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District proposes changes to gifted-and-talented identification and services; board gives motion of support
Summary
District staff recommended shifting identification testing to second grade with services beginning in third grade, expanding cluster-model services districtwide, and redeploying existing FTE to create an instructional coach; the board moved and supported the recommendation.
The board reviewed a multi-year study and spring testing results for the district’s gifted-and-talented program and voted in support of staff recommendations to change identification and service delivery.
Director Theo presented testing results and program recommendations. The district tested roughly 442 students this spring (including most second graders); staff reported 381 second-graders were tested and 45 of those met the threshold to continue with full evaluation. In addition to 40 students currently in the McMillan magnet program, staff reported an additional 81 students from the testing round met the district’s threshold for further services.
Based on the study and current research, staff recommended continuing annual screening of second graders, beginning services in third through sixth grade using cluster groups at neighborhood schools where feasible, and reallocating one of the three McMillan FTE positions to an instructional coach who would support gifted-and-talented instruction across the district. Staff also emphasized the need to coordinate social-emotional and mental-health supports for identified students as part of the model.
Board members moved for a motion of support; the chair called the voice vote and the motion carried. Staff said individualized student reports would be sent to families and that further detail on service placement and the success metrics will be provided to parents.
