Gifted and Talented
OVERVIEW
The New Jersey Department of Education requires that each school
district provide services to meet the needs of students who have been
identified as gifted and talented. Each school district must establish a
process to identify students as gifted and talented
using multiple measures. These students require modification to their
educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their
capabilities (N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1).
The New Jersey Department of Education has not adopted standards for
gifted and talented programs. However, there are standards that have
been developed by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC).
The Greenwich Township School District will utilize
these standards to plan classroom instruction.
The national programming standards will help us to examine the quality
of the programs and services we provide for gifted learners. The
programming standards provide the Greenwich Township School District
with a framework that focuses on student outcomes. These
standards provide checkpoints and milestones for improving our programs
and services. A rubric highlighting these standards will be used for
evaluation. These standards have been endorsed by The Association for
the Gifted of the Council for Exceptional Children-The
Association for the Gifted (CEC-TAG).
Teachers, Parents/Guardians, School and District Level Administration
Grade-level and content area teachers use multiple criteria to identify
the varying levels and needs of all students. State and district
standardized assessments, as well as observational data is used to
identify students who should be recommended for Gifted
and Talented. As our teachers do for all students, this information is
utilized to differentiate instruction and provide an extension of
learning within each subject area and/or activity. Student performance
is reviewed annually using grades, age, and developmental
expectations.
A student can also be nominated for consideration for entry into the
Gifted and Talented (GT) through recommendation. School and
district-level administration can review academic performance indicators
to determine entry into GT and/or extended learning opportunities.
Parents/guardians also play a key role in the identification process.
Parents/guardians can recommendation should identify the child’s unique
skills and/or talents be identified in a specialized area. If a
parent/guardian has a question, he/she should reach
out to their child’s building principal. The parent/guardian nomination
provides the parent/guardian with an opportunity to share information
about a potentially gifted child who may not have been detected by the
standard screening process. A parent/guardian
recommendation does not guarantee entry into the Gifted and Talented
program; a recommendation simply means that the student's eligibility
for the program will be investigated and reviewed.
School-based guidance counselors assist this process at all levels from start to finish on a yearly basis.
The Greenwich Township School District is committed to an educational program that develops critical thinkers, problem solvers, and independent, lifelong learners. Each individual possesses a variety of intelligences, as well as a unique learning style, temperament, and pattern of growth and development. Students of all ages need to learn at their instructional level with pace and depth of content matching and challenging their abilities. We recognize each student has unique needs and abilities, which is why we provide a differentiated learning experience that is enriching and challenging for all of our students.
The Greenwich Township School District enhances and extends classroom
experiences for all students. Our Gifted and Talented programming:
- Operates as an integral part of the entire educational program.
- Provides diverse activities and assignments that extend learning beyond the regular classroom and address particular interests/talents.
- Fosters a safe learning environment with clear expectations and accepting attitudes that encourage risk‐taking and exploration.
- Encourages individual confidence and responsibility.
- Uses current research and technical resources to design opportunities that enhance learning.
- Provide multiple opportunities for collaboration.
- Provide opportunities for in‐depth investigations.
It is our responsibility to foster and develop the special abilities and
talents of our students. Enriching a child’s learning experience is an
integral part of our curricular program. This includes providing
services for students identified as “gifted and
talented” and for all students as an extension of the New Jersey
Student Learning Standards. To do this, the Greenwich Township School
District provides a three-tier approach to afford flexibility to meet
the varying needs, abilities, and interests of our
students. The services include:
Differentiation - To differentiate instruction is to recognize students’
varying background knowledge, readiness, language, styles in learning,
and interests; and to react responsively. Differentiated instruction is a
strategy for teaching learners of differing
abilities in the same classroom. Within the regular classroom, teachers
will differentiate the process, product, content, and learning
environment. Differentiation includes leveled and tiered curriculum
materials, tiered assignments, interdisciplinary and
independent project work, interest and learning centers, and flexible
skills grouping.
Enrichment Events - Experiences for all children to be enriched through
events related to the curricular or extracurricular activities.
Examples include: after-school clubs, PTA-sponsored events, leadership
opportunities, visual and performing arts, and community
service opportunities.
Recommended for extension of learning or activity beyond the grade-level-based instruction. This is based upon past performance
Example: Extension of grade-level activities/learning that is in
preparation for future schooling and/or area of training of an
arts-based or vocational skill.
This three-tier approach provides an opportunity for students to expand
their intellectual and creative capacities at an appropriate level
commensurate with students’ educational and social development and their
specific abilities, talents, and interests.
Pursuant to A4710 1R: Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act,
the following protocol must be used to file a complaint alleging that
the Greenwich Township School District is not in compliance with the
provisions of the Act. The alleged occurrence of
noncompliance must have taken place within one year of filing the
complaint. Please note: the complaint process is different from an
appeal for placement of a student. The complaint process only deals with
alleged procedural compliance as outlined in the Act.
This process will yield no change to prior student placement decisions.
The complaint shall include:
- The name, address, and contact information of the complainant; and
- A statement that the identified school district is not in compliance with the provisions of this act, and the specific facts on which the allegation of non-compliance is based.
An individual who believes that the Greenwich Township School District
has not complied with the provisions of this Act may file a complaint
with the Superintendent or designee. Based on the decision of the
Superintendent or designee to affirm, reject, or modify
the District’s action in the matter, the individual may file a petition
of appeal of the written decision of the Superintendent or designee in
the following order, utilizing the same above-described format:
· Board of Education - Based on the decision of the Board of Education
to affirm, reject, or modify the district’s action in the matter, the
individual may file a petition of appeal of the written decision; to
· Executive County Superintendent (investigation must be completed
within 60 days) - Based on the decision of the Executive County
Superintendent to affirm, reject, or modify the district’s action in the
matter, the individual may file a petition of appeal
of the written decision; to
· Commissioner of Education via Office of Controversies and Disputes in
accordance with N.J.S.18A:6-9 and the procedures outlined in State Board
of Education regulations
Should it be determined that the District is not in compliance with the
Act, remediation of the Gifted and Talented Program will take place.
For questions regarding Gifted and Talented
If you have any questions regarding gifted and talented programming in
GTSD, please contact Mr. John Tirico at 856-224-4900 x2160.