Gifted & Talented Education

General Procedures for Identification

The process to identify gifted and talented students includes multiple measures in order to identify student strengths in intellectual ability, creativity, or a specific academic area. The identification process shall include consideration of all students, including those who are English language learners and those with Individualized Education Programs or Section 504 Plans. As a receiving County Vocational District, data will be collected to identify students who were previously labeled as gifted from their sending district.

Students are identified through a variety of assessments and information to determine eligibility to the district's Gifted & Talented program:

• NJSLA assessment data
• IReady diagnostic and benchmark assessments
• Canvas Mastery data
• Trimester grades and final exam grades
• Teacher recommendation(s)
• Enrichment Program Participation - Career & Technical Student Organizations
• Sending school districts and parents confirmation of participation in a previous Gifted & Talented program

Upon the analysis of this data, the district’s Gifted & Talented Team will meet each month. The Gifted & Talented team is made up of the G&T advisors, school counselors, teachers and administration.

If a student is eligible to join the Gifted & Talented program, the parent(s)/guardian(s) are then notified of their child's eligibility and will make the final determination whether their child participates in the Gifted & Talented program. Participation is not required.

It is important to note that each student's academic journey can take many paths, most of which are not linear. Student growth and development can ebb and flow depending on many factors. Therefore, eligibility to participate in the Gifted & Talented program may change from year to year.

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Categories of Giftedness

Gifted & Talented students exist in all cultural and socioeconomic subgroups. These students can be identified by exceptionally high performance, achievement, or potential in the following areas:��General Intellectual Ability: Characteristics for these students include exceptional ability in both verbal and non-verbal reasoning. This is often characterized by advanced vocabulary and abstract reasoning. Generally, they are capable of achieving in all academic subjects.��Specific Intellectual or Academic Ability: These students’ characteristics include exceptional ability in either verbal or non-verbal reasoning. They are exceptionally high achievers in a specific academic subject because the standard curriculum is insufficient. This particular ability may be displayed as an exceptional understanding of skill in a vocational area.��Creative or Productive Thinking Ability: These students’ characteristics include the exceptional ability to develop original or unusual ideas and unique solutions to problems. They are very imaginative and often willing to take risks when offering views.��Psychosocial Ability: Characteristics for these students include exceptional managerial or leadership ability. This is often characterized by the ability to organize people and tasks and motivate others. Often these students have strong moral and social concerns. These students often relate well to adults and peers and can be relied on to accept and carry out responsibilities.��Psychomotor Ability: These students show exceptional ability in fine and/or gross motor skills. They have outstanding ability in balance, strength, physical endurance, and agility, as well as aptitude in fine and industrial crafts.��Visual or Performing Arts Ability: These students have exceptional ability in art, music, drama, or creative writing. They are highly committed to their art form and often show imagination and originality within general artistic disciplines. Psychomotor Ability: These students show exceptional ability in fine or gross motor skills. They have exceptional ability in balance, strength, physical endurance, and agility.

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Programs to Support

Gifted & Talented Students

Career & Technical Student Organizations - Enrichment Programs

Independent Student Learning Opportunities

The purpose of Independent Student Learning Opportunities is to provide educational experiences that are meaningful and relevant, and that provide students with opportunities to explore and achieve at high levels. Independent Student Learning Opportunities allows local school districts to design and implement curricular programs that meet the needs of all students. Independent Student Learning Opportunities supports student participation in deep and meaningful learning experiences that advance learning and focus on student interest and abilities.

Independent Student Learning Opportunities allow students to obtain credit for learning experiences outside the traditional classroom environment. Some of these experiences may provide connections outside of the regular school setting. Other learning experiences may go beyond what the traditional high school can provide, allowing students to participate in research or college-level work.

School to Careers Cooperative Education

The goal of the district’s School to Careers program is to partner with industries in order to create effective-work based learning opportunities. These transitional experiences connect students with the working world. Cooperative Education is offered through the School to Careers program. It’s designed to provide work-based learning activities with on-the-job training and technical instruction. The entire community becomes a laboratory through which students are prepared for jobs vital to economic development.

The Goals & Objectives of the Cooperative Education Experience include the following:

• Academic Development: Apply knowledge learned in the classroom to a workplace setting
• Skill Development: Learn the skills required to be successful in the workplace and career areas
• Career Development: Enhance knowledge of the qualifications and responsibilities necessary to enter a career area
• Personal Development: Strengthen decision-making and critical thinking skills, personal responsibility, confidence, and self-esteem
• Technology Utilization: Use technology as it applies to the industry. Achievement is demonstrated by participation in academic courses, worksite experience, and connecting activities

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Programs to Support

Gifted & Talented Students