Gifted/Talented Service Options

KDE Regulation and FCPS Policy in a Nutshell

G/T students must be provided services during the regular school hours that:

• Are qualitatively differentiated
• Commensurate with student abilities, needs, and interests
• Facilitate high level attainment of goals

Recommended Service Options

• Acceleration by subject
• Acceleration by grade
• Early exit from primary
• Advanced placement
• Honors
• Collaborative teaching
• Consultation
• Differentiated experiences
• Enrichment
• Independent study for course credit
• Mentorships
• Seminars
• Special schools/programs

Identified students should not be penalized for working in a service delivery option by repeating already mastered materials in the regular classroom.

The gifted teacher’s responsibility is to the gifted student. The teacher of gifted/talented students should not be responsible for whole group instruction even in a collaborative or consultative model.

Services are determined by school g/t committees but can not violate or circumvent State or Board policy.

Definitions

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/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 gifted/talented 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/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/program that serves gifted students in specific areas and develops specific areas of giftedness.

Needs of Gifted//Talented Students

Service options are designed to meet the following needs of gifted/talented students

• Continuous progress
• Advanced critical and creative thinking instruction and strategies
• Advanced research
• Access to advanced resources
• Real-world problem-solving
• Creative problem-solving
• Creative writing
• Exploration of leadership skills
• Training in effective leadership techniques and styles
• Responsible use of influence and decision-making
• Creative and aesthetic productions

Levels of G/T Services

• Magnet school programs
• Advanced placement
• Acceleration by subject or grade
• Mentorships
• Independent study for credit
• Collaborative teaching
• Honors classes
• Resource groups
• Special counseling services
• Independent study projects
• Differentiated experiences within the regular classroom
• Enrichment activities
• Cluster Grouping
• Consultation between regular teachers and specialists

Gifted and Talented Home

Last update: 8/14/2006 11:12:04 AM     Printer friendly view