Public school districts (city, local, and exempted village) are required to identify students in grades K-12 for gifted identification in the following areas:
Superior cognitive ability;
Specific academic ability: mathematics, reading/writing, science, and social studies;
Creative thinking ability; and
Visual or performing arts ability: dance, drama, music, and visual arts.
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is administered to all students in grades 2 and 4, annually. Additionally, for those identified for reassessment in the area of Critical Thinking, the Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students is utilized.