Services for students who are
Gifted and Talented
WELCOME!
The mission statement for Green Bay Area Public Schools begins: “We embrace learning for all as our highest priority.” Gifted students often come into the classroom already knowing much of what is going to be taught or they learn “fast and forever” and must wait for others to catch up. Our goal for gifted and talented (GT) students is to provide the appropriate level of challenge so that they may continue to learn and grow.
Gifted students have unique academic and social/emotional needs. If these needs are not met, there is a loss: a loss to the student, a loss to the school, and a loss to society. The two most important things that families and schools must provide for gifted students are the appropriate level of academic challenge and the opportunity to spend time with other gifted students.
Click on one of the following topics to learn more about services for gifted students in Green Bay Area Public Schools:
DEFINITIONS OF GIFTEDNESS
Various definitions of giftedness have been offered. In 1991 the Columbus Group concluded that giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. Joseph Renzulli’s three-ring model of giftedness includes above average ability, a high level of creativity, and a high level of task commitment.
One of the most widely used definitions was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education in 1972 and revised in 1988. It is known as the Marland definition: The term gifted and talented students means children and youth who give evidence of high performance capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop such capabilities. (Davis, G. & Rimm, S. [1998]. Education of the Gifted and Talented. 4th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.)
IS YOUR CHILD GIFTED?
All children have special abilities and strengths, but some have gifts that are far beyond those of other children their age. If you think that your child has an unusual ability in one or more areas such as math or reading or in the arts or leadership, you may want to begin the process of formal identification by filling out a Gifted and Talented Nomination Form.
The criteria that the district currently uses to determine whether or not a child is gifted include a score of 95 or above on the most recent standardized test and work samples or a portfolio. In addition, the student must score high on a rating scale called the Gifted Evaluation Scale.
Students may be nominated and identified at any time. Young children (grades K-2) for whom we do not have enough standardized test data may be put on Alert.
The first step is to discuss this with your child’s teacher. He or she will be able to tell you how your child’s abilities compare with other children his or her age. Be aware that gifted children do not always behave perfectly and occasionally teachers do not “see” giftedness in children who are disruptive or who may challenge the teacher. If you agree that the child should be nominated, you may click here for the Gifted and Talented Nomination Form. If you and the teacher do not agree and you feel strongly that your child may be gifted, contact your Supportive Resource Teacher (SRT). A list of SRTs is included under Where To Go For Help.
Gifted students tend to have characteristics such as
- advanced vocabulary for their age
- ability to learn new things very quickly
- outstanding memory
- ability and preference for thinking on a higher, more abstract level than their peers
- sophisticated sense of humor
- ability to see connections between apparently unlike things and to transfer concepts to new situations
IDENTIFICATION OF GIFTED STUDENTS
Green Bay Area Public Schools use the Marland definition of giftedness as cited in Wisconsin School Law, Chapter 118.35: In this section, “gifted and talented pupils” means pupils enrolled in public schools who give evidence of high performance capability in intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership, or specific academic areas and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided in a regular school program in order to fully develop such capabilities.
Green Bay Area Public Schools identify students as gifted and talented in one or more areas using multiple criteria (Wisconsin statute, standard t). These criteria include student performance on standardized tests such as the Wisconsin Knowledge Concepts Examination (WKCE) and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP); parent, teacher, or student nomination; ranking on the Gifted Evaluation Scale; portfolios or samples of student work; and other proof of student achievement or potential. Because giftedness exists in all socioeconomic and ethnic groups, attention is paid to equity in identification and services to students from traditionally under represented populations.
The process begins with a nomination and the collection of data. Parents and teachers are asked to complete the Gifted Evaluation Scale. The data are used to create a student profile and determine the appropriate placement for the student.
Level I identification criteria include two or more of the following:
- Score in the 95th to 96th percentile on the most recent standardized test
- Standard score between 13 and 15 on the Gifted Evaluation Scale
- Student work samples or portfolio
Level II identification criteria include two or more of the following:
- Score in the 97th to 99th percentile on the most recent standardized test
- Standard score between 16 and 20 on the Gifted Evaluation Scale
- Student work samples or portfolio
The standardized tests that are used are achievement tests; that is, they reflect what the student has already learned and can apply. In rare cases, an IQ test may be administered by a school psychologist. An IQ test is an aptitude test which can identify student potential in several areas.
After a determination has been made, parents will be invited to meet to discuss how best to meet the needs of their child.
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