have day-to-day care of the student must live within the CBE boundary. In the case of an Independent Student, the
student must live within the CBE boundary. Religion: One or both parents of the student are not of the Roman Catholic
faith.
Declaration of residency:
When one parent is Roman Catholic and one parent is not, the parents may declare residency to the Calgary
Board of Education by checking Yes to the residency question on the registration form and signing the form.
A student is not resident to the Calgary Board of Education if one or both of the situations below are true:
Geography: The parent/legal guardians(s) who have day-to-day care of the student or an Independent Student,
live outside of the CBE boundary.
Religion: Both parents are of the Roman Catholic faith.
GATE placement decision making process
Students referred for GATE placement are considered in accordance with the Standards for Special Education,
Amended 2004, the School Act of Alberta, and CBE Administrative Regulations 3001, 3003, 6090, 6091.
GATE placement decisions:
are made by consensus of the GATE Placement Committee (Specialist for Gifted Education, CBE Psychology
personnel, GATE school staff). In the event consensus cannot be reached within the Placement Committee, the
Director of Learning will make the determination whether or not a student will be offered a placement.
are based on meeting the GATE eligibility criteria and on a match between the students learning needs and the
GATE program. If a GATE placement is not offered, the student will be supported according to their learning
needs in another CBE setting.
will be communicated to the students Primary Contact by email in early April.
When a GATE placement is offered:
the Placement Letter should be signed by the parents/guardians and returned prior to the deadline, to the
designated GATE school
if placement is declined, contact the Specialist for Gifted Education. There is no guarantee of admittance at a
later date. As well, an updated referral will be required for future consideration.

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Definitions
1. parent means
i.

the biological parent or, if the student is an adopted child, the adoptive parent,

ii.

notwithstanding clause (i), if the students biological or adoptive parent resided in Alberta and has changed his
residence so that it is outside Alberta or unknown, the individual who has care and custody of the student as a
result of the change,

iii.

notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii), the individual who has custody of the student under
A. a court order, or
B. a written agreement made pursuant to a statute governing custody of the student, if the individual notifies the
board in writing of his custody.

iv.

notwithstanding clauses (i) to (iii), the guardian of the student appointed under
A. a temporary or permanent guardianship order under the Child Welfare Act,
B. a written agreement made pursuant to the Domestic Relations Act or the Child Welfare Act,
C. an order of a court, if the guardian notifies the board in writing of his appointment, or

v.

notwithstanding clauses (i) to (iv), the Minister of Justice and Attorney General if the student is in custody under
the Corrections Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (Canada), the Young Offenders Act or the
Young Offenders Act (Canada).

2. independent student means a student who is

i.

18 years of age or older, or

ii.

16 years of age or older and

A. who is living independently,
B. who is a party to an agreement under section 7(2) of the Child Welfare Act, or
C. on behalf of whom a social allowance is issued under section 9(1) of the Social Development Act.

3. age of majority means 18 years of age

Authorization for Collection of Personal Information

The personal information requested is collected under the authority of the School Act, the Student Record Regulation
and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purposes specified above. If you have any
questions about this consent form or the collection, uses, or disclosure of this personal information, please contact the
person to whom you will be submitting the GATE Referral (either the principal of the appropriate school site or the
Specialist, Gifted Education.

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