Sierra Plumas Joint Unified Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School DistrictSchool District

Gifted and Talented Education Gifted and Talented Education

Prepared by Mary NoursePrepared by Mary Nourse

GATE CoordinatorGATE Coordinator

12/4/200812/4/2008

What is GATE?What is GATE?

State funded program of unique State funded program of unique educational opportunities for gifted or educational opportunities for gifted or talented studentstalented students

Serves high-achieving and under-Serves high-achieving and under-achieving identified studentsachieving identified students

Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?

Schedule events listed on plan.Schedule events listed on plan. Schedule in-service for staff/parents at Schedule in-service for staff/parents at

earliest possible time.earliest possible time. Solicit volunteers to provide classroom Solicit volunteers to provide classroom

enrichment activities, run book group enrichment activities, run book group and math cluband math club

Continue to support teachers and Continue to support teachers and studentsstudents

How does a student qualify for How does a student qualify for GATE in SPJUSD?GATE in SPJUSD?

Multiple criteria are used:Multiple criteria are used:

* Raven’s test score* Raven’s test score* Math and language arts scores* Math and language arts scores* Parent and teacher nominations* Parent and teacher nominations* Extraordinary talents* Extraordinary talents* Special circumstances e.g. health issues* Special circumstances e.g. health issues

QualificationQualification lasts student’s entire school careerlasts student’s entire school career

What are the key roles?What are the key roles?

Identified students-may participate; not requiredIdentified students-may participate; not required

Non-identified students may participate-space availableNon-identified students may participate-space available

GATE Administrator (Penny Berry)- oversees all aspects of programGATE Administrator (Penny Berry)- oversees all aspects of program

GATE Coordinator (Mary Nourse)- runs identification process, maintains data, designs, coordinates, and evaluates programGATE Coordinator (Mary Nourse)- runs identification process, maintains data, designs, coordinates, and evaluates program

Principals-implement program at school site, support Principals-implement program at school site, support students and staff members, involve parents and students and staff members, involve parents and communitycommunity

Teachers-refer students for identification, differentiate Teachers-refer students for identification, differentiate curriculum, provide independent study or flexible curriculum, provide independent study or flexible grouping, participate in professional developmentgrouping, participate in professional development

Parents-attend advisory council and parent meetings, Parents-attend advisory council and parent meetings, participate in professional development, assist in participate in professional development, assist in activitiesactivities

GATE Advisory Committee-provides input on all phases GATE Advisory Committee-provides input on all phases of program, from identification to evaluationof program, from identification to evaluation

Who serves on the advisory Who serves on the advisory committee?committee?

GATE AdministratorGATE Administrator CoordinatorCoordinator Site principalSite principal ParentsParents Regular education teacherRegular education teacher Resource teacherResource teacher Community memberCommunity member Everyone, especially students ,welcome to Everyone, especially students ,welcome to

attend attend

What elements should be What elements should be included in a GATE program?included in a GATE program?

Differentiated learning opportunitiesDifferentiated learning opportunities Alternative learning environmentsAlternative learning environments Elements to help develop responsibilityElements to help develop responsibility Commitment to constructive ethical standardsCommitment to constructive ethical standards Opportunities to expand problem-solving Opportunities to expand problem-solving

abilitiesabilities Support for realistic, healthy self-conceptsSupport for realistic, healthy self-concepts For more detailed information refer to the For more detailed information refer to the Gifted and TalentedGifted and Talented

Resource GuideResource Guide on the California Department of Education web on the California Department of Education web site.site.

What is the current status of What is the current status of GATE in SPJUSD?GATE in SPJUSD?

GATE Advisory Committee assisted with GATE Advisory Committee assisted with setting criteria for identification and program setting criteria for identification and program design.design.

GATE Coordinator completed identification GATE Coordinator completed identification and notification for 2008-09 school year.and notification for 2008-09 school year.

GATE families, teachers, and administrators GATE families, teachers, and administrators gathered to socialize and to brainstorm gathered to socialize and to brainstorm program ideas.program ideas.

Coordinator and student administered Coordinator and student administered survey to determine student s’ interests.survey to determine student s’ interests.

Advisory committee brainstormed Advisory committee brainstormed resources to augment program.resources to augment program.

Parent volunteer and coordinator Parent volunteer and coordinator synthesized ideas and drafted structure synthesized ideas and drafted structure for 2-year plan. for 2-year plan. See handout-”GATE See handout-”GATE Program Planning Grid”.Program Planning Grid”.

Coordinator attended training for Coordinator attended training for development and administration of GATE development and administration of GATE program; differentiation of curriculumprogram; differentiation of curriculum

Coordinator is networking with :Coordinator is networking with :*Sierra County Historical Society*Sierra County Historical Society*Sierra County Arts Council*Sierra County Arts Council*Western Sierra Medical Clinic*Western Sierra Medical Clinic*The Sierra Booster*The Sierra Booster*Nevada and Plumas County Schools*Nevada and Plumas County Schools*California Association for the Gifted*California Association for the Gifted

Coordinator has begun in-school Coordinator has begun in-school enrichment classes:enrichment classes:

*Taught Mexican sugar skull *Taught Mexican sugar skull making making for LHS Spanish 4for LHS Spanish 4

*Planning lesson on Spanish-*Planning lesson on Spanish- American War using primary American War using primary sources sources for any history classfor any history class

What are our SPJUSD GATE What are our SPJUSD GATE demographics?demographics?

Fifteen students already had qualified Fifteen students already had qualified for the programfor the program

We tested 114 students-all second We tested 114 students-all second graders + other nominated studentsgraders + other nominated students

Including the original fifteen,59 students Including the original fifteen,59 students are now qualified district-wide are now qualified district-wide