AP 208
Gifted Programming
Background
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the District’s philosophy on gifted education, and to establish standards for gifted program design and delivery.
Procedures
1. Definitions
- 1.1 Gifted Children - A student is considered gifted when they possess demonstrated or potential abilities that give evidence of exceptionally high capability with respect to intellect, creativity, or skills associated with specific disciplines. Identification should be carried out using multiple criteria and information from a variety of sources. Students who are gifted often demonstrate outstanding abilities in more than one area. They may demonstrate extraordinary intensity of focus in their areas of talent or interest, however, they may also have accompanying disabilities and should not be expected to have strengths in all areas of intellectual functioning. Students within the ‘gifted’ category must be designated in accordance with the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s criteria for Code P: Gifted.
- 1.2 Gifted Education - Some students who have been assessed as gifted may demand attention over their entire school career, rather than just occasionally. Gifted education refers to learning experiences developed and coordinated on an individual or group basis, according to long-range goals, to accommodate the extraordinary abilities of students.
- 1.3 Enrichment - Many students not designated as gifted occasionally show the need for broader or deeper educational experiences. The classroom teacher usually responds with options suggested in provincial curricula or other areas. The replacing, supplementing and extending of the core curriculum by teachers is termed enrichment, and is not necessarily ‘gifted’ programming.
2. Gifted Programming
- 2.1 Educational programming for gifted students should include differentiated curricula and learning strategies developed for academically gifted and creative students.
- 2.2 Current best practice is to include programming for gifted students as an integrated part of the total school program. This does not preclude separate groups from being formed outside the regular class for particular activities or projects.
- 2.3 Gifted programming often requires a blend of opportunities available both in the school and in the community.
- 2.4 Gifted programming should be available for gifted students in all grades (kindergarten through grade 12).
- 2.5 Goals and strategies of gifted programming should be reflected in the student’s IEP.
Reference
Last revised: June 2024