UNDERSTANDING GIFTED EDUCATION��& THE NEEDS OF GIFTED CHILDREN
MARCH 21, 2022
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “GIFTED”?
“Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.”
(Elementary and Secondary Education Act)
“Outstanding intellectual and creative ability, the development of which requires specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the general education program.” This applies to “school age” children, grades K-12. (PA Chapter 16)
Gifted learners are found in all cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and socioeconomic groups.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “GIFTED”?
Per PA Chapter 16, your child may be eligible for gifted education if your child:
THREE PATHS TO GIFTED IDENTIFICATION�IN BENSALEM TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT
Path 1 - Teacher recommendation for gifted screening
Guidance Counselor administers the KBIT-2 and reviews results with your school’s Child Study Team, who determines if a full gifted evaluation (including IQ test) should be conducted
Path 2 – Parent request
Sometimes an evaluation for Special Education services also indicates giftedness – 2E/Dual Exceptionality
Path 3 – Byproduct of Special Education assessment
Chapter 16 requires any reasonable parent request for gifted evaluation to result in a full Gifted Multidisciplinary Evaluation (GMDE), including IQ test by the School Psychologist -
NOT just a screening
MYTHS ABOUT THE NEEDS OF GIFTED STUDENTS
Let’s hear from some gifted kids directly….
THE NEEDS OF GIFTED KIDS –�SUPPORT THE WHOLE CHILD
Gifted kids are more than their exceptional intellect or talent –
like all of us, they have a full range of needs which must be met:�
GOALS OF GIFTED EDUCATION
The PA Department of Education says that gifted education should:
“… enable the provision of appropriate specially designed instruction based on the student’s need and ability and… ensure that the student is able to benefit meaningfully from the rate, level and manner of instruction.” (22 Pa. Code §16.41)
“The key to challenging the gifted student is the connection between instruction and individual cognitive and affective behaviors. The emphasis in special programs for these students should be on the stimulation of the cognitive processes of creativity, originality, problem solving and complexity (increasing content depth and sophistication).
(PA Gifted Program Guidelines)
GOALS OF GIFTED EDUCATION
Let’s add:
HOW DOES BTSD ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF GIFTED STUDENTS?
Approach #1: Enrichment�
These solutions are designed to address advanced cognitive and academic needs, but -
spending significant time in a community of peers,
which is rare for gifted kids by definition, can have huge social benefits.
HOW DOES BTSD ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF GIFTED STUDENTS?
Approach #2: Acceleration�
A large body of research has found that acceleration can be a very successful, and cost-effective, way to meet the needs of gifted students.
Parents are often concerned about negative social and emotional impacts of acceleration – but studies suggest that this is rare.
Remember - acceleration can be un-done if it’s not working!
HOW CAN A FAMILY SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF GIFTED KID?
Q&A