Identification letters for Accelerated Math and TD Enrichment placement will be sent via PowerSchool to families by May 26, 2026.

Accelerated Math Placement Review Requests must be submitted by June 30, 2026.

All Placement Review Requests for Talent Development Enrichment 3-5 must be submitted for the current school year by August 1, 2026.

Placement Review forms can be found under the Placement Review Tab on this page.

Talent Development Program

Dr. Samantha Melendez

Coordinator of Talent Development Program

708-215-6050

talent development

Talent Development Program

Guiding Tenets

We believe that ...

  1. Academic diversity exists naturally. Meeting the needs of all students in school is accomplished through respectful, differentiated learning experiences that are rooted in a continuum of services for students. 

  2. Talent, and potential for talent, are equally distributed among all populations of students (regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, English language proficiency, or socioeconomic status.)  Factors serving as barriers to the expression of talent and/or access need to be recognized and addressed.

  3. The strength/talent area in all learners, including our highest performing students, must be recognized, promoted, and developed, especially those whose academic needs cannot be met through the general education classroom.

  4. Multiple data sources must be tapped to discover individual student strength/talent areas to develop, as well as opportunities for growth. 

PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES

PATHWAYS FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT IDENTIFICATION

IDENTIFICATION TIMELINE

 

Assessment 

Purpose

Dates

FALL MAP- Grades 2-7

Identification for TD Enrichment and Accelerated Math

September 

Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test

Grades 6-7

Jr. High Accelerated Math Placement

Last two weeks in January

Naglieri General Abilities Test  Grades 2-4

TD Enrichment Placement

First two weeks in February

Teacher Rating Scale

(Grades 2-4)

A norm-referenced, standardized instrument used by educators to identify gifted students. 

April-May

SPRING MAP- Grades 2-7

Identification for TD Enrichment and Accelerated Math

April-May

Identification Letters

Sent to qualifying students in TD Enrichment and Accelerated Math 

Last week in May

Placement Review

Parents, Teachers, or Students may request a review of student placement in advanced programming. Additional information may be provided by the recommending person.

May-June 30

PLACEMENT REVIEW PROCESS OVERVIEW

EARLY ENTRANCE K-1

Requests for Early Entrance must be submitted by April 1.

Please contact: Samantha Melendez at 708.215.6050 or melendezsa@dist102.k12.il.us

Additional Information

Calendar

IMPORTANT PROGRAM DATES

Please note that this does NOT include all events that your family might consider important. Please be sure to visit the District 102 webpage and newsletters/notifications from your individual schools and/or classrooms. If you are interested in being included in this group, please contact me. Questions regarding district assessment dates can be addressed by contacting the District 102 Assessment Coordinator.


January- IAAT Testing (Grades 6 and 7)

February  - Naglieri General Abilities Testing (Grades 2, 3, 4)

May- Identification for Accelerated Math (Grades 4-8) and Talent Enrichment (Grades 3-5)

June 30- Placement Review Window Closes for Accelerated Math Placement

August 1- Placement Review Window Closes for TD Enrichment Placement