WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE GIFTED?

Colorado Department of Education Definition of Gifted “Gifted children” means those persons between the ages of five and twenty-one whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are so outstanding that they require special provisions to meet their educational needs.  Gifted students include gifted students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic and ethnic, cultural populations.

Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas of giftedness:

• Specific academic aptitude (including Math, Reading, Writing, Science, Social Studies) 
• General intellectual ability
• Creative, productive thinking 
• Leadership skills
• Visual and performing arts
• Music

HOW IS A CHILD IDENTIFIED GIFTED IN PSD? The gifted identification process builds a “body of evidence” which includes achievement scores, cognitive abilities/intelligence test scores, behavior characteristics, and demonstrated performance.  Within these domains, a gifted student will show scores in the 95th percentile or above or a predetermined score on a qualitative measure that demonstrates gifted potential. 

To qualify for gifted education services, the student needs at least three qualifying indicators that span two different areas of the body of evidence.  No two scores may come from the same assessment.  Qualifying indicators include scores in the 95th percentile or higher, Exceeds Expectations on CMAS, or a predetermined score on a qualitative assessment.  (For example, a student may have a qualifying CogAT Verbal age percentile score, a Reading MAP score, and Exceeds Expectations on a CMAS ELA assessment.)

Students who qualify for gifted identification in PSD will have an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP).  The ALP is written each year through a collaborative process that includes student, school, and parents.  Your student’s ALP will include an Achievement Goal in his/her/their area(s) of identification/strength and an Affective Goal.  The purpose of the ALP is to guide educational programming and decisions about gifted services.

WHAT DOES GIFTED ENRICHMENT LOOK LIKE AT BACON ELEMENTARY? At Bacon Elementary, the goal is for all identified students in grades K-3 to receive differentiation and enrichment opportunities for math and language arts within their own classrooms, provided by their general education teacher.  Beginning in 4th grade and then continuing into 5th grade, students will have the opportunity to participate in a compacted math class depending on their identification status. They will also be provided enrichment opportunities for math and language arts within their own classrooms, delivered by their general education teacher.  For students identified in the area of creativity, the ALP will address services and/or opportunities.

You may contact Trey Findlay at Bacon Elementary School for more information.  You may also visit the Poudre School District website to learn more about Gifted and Talented.  Information can be found in “Academics” under “Curriculum and Subject Areas.” Or, follow this link: GT in PSD