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Plano ISD details PACE gifted-services model and plans Math Rocks expansion to all elementary campuses
Summary
The board received a detailed presentation on the PACE gifted program and identification procedures; district leaders said about 8,000 students receive gifted services and announced an expansion of Math Rocks to all elementary campuses in 2026-27 to accelerate math instruction.
Amy Moore, Advanced Academics Coordinator, presented an in-depth report on the Plano Academic Creative Education (PACE) program and related gifted-services work at the Feb. 17 board session. Moore described PACE service delivery (pull-out enrichment at elementary; daily humanities classes in middle and high school), an identification process that combines quantitative assessments and qualitative teacher and parent input, and a district appeals/portfolio pathway for students with nontraditional and twice-exceptional profiles.
Moore said identification relies on universal campus review at certain grades (K,1,3,5,7) plus referrals year-round and that the district currently serves roughly 8,000 students in gifted services. She highlighted efforts to close demographic referral gaps and to broaden outreach: planned experiences for younger students, multilingual referral accommodations, and talent-development enrichment groups for students not yet