Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment » Gifted and Talented Program

Gifted and Talented Program

Southampton Township Enrichment Program Plan

Southampton Township School District: STEP Gifted and Talented Program Plan

Program Overview: The Southampton Township School District offers the STEP (Southampton Township Enrichment Program) for Gifted and Talented students. This program provides enrichment opportunities for students who demonstrate exceptional academic abilities and need additional challenges beyond the general education curriculum. The identification process involves a combination of benchmark assessments, academic performance, teacher feedback, and standardized tests, ensuring that students’ strengths are recognized and nurtured throughout their academic journey.

Program Goals:

  1. To identify and support students with high academic potential.
  2. To provide enriched learning experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
  3. To nurture the intellectual and social-emotional needs of gifted learners.
  4. To provide a structured, yet flexible process for identifying and supporting gifted students throughout their K-8 education.

Identification Process by Grade Level:

Kindergarten:

  • Participation:
    • All students will be provided enrichment support embedded in the day.  An enrichment teacher will push in the classrooms to offer accelerated learning opportunities for all learners.  
  • Assessment Process:
    • Throughout the school year, students are assessed using benchmark assessments designed to evaluate academic growth.
    • Grades and teacher feedback are considered alongside these assessments to identify the top-performing students at each grade level.
  • End of Year Testing:
    • At the end of the Kindergarten year, students who perform at the highest levels will be administered two key assessments:
      • Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT)
      • Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary Students (SAGES-2)
  • Parent Notification:
    • If a student qualifies for STEP, their parents will receive an official notification letter.
    • The program will begin in Fall of 1st Grade for those who qualify. This will be a pull-out program that will be offered to eligible students during their RTI period.
  • Program Duration:
    • Once qualified, students will remain in the program from 1st through 3rd grade.
  • New Students and Recommendations:
    • New students or those recommended for testing may be assessed at any time, but the testing cycle is not open to all students throughout this period.

Grades 1–3:

  • Continued Participation:
    • Students who were identified in Kindergarten will continue to participate in the STEP program until the end of 3rd grade.
  • Additional Assessments:
    • Benchmark assessments, grades, and teacher feedback will continue to be monitored to ensure students are receiving appropriate instruction and enrichment.
  • New Students and Recommendations:
    • Similar to Kindergarten, new students and students who are recommended for testing can still be assessed, but the testing cycle remains selective.

End of 3rd Grade:

  • Requalification Process:
    • At the end of 3rd grade, all current STEP participants and potential new candidates must requalify for the program.
    • The criteria for requalification include:
      • Benchmark Assessments: Student performance throughout 3rd grade.
      • Grades: Academic achievement in core subjects.
      • Teacher Feedback: Input on students' performance, work habits, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Testing for Requalification:
    • Students meeting the qualification criteria will be selected to take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), a standardized test used to measure cognitive development and aptitude.
  • Parent Notification:
    • Parents of qualifying students will receive notification letters regarding their child’s placement in the STEP program.
  • Program Duration:
    • Students who qualify through the 3rd-grade requalification process will remain in the program until the end of 5th grade.
  • New Students and Recommendations:
    • As with earlier grades, new students to the district or recommended students may be assessed for STEP, though the testing cycle is limited to specific candidates based on their performance.

Grades 4–5:

  • Continued Participation:
    • Students who qualified at the end of 3rd grade will remain in the STEP program for 4th and 5th grades.
  • Ongoing Monitoring:
    • Benchmark assessments, grades, and teacher feedback will continue to ensure students are appropriately challenged.
  • New Students and Recommendations:
    • The district will continue to accept recommendations for new students to be assessed for possible entry into the program, with a selective testing cycle.

Program Features:

  • Enrichment Activities:
    • STEP students will participate in advanced learning experiences tailored to their academic strengths. These may include project-based learning, STEM activities, critical thinking exercises, and opportunities for creative exploration.
  • Differentiated Instruction:
    • Teachers will employ differentiated instruction strategies to meet the diverse needs of STEP students in both core subjects and enrichment topics.
  • Social-Emotional Support:
    • In addition to academic enrichment, the STEP program will provide support for the social and emotional development of gifted students, ensuring they receive holistic guidance and opportunities for growth.

Communication and Transparency:

  • Parent Involvement:
    • Parents will be kept informed throughout the identification process and will receive regular updates regarding their child’s participation and progress in the STEP program.
  • Clear Guidelines:
    • The district will maintain transparent criteria for qualifying and requalifying for STEP, ensuring that the process is fair and accessible to eligible students.

Conclusion:

The STEP program is a comprehensive, multi-tiered approach to identifying and nurturing gifted and talented students within the Southampton Township School District. By offering a structured yet flexible plan that includes regular assessment, parent communication, and enrichment opportunities, the program is designed to support the academic and social-emotional growth of high-achieving students from Kindergarten through 5th grade.


