How Does Your Identification System Measure Up? A Guide to Applying the CASA Criteria to Gifted and Talented Identification Systems

The ability to effectively identify students for advanced learning opportunities has been an ongoing issue within the field of gifted education. Common criteria to guide the design and evaluation of identification systems has been essentially non-existent. In this article we provide a practical guide for evaluating and reflecting on the effectiveness of identification criteria, namely: CASA (Cost, Alignment, Sensitivity, and Access). To demonstrate their use, the CASA criteria are described and the criteria are applied to a hypothetical district with discussion about decisions and changes to support more equitable identification and services alignment. A checklist is also provided to guide district leaders with applying the CASA criteria to their own identification systems. This article builds upon previous descriptions of CASA that have been published.