Teacher Resources

Understanding Our District's Policies

Use the following resources to help you identify the qualities of a gifted student as well as understand how our district screens, evaluates, and then provides appropriate services to students in the district that are in need of gifted services.

Characteristics of a Gifted Child

In order to be able to help your students or identify potential gifted students in your classroom, you must be able to understand the characteristics of a gifted student. Use the information from these websites to help you understand.
The Bright Child vs. The Gifted Leaner
Bright Child or Gifted Learner?

Screening

Annual screenings will be conducted in the regular education classroom to ensure that all students are receiving the services necessary to meet their educational needs. Teachers will be responsible for these screenings beginning in Kindergarten until 12th grade. During the spring of 2nd grade all students will be receiving a group screening assessment.

Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP)

Those who qualify for gifted services receive a GIEP, a written document which outlines the learning strengths and needs of the student. The GIEP will indicate the services the student will receive. A team meeting occurs once a year to review and revise the GIEP document. Parents, students, teachers, administrators, and school counselors make up the team.

Teacher Referral

Do you think you have identified a gifted student who you thinks services to meet his/her needs? Email your school guidance counselor as soon as possible and make a request for a screening for that student. The guidance counselor will conduct the screener and will follow up with the results.

Evaluation

Once students have been screened, if the qualifications are met, then students will be provided a full evaluation. This evaluation will be conducted by the school psychologist upon receiving a signed parent permission form. during the evaluation, various assessments will be given to the student as well as data will be gathered from the parents, teacher, and records on file.

Meeting Student Needs

The GIEP document will serve as a guide for the student’s classroom teachers and help them structure lessons that contribute to the student’s annual goals. Each gifted learner has his/her own unique needs. These needs may include acceleration in classes or coursework, enrichment activities that meet the students’ gifted abilities, and/or both enrichment and acceleration. Some of these services may be met in the classroom, others may require meeting with the gifted services teacher outside the classroom, and others may require students to complete coursework or projects at home.