New gifted education plan will shift Chesterfield from access to measurable impact, officials say

Dr. Fo presented the updated gifted education plan required by the Virginia Department of Education, telling the board the new plan shifts focus from primarily providing access to gifted services toward defining and measuring program impact across the division.

Fo described three foundational pillars for the plan—talent development (programming for all students), differentiated roadmaps to accommodate varied student trajectories, and enrichment opportunities for students to explore passions. He said the plan will refine identification with multiple pathways to broaden representation, develop measurable program outcomes for the first time in the division, and explore feasibility of expanding services (including possible visual and performing arts offerings).

The plan also includes curriculum differentiation, tiered professional learning for teachers and administrators, and an emphasis on using strategies from gifted education more broadly to lift instruction divisionwide. Fo said the office will track disparities between identification and participation, and begin collecting data on students identified for services who opt out — to understand barriers and inform outreach.

Board members thanked Fo for the work, praised the plan’s inclusivity and creativity, and urged the board to consider additional budget support during FY27 deliberations to expand gifted education staffing and professional learning. Fo said the gifted office currently has five staff and that he will supply longitudinal identification numbers and additional requested data to the board. No formal action was taken at the work session.