Neighborhood School Programming

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) guiding principles indicate, "rather than any single gifted program, a continuum of programming services must exist for gifted learners."

Programming Description

Gifted and Talented Facilitators will collaborate/consult with classroom teachers to appropriately extend the content for identified gifted students, utilizing the menu of programming options listed above. The facilitator also provides direct instruction to cluster groups of gifted students in and out of the classroom setting, as determined by student academic need. In addition, the GT Facilitator will be responsible for overseeing the identification process and educational plans for the students at each site.

Identification

The NAGC recommends that all students have the opportunity to participate in the screening process for identification to ensure equitable access to programming. In accordance with state and national guidelines, the Gifted and Talented Department has developed a process to gather data in order to match appropriate services to identified student need.

Components of identification:

Student Aptitude
Student Achievement
Student Performance (or conversely, high ability/underachieving students)
Student Interest
Observable Behaviors (classroom)
Observable Behaviors (home and community)

School-based Programming

Each school site provides for high-ability learners in the regular classroom through the implementation of some or all of the following strategies:

Differentiated instruction
Curriculum compacting
Content acceleration
Grade-level acceleration
Mentorships
Tiered assignments
Flexible grouping
Independent study
Project-based learning
Leadership opportunities

Secondary program options

Fine arts programming
Athletics
Honors classes
Dual enrollment
Advanced Placement classes (Courses offered to our high school students for college credit)
International Baccalaureate program (An internationally accredited, rigorous program of study offered at the high school level, currently offered at Douglas County High School)
Post Secondary Option (Programming designed to satisfy credit requirements for high school as well as college level learning)
Early graduation
Counseling services as needed

Please check with your neighborhood school regarding the options available.

Instructional Support Services Guiding Principles

As a partner in implementing the Learning Services mission, the Instructional Support Services Department of Douglas County schools supports building level administration and building level teams in producing high quality learning for students who need additional resources to be successful in the classroom. Students within Douglas County Schools will, whenever appropriate,

attend the same schools as siblings and neighbors
be in general education classrooms with chronological age-appropriate classmates
have individualized and relevant learning objectives as needed, and
be provided with the necessary support to allow for meaningful participation in classroom learning

However, this does not mean students

must spend every minute of the school day in general education classes
never receive small-group or individual instruction, and
be in general education classes to learn the core curriculum only

Decisions regarding characteristics of programming and placement will be made based on a comprehensive analysis of the students' individual learning needs.

Revised January, 2006