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District 49 reports surge in gifted identifications, expands Honors Academy and camps
Summary
The districtgifted education coordinator told the board the identified gifted population rose from 1,588 to 2,003 students since the fall count, the district earned four commendations from the state, and the Honors Academy and camps are expanding; the board heard plans to test with Naglieri to improve identification of underrepresented groups.
Diane Neff, District 49 coordinator of gifted education, told the Board of Education on April 23 that the district identified a notable increase in students served by gifted education programs this school year and is expanding enrichment opportunities.
Neff said October-count identification rose from 1,588 students to 2,003 by March 31, representing roughly 10.2% of the district—laimed gifted population and placing the district within the state—xpected range. She reported 52 newly identified high-school students, 44 students who transferred into the district and 32 additional identifications at Vista Ridge High School after the district placed full-time facilitators in some secondary schools.
Neff described program growth: two extended-learning opportunities for high-school students, three summer camps (with plans to double enrollment next year), an after-school enrichment program and an expanding Honors Academy that now enrolls as many students at Falcon High School as the district enrolled in the entire prior year. She said 88 students were newly identified primarily in talent areas (creativity, psychomotor), and 11.9% of the gifted population were identified as twice-exceptional (gifted and also eligible for special education services).
The district plans a pilot of the Naglieri General Ability Test (NGAT) at Horizon Middle School to complement the more literacy-focused Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to better identify some underrepresented student groups. Neff also said the district recently completed state monitoring (CAGT review), earning four commendations and several recommended areas for growth; she described the state feedback as very positive overall.
Board members asked about Honors Academy course content (freshman orientation to giftedness, sophomore project leadership using Renzulli model, junior AP Seminar and senior AP Research) and test differences between CogAT and NGAT. Neff said the district will work to make advanced learning plans (ALPs) more meaningful for high-school students not in the Honors Academy and increase professional development participation among classroom teachers and administrators.
No formal action was taken; Neff invited board members to a gifted fair on May 6.
