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Gifted & Talented

Information about Gifted and Talented

Gifted and Talented Definition from Douglas County School District

Gifted and talented students are those students between the ages of four and twenty-one whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted students include students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic and, ethnic, and 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:

Gifted and Talented Identification

SkyView Academy follows Colorado state-mandated policies for identifying gifted and talented students. Identification is based on many components including:

ALP’s and Programming 

Once a student is identified, an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) will be created. Teachers, students, and parents will collaborate along with the GT facilitator, to develop a written plan to meet the student’s identified needs. The ALP will formalize the differentiation that the classroom teachers provide for the student in their identified area(s) as well as affective (social/emotional) needs within the classroom. 

The classroom teachers and the GT facilitator will work with students on their goals through a variety of options during the school day. Some strategies we may use to meet the needs of our students are flexible grouping in reading, writing, and math, differentiated instruction, curriculum compacting, content acceleration, tiered assignments, and independent study.

Important Information: Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)- Universal Screening

DCSD is committed to implementing equitable practices to increase access to advanced/gifted learning opportunities. Based on state and national recommendations and requirements, we implement Universal Screening for students in 2nd grade (February) and 5th or 6th grade--a student's final year of elementary school (November).

5th Grade Universal Screen

As part of this process, ALL students in 5th grade who are not identified for gifted programming will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) on the week of November 4th. This assessment indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates.  These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.  

If your child is already identified for gifted programming, they will not participate in this universal screen testing. Your Gifted Education Facilitator will contact you directly with information about this process. 

Gifted Identification Referral Testing 

2nd Grade Universal Screen

As part of this process, ALL students in 2nd grade not identified for gifted programming will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) the week of February 12th. This assessment indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates.  These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.  

If your child is already identified for gifted programming, they will not participate in this universal screen testing. Your Gifted Education Facilitator will contact you directly with information about this process. 

Kindergarten/ 1st Grade Gifted Identification Referral Testing 

NOTE:  Requesting this assessment automatically initiates the evaluation process for Gifted Identification. 

CogAT Excusal Form

Helpful Links

DCSD Gifted Education News

Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT)

National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)

Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)

Colorado Department of Education (CDE) – Office of Gifted Education

Douglas County School District (DCSD) – Gifted Programming

DCSD – Gifted Education News

Hoagies’ Gifted Education page

NAGC’s Book Recommendations

www.byrdseed.com (Ian Byrd)

Contact information

Megan Lammers

(303) 471-8439

mlammers@svak12.org

“Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.” 

~Walt Disney

SkyView Academy
6161 Business Center Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80130
303-471-8439

Questions:
communications@svak12.org

Enrollment & Records:
enrollment@svak12.org 

SkyView Academy Nondiscrimination Notice: SkyView Academy does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, ancestry, need for special education services, or any other grounds prohibited by law. SkyView Academy serves students with disabilities and English Learners and provides services to students as required by state and federal law. For more information, visit the Student Support Services page under Schools.
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