Gifted and Talented Programming

The goal of the gifted and talented program is to enhance learning for students that display an advanced knowledge or skill level compared to anticipated grade level work. We need to challenge students by integrating advanced material into everyday learning when it is appropriate. We also need to provide a daily opportunity for students to create and think among peers that also are academic challenges. Kids are not just gifted or talented one day per week - we need to create and sustain a program that meet students where they are, everyday in every subject.

Proposed changes to the current PPS gifted and talented program:

  • disband current gifted and talent model of removing students from home school one day per week to go to another location

  • Provide opt out testing; all students get tested periodically throughout their career to ensure maximum capture

  • Incorporate gifted and talented services everyday in schools

    • Integrate gifted and advanced services into general education by general education teachers

    • Use “Development period” to target and advance gifted and talented curriculum for students

    • Use Regional Community Hubs to enhance talented opportunities available to students including music, arts, athletics, engineering, drama, etc

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Advancement/Development Period

Development Period is a full period of the school day every day of the week and is broken up by grade or grade pair: K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6, 7, 8

During each Development Period, multiple options are provided (some are K-5 or 6-8 specific):

  • ELL time with ELD staff

  • Focused help for students who need additional general curriculum attention in a subject (math or ELA)

  • Address IEPs if appropriate

If students aren’t sorted into any of those three categories by their teachers / admin, they can choose from the following list.

  • Sports Exploration Track – learn more details about / practice particular sports (4 or more over the school year)

  • Creative Exploration Track – learn about particular creative options (such as performing and visual arts… )

  • Enrichment Classes offered by the Gifted and Talented Program Staff

  • K-5 only… School Focus Track – extra learning related to the school’s focus (like a STEAM Club or a Language Club)

  • 6-8 only… Career and Tech Options offered in PPS – preparation for choosing a HS… related to CTE, CAPA, AP, CAS, IB, other focus tracks

In order to facilitate the number of opportunities being offered, some Development Period options would be handled by teachers who split their time between 2 schools (within the same region / within close geographic proximity) … one with three Development Periods in the morning and another with their periods in their afternoon.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Gifted and Talented offerings integrated into the school day as “Enrichment Classes” & Creative Exploration Track

Enrichment Classes

  • fulfill the requirements of a gIEP

  • available to students with natural aptitudes who are recommended by school personnel, parents, and community members

Creative Exploration Classes

  • include some of the classes that are currently available through the “Talented” portion of the Gifted and Talented Program

  • can be driven by community interests and resources

  • help to develop natural creative thought processes

Implementation

  • Each school would have at least one member of the Gifted Program Staff assigned from each of the humanities, math, and science content areas. (The exact number would depend on both school enrollment size and number of students with gIEPs in the school.

  • During the First and Third quarters, they would offer instruction in their “strength” area. During the Second and Fourth quarters, they would offer instruction in an “interest” area. (Alternately, two schools that share Gifted Personnel might have one school that swaps the Q1/Q3 classes with the Q2/Q4 classes. That would allow the teacher to move enrichment equipment for either type of class between schools at the Quarter break instead of needing duplicate equipment or having a school that gets less enrichment.)

  • Students with gIEPs would be required to take the “strength” course indicated in their gIEPs. All students taking Enrichment Classes would be allowed to choose from the available “interest” courses that quarter.

  • Gifted program staff are able and available to support general education teachers in individualizing students’ general education material with material that incorporates the highest potential for advancement.