CODE: 6171.2
SECTION: INSTRUCTION
GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION
The district shall provide all gifted and/or talented pupils with
programs which provide for their basic education while encouraging optimum
development of their special abilities. Programs shall be developed or located
which stimulate pupils to participate constructively in, and contribute to, the
activities of their school, the community and society.
Such programs shall be designed in terms of the individual learning styles of
each pupil as well as the capacity of a gifted pupil to create concepts, respond
to stimuli in a unique and creative manner, develop higher levels of thinking
and influence the behavior of others.
Because early discovery of a gift or talent is important, it is essential that
the identification of these pupils be carried on as a continuing process, since
special abilities and skills appear at different times in the development of
many children.
The Superintendent shall coordinate development of criteria to identify gifted
and/or talented pupils and present them to the Board for approval. The
Superintendent shall devise indicators of achievement to evaluate success of
each program presented to the Board for adoption.
The West Milford Board of Education shall provide educational opportunities for
gifted and talented students. Therefore, the Board authorizes the identification
of such students, as well as the development and implementation of appropriate
instructional programs.
The West Milford Gifted and Talented Program (Learning Unlimited) shall be
designed to meet the highly individualized needs of gifted students,
kindergarten through grade 12, throughout the district. Its purpose is to
provide these students with differentiated educational experiences which will
encourage critical and creative thinking, inquiry and investigation, problem
solving, decision making, communication skills and a greater awareness and
understanding of self and others. Students will pursue individual interests and
subject areas in depth. They will have opportunities to become more responsible
and to increase their self-direction and initiative.
For the purpose of this policy, gifted and talented students shall be defined as
those students who are capable of high performance including those with
demonstrated achievement and/or potential ability in any of the following areas,
singly or in combination:
1. General Academic Ability - Characteristics for these students include
exceptional ability in both verbal and non-verbal reasoning. This is often
characterized by advanced vocabulary and achieving in all academic subjects.
2. Specific Intellectual or Academic Ability - Characteristics for these
students include exceptional ability in either verbal or non-verbal reasoning.
That they are exceptionally high achievers in a specific academic subject is
sufficient. This specific ability may be displayed as exceptional understanding
of a skill in a vocational area.
3. Creative or Productive Thinking Ability - Characteristics for these students
include exceptional ability in developing original and/or unusual ideas,
especially as solutions to problems. They are very imaginative and often willing
to take risks when offering ideas.
4. Psycho-Social Ability - Characteristics for these students include
exceptional managerial or leadership ability. This is often characterized by the
ability to organize people and tasks and to motivate others. These students
relate well to adults and peers and can be relied upon to accept and carry-out
responsibilities.
5. 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
discipline.
6. Psycho-Motor Ability - These students have exceptional ability in fine and/or
gross motor skills; they have exceptional ability in balance, strength, physical
endurance and agility. Under the supervision of the Director of Education,
appropriate programs and services as well as procedures for the identification
of gifted and talented students shall be developed and updated to align with
specific programs and curriculum available, kindergarten through grade 12.
Procedures to ensure multi-criteria selection shall include a combination of
nomination, standardized test scores, report card grades and teacher
recommendation.
Programs shall be developed which will challenge students in the areas of their
individual gifts and talents, but shall not replace the basic instructional
program of the district. Curriculum shall be the standard Board of Education
approved programs which will be enriched to meet individual student needs.
Ongoing evaluation of programs and procedures shall be a vital part of the
Learning Unlimited Program. The positive and negative effects of various program
features must be evaluated in order to determine whether plans for programs are
reasonable, can be implemented as described, and yield the expected results.
Evaluation will also provide valid evidence of the effectiveness of programs for
developing the potential of the students served.
First Reading: December 19, 2006
Adopted: January 23, 2007