Gifted testing in Florida: how it works and how to prepare

Florida is different from most states. In many places a group test like the CogAT decides who is gifted. In Florida, a group test is usually only a screener: eligibility under the state rule comes from an individual IQ test given one-on-one by a psychologist. This guide explains the rule, how districts get children to that IQ test, and what practice actually helps.

The Florida rule

Florida's State Board rule 6A-6.03019 sets gifted eligibility for every district. Under Plan A, a student needs:

1. An IQ two standard deviations or more above the mean on an individually given intelligence test. On a test with an average of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, that is 130, about the 98th percentile.
2. A majority of gifted characteristics on a standard checklist.
3. A need for a special program.

Under Plan B, a district with a plan the state has approved can identify students from underrepresented groups using its own criteria. Miami-Dade's Plan B for grades 1–3, for example, uses a points matrix in which an IQ of 112 or higher earns points, together with a characteristics checklist and documented need.

How children get to the IQ test

The path to the individual IQ test varies by district. In the 22 Florida districts we have researched, three patterns stand out:

Every 2nd grader is screened. Broward County screens all second graders with the CogAT. Palm Beach County screens all second graders in its public elementary schools with the NNAT3. Orange County gives all second graders a group intelligence test at school, and Pasco County screens all second graders too. High scorers are then referred for the individual IQ test.

Screen after a nomination. In Pinellas County, a parent, teacher, classmate or the child can nominate a student from kindergarten on. The school gives a short CogAT or NNAT screener, and a result at the 90th percentile or above leads to a free IQ test by a district psychologist. Escambia uses a characteristics checklist and an intellectual screener such as the KBIT-2 before referral.

Referral and data review. In many districts, including Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Duval, Lee and Volusia, a parent or teacher starts the process through the school, and the school reviews data, checklists or a screener before the IQ test. Hillsborough first considers every student using data the school already has.

Sarasota accepts results from a private psychologist, which a district school psychologist reviews first. Ask your own district whether it does the same before paying for private testing.

What to practice

For a group screener (CogAT or NNAT). This is where practice with the formats is most useful. The questions use formats children rarely see in class: picture analogies, figure matrices, paper folding, number puzzles with trains. A child who has seen each format a few times knows what is being asked. See our guides to the 2nd grade CogAT and the NNAT.

For the individual IQ test. Individual tests are given one-on-one and cover a wide mix of tasks. There is no single format to learn. What helps is a rested, relaxed child who is used to listening carefully, explaining their thinking out loud and keeping going when a question is hard. Our puzzle-time activities build those habits.

Find your district

Florida has 67 county school districts. Our district pages show the screening steps, tests and sources for each one we have researched, and the state rule for the rest.

Free ways to practice

• The free sample quiz has original practice questions in the style of the CogAT, NNAT, OLSAT and Naglieri tests.
• Our printables include free CogAT-style and NNAT-style packs to do on paper.
• A free readiness check shows which question types are new or harder for your child. It is a practice estimate, not an IQ score or a screening result.

CogAT® is a registered trademark of Riverside Assessments, LLC. NNAT® is a trademark of Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. OLSAT® is a registered trademark and Naglieri General Ability Tests™ a trademark of Multi-Health Systems Inc. (MHS). These owners are not affiliated with and do not endorse GiftedCub. Test names are used only to describe the formats our original practice material is designed to resemble.