What is the Gifted Support Program?

  • The Gifted Support Program is available to those students in grades K-8 who have been identified as gifted as the result of a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation.  Students meet formally in a pull-out program once a week.  Classes focus on developing and using higher order thinking skills.  In addition, students are expected to participate in culturally-related field trips each year.  Gifted students are also encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities available outside of school, including seminars and workshops sponsored by colleges and local organizations and academic contests.  The gifted support teachers meet with each student and his/her parents to individualize the student's program, including independent study opportunities when appropriate.  In consultation with the student's parents and teachers, a gifted individualized educational plan (GIEP) is developed annually. 

    Who is Eligible to Participate?

    The Chapter 16 regulations of the Department of Education define mentally gifted students as those with outstanding intellectual and creative abilities, the development of which requires specially designed instruction.  This generally includes students with an IQ of 130 or higher when multiple criteria, as defined by the Department of Education, indicate gifted abilities.
     
    An initial Multiple Disciplinary Evaluation (MDE), to determine if a student is gifted and would benefit from specialized instruction, can be requested by the parents of a student or by school district personnel.  The MDE team, which includes the student's parents and a certified school psychologist, collects and evaluates educational information to discover whether the educational criteria in the student's profile strongly indicate gifted abilities.  Standardized test scores, talents and abilities, and classroom performance are all considered in addition to the results of an individually administered intelligence test.
     
    Complete information about placement in the Gifted Support Program is available in the Chapter 16 regulations, which can be accessed through The Pennsylvania Department of Education.

CTY Program

  • John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

    What is the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth?
    CTY shares with its parent organization, the Johns Hopkins University, a three-part mission of teaching, research, and service. More specifically, CTY:
    • Seeks students of the highest academic ability through its talent search and offers them challenging educational opportunities that develop the intellect, encourage achievement, and nurture social development.
    • Conducts research and evaluation studies that advance knowledge about gifted education; develops best practices in educating highly able children; and disseminates its findings to parents, the education community, and policymakers.
    • Supports educators in their efforts to meet the needs of highly able students assist parents in advocating for their gifted children and participate actively in community service.
    To learn more about this program please click here:
    http://cty.jhu.edu/ts/index.html

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