Southampton Township School District: Gifted and Talented Program for Grades 6–8

Program Overview: The Gifted and Talented Program for students in Grades 6–8 in Southampton Township School District is designed to provide advanced academic opportunities for students who excel in key subject areas. Through a rigorous identification process that includes benchmark assessments, grades, and teacher feedback, the program identifies high-performing students for advanced placement in mathematics and Spanish.

Program Goals:

  1. To identify students with exceptional abilities and provide opportunities for advanced academic challenges.
  2. To promote a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and foreign language acquisition.
  3. To foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  4. To create a learning environment that supports the academic and social-emotional needs of high-achieving students.

Identification Process:

Students in Grades 6–8 will be assessed for advanced placement in specific subject areas based on a combination of academic performance and teacher recommendations. The following process outlines how students will be identified and placed in advanced courses.

Assessment Criteria:

  1. Benchmark Assessments: Students’ progress will be monitored throughout the school year using district-wide benchmark assessments. These assessments will measure mastery of grade-level content and readiness for more advanced coursework.
  2. Grades: Academic performance in core subjects, particularly in mathematics and Spanish, will be reviewed. Students with consistently high grades (A-level performance) will be considered for advanced placement.
  3. Teacher Feedback: Teachers will provide insights into students’ work habits, critical thinking skills, ability to grasp complex concepts, and overall readiness for advanced coursework. Teacher recommendations will play a key role in identifying students for advanced placement.

Advanced Placement Opportunities:

1. Advanced Placement in Mathematics

  • Eligibility Criteria:
    • Students will be evaluated based on their performance in benchmark assessments, mathematics grades, and teacher feedback.
    • Students who perform at the highest level across these areas will be invited to take a qualifying mathematics assessment designed to measure their readiness for advanced mathematical concepts.
  • Qualifying Assessment:
    • The qualifying mathematics assessment will include both grade-level and above-grade-level content, focusing on problem-solving, logical reasoning, and advanced computation.
  • Parent Notification:
    • Parents of students who qualify for advanced mathematics will receive notification explaining the criteria met and the advanced placement opportunity.
  • Program Structure:
    • Qualified students will be placed in an advanced mathematics course that moves at a faster pace and covers more in-depth topics, including pre-algebra and algebra depending on their grade level.
    • The course will focus on higher-order problem-solving and the application of mathematical concepts to real-world situations.

2. Advanced Placement in Spanish

  • Eligibility Criteria:
    • Students will be assessed based on their performance in Spanish language assessments, grades, and teacher feedback.
    • Students demonstrating strong language acquisition skills and a deep understanding of foundational concepts will be considered for advanced Spanish placement.
  • Qualifying Criteria:
    • In addition to high grades in Spanish classes, students will take an advanced language proficiency assessment to demonstrate their ability to handle more complex grammatical structures, conversational fluency, and cultural knowledge.
  • Parent Notification:
    • Parents of students who qualify for advanced Spanish will be notified of their child’s eligibility for the advanced course.
  • Program Structure:
    • Students who qualify for advanced Spanish will be placed in a higher-level Spanish course that covers more advanced vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills.
    • The course will emphasize fluency, cultural understanding, and real-world application of language skills.

Program Features:

  • Differentiated Instruction:
    • Both advanced mathematics and Spanish courses will provide differentiated instruction tailored to the needs of high-performing students.
    • Lessons will challenge students to apply their skills in creative and critical ways, with opportunities for group collaboration and independent learning.
  • Enrichment Activities:
    • Enrichment activities, such as project-based learning, problem-solving challenges, and cultural immersion experiences, will be included in both advanced programs to enhance student engagement and deepen understanding.
  • Ongoing Monitoring:
    • Student progress will be continually monitored throughout the school year to ensure they are thriving in the advanced placement courses.
    • Benchmark assessments, grades, and teacher feedback will be used to make adjustments as needed to ensure that students remain appropriately challenged.

Additional Opportunities:

  • New Student Assessment: Students who are new to the district or have shown significant improvement during the school year may be considered for advanced placement at any time based on the same assessment criteria (benchmark assessments, grades, and teacher feedback).
  • Social-Emotional Support:
    • Gifted students in advanced placement courses may require additional social-emotional support as they navigate the challenges of more rigorous coursework. The district will provide resources to ensure these students are well-supported and encouraged to develop both academically and emotionally.

Communication and Transparency:

  • Parent Involvement:
    • Parents will receive clear communication throughout the identification and placement process, including notification of qualifying assessments, placement decisions, and any relevant updates on their child’s progress in the program.
  • Ongoing Evaluation:
    • The program will be regularly evaluated to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of gifted students and provides them with appropriate academic challenges.

Conclusion:

The Gifted and Talented Program for students in Grades 6–8 in Southampton Township School District offers advanced academic opportunities in mathematics and Spanish. Through a comprehensive identification process, students demonstrating exceptional abilities will be placed in advanced courses that challenge them to develop their skills, think critically, and apply their learning in meaningful ways. The program is committed to supporting the intellectual and social-emotional needs of high-achieving students, preparing them for future academic success.