Virginia Beach board presses for clearer gifted services, questions Old Donation School equity

Virginia Beach ' The school division's gifted education office told the School Board on July 1 that it has updated identification and service models and will emphasize local school cluster supports while defending the role of Old Donation School, prompting board members to press for more data and for options to expand access. The presentation by Crystal Wilkerson, director of K'12 and gifted programs, summarized changes approved in the division's 2024'2029 local plan and a set of operational moves intended to broaden information, increase differentiated instruction in home schools and refine criteria for identification. Wilkerson said Virginia Beach City Public Schools is "one of the only divisions in the Commonwealth and the only one in our area that staffs an endorsed gifted resource teacher or GRT in every comprehensive home school," and described several changes to screening and service timing made after stakeholder review. Board members immediately focused on equity of access. Several members said Old Donation School…