Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Policies Gifted Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts revisions to special instructional policies and K–12 gifted framework
Summary
The Catalina Foothills Governing Board approved revisions to policies IHB and IHBA and adopted updates to the district K–12 gifted education programming framework, clarifying evaluation, 504 coordination and honors-credit wording.
The Catalina Foothills Unified School District Governing Board on April 8 approved a set of revisions to policy IHB and regulation IHB‑R (special instructional programs), policy IHBA and regulation IHBA‑RA (special instruction and accommodations for disabled students), and adopted a revised K–12 gifted education programming framework.
Associate Superintendent Mindy Westover presented the second reading and said the changes to IHB/IHB‑R allow the superintendent to appoint a designee, revise language for clarity and rename the director title from "director of special education" to "director of special services" in the discipline section. The regulation was updated to clarify evaluation, eligibility and placement processes and to note that placement decisions conform with 34 CFR 104.34; the regulation also adds options for videoconferencing in evaluation meetings.
On IHBA/IHBA‑RA staff added contact information for the director of special services as the Section 504 coordinator, clarified procedural safeguards and updated adoption dates.
Gifted framework changes Cheryl Castro, executive director of curriculum and assessment, led the discussion of the K–12 gifted education programming framework revisions required by state statute to be submitted to the Arizona Department of Education every five years. Noted edits include replacing the term "AZMerit" with "State Achievement Test," clarifying honors/AP designations and the process for awarding honors credit (honors credit is earned in courses designated HC in the course guide while the student is enrolled in those designated courses), and explicitly listing points where parents provide written permission for testing and placement. Castro said the district removed named digital platforms to allow for future changes and replaced them with the phrase "districtwide digital communication tool."
Board members asked for clearer wording about honors‑credit eligibility and Castro agreed to add a parenthetical to clarify that honors credit is available only for courses designated HC in the course guide; she also agreed the language should specify that honors credit appears automatically on transcripts for students meeting the threshold in those designated courses.
Votes at a glance - Agenda item 4.1 (policy IHB / IHB‑R revisions): Approved 5-0. - Agenda item 4.2 (policy IHBA / IHBA‑RA revisions): Approved 5-0. - Agenda item 4.3 (K–12 gifted education programming framework, as amended): Approved 5-0.
Why it matters The changes clarify who is responsible for Section 504 coordination and the steps in evaluation and placement, affects how parents provide input in referrals and placements for gifted services, and standardizes language (e.g., use of "State Achievement Test") to reduce future required edits.
Implementation Staff will incorporate the amended language, update the publicly posted policies and submit the gifted framework to the Arizona Department of Education as required. Castro and Westover indicated the adoption date in the documents will be updated to April 8, 2025.
Ending Board members said the language edits improved clarity and supported smoother implementation for families and staff.
