Important TAG Identification and Screening Dates

  August 26 – December 1  

Grades 6 and 7 teacher and staff nomination window.  Students will be tested with an Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT).  MCAP Reading and Math district percentile scores will be used in the screening process.

  August 26 - January 15  

  Parents/guardians may nominate students for TAG screening.  The request for TAG screening must be in writing to the TAG coordinator or professional school counselor. TAG Coordinator will review all existing data to complete the screening.  Test data is valid for 2 years.  

  August 26 -  October 3  

Early Entrance to First Grade (AP 5111.11)  test request & teacher observation window. (Note:  Qualifying students should be moved to first grade by the beginning of second quarter.) and WILL NOT TAKE a second OLSAT Testing.  Contact the TAG Coordinator at the school.

October 6  

TAG Center Specialty Program Lottery Application Opens - https://pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com/

Students must be TAG identified by PGCPS and apply to the lottery by the deadline to be eligible to attend the TAG Center Program.  Placements are made based on home address.  Use Schoolfinder to identify the program boundary school.

To be considered for placement in a TAG Center Specialty Program for the 2026–2027 school year, students must be identified and coded for TAG services by March 13, 2026.

Students identified after March 13, 2026, will participate in the TAG Program at their boundary school in Fall 2026.These students may also have an opportunity to apply during a late lottery window in July/August 2026 (if available), and can apply during the December 2026 - March 2027 lottery for the 2027–2028 school year.

Please Note:Students currently enrolled in private or homeschool settings must participate in the PGCPS screening process and meet the established criteria for TAG services to be eligible for possible TAG Center placement.  

October 6-16

Grade 3 New Registrants to PGCPS will be tested with the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT)

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

October 20 - November 6

ALL Grade 1 students will be tested with the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) 

All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile on verbal, nonverbal, or total score will be screened for TAG services

Students moved to Grade 1 from Kindergarten via AP 5111.11 and tested with the OLSAT A should NOT test again

Students who take the grade 1 OLSAT are not eligible to take another cognitive ability assessment until grade 4.

November 20

AP 5111.11 Report on Early Entrance to First Grade (Attachment 2) due to the TAG Office

November 12 - 21

Grade 2 New Registrants students will be tested with the OLSAT.

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

December 8 - 17

ALL Grade 4 students (not already TAG-identified) will be tested with the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) 

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

December 8 - 17

Grade 5 New Registrants to PGCPS will be tested with Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) 

(All students scoring at or above the 81st percentile will be screened for TAG services)

March 13

Lottery application Deadline - https://pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com/

Students must be TAG identified by PGCPS and apply to the lottery by the deadline to be eligible to attend the TAG Center Program.  Placements are made based on home address.  Use Schoolfinder to identify the program boundary school.

*

Testing window dates are subject to change per the Testing Office Master Calendar. Each School will determine the exact testing dates within the testing window.