Acceleration by Grade:

Official assignment to the next year in school (does not include honors classes, content or subject acceleration).

Acceleration by Subject/Content:

Students receiving instruction in a content area in a higher grade level class (does not include advanced instruction in a cluster group or honors classes).

Advanced Placement or Honors:

Courses emphasizing college-level content based on college board curricula and tests (advanced placement), or the provision of more challenging material through higher levels of content, process and product (honors courses).

Cluster Group:

Grouping of identified students in a heterogeneous classroom for the purpose of receiving differentiated services matched to students’ needs by a teacher trained in the appropriate instruction of gifted and talented students.

Collaboration:

Instruction in a regular classroom to a cluster group of identified gifted students by a specialist in conjunction with the regular classroom teacher. The gifted and talented teacher plans with the classroom teacher and provides direct differentiated instruction to one or more identified gifted students within the regular classroom setting. Does not include whole-class instruction by the G&T teacher.

Consultation:

Provision of instructional information/materials by the gifted teacher to the regular classroom teacher so that appropriate and adequate services to the gifted student may be provided in the regular classroom.

Differentiated Experiences and Enrichment:

Educational lessons and activities which extend, replace, or supplement learning beyond the standard curriculum.

Gifted/Talented Resource Teachers:

FCPS gifted and talented resource teachers provide services to students identified in general intellectual ability and/or specific academic total/partial battery.

Independent Study:

Self-directed course or study of a selected topic under the supervision of a teacher or the auspices of a university.

Mentorship:

Specialized in-depth, long-term, advanced studies or internships with an adult community member and under the direction of an educator knowledgeable in gifted education.

Resource Group:

Part-time grouping of identified gifted and talented students based on students’ interests, needs and abilities and designed for accelerated content, special interest groups, process skills development or various combinations of all.

Seminars:

Discussion-based sessions on specific topics focusing on advanced content and higher level process skills.

Special Counseling:

Counseling assistance planned in coordination with the gifted teacher and provided by a counselor familiar with the characteristics and social-emotional needs of gifted and talented students.

Special Schools/Program:

School or program that serves gifted students in specific areas and develops specific areas of giftedness.