Frederick County Public Schools outlines expanded gifted-and-talented identification, notes staff reductions

Dr. Jessica Reinhart, supervisor of advanced academics for Frederick County Public Schools, briefed the Curriculum & Instruction Committee on the school system’s gifted-and‑talented (GT) identification and services, saying the presentation was intended “to provide you with updates regarding gifted and talented programming in Frederick County Public Schools.”

The update described how FCPS has aligned local practice with the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) and state reporting requirements: universal screening using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is administered in grades 2 and 5; formal GT services begin in grade 3; and the district uses multiple measures (ability, performance and potential) to identify students. Dr. Reinhart said the district’s first cohort that was screened universally in early grades are the current rising ninth graders (screened in 2018–19). The presentation noted districtwide GT identification at about 20.4 percent of students (stated in the presentation) and a baseline expectation that at least 5 percent of students be identified at each elementary and middle school.

The district described its service model: early talent‑development for pre‑K–2 (the GEARS program), GT cluster grouping in grades 3–5 at every elementary school, tiered supports including just‑in‑time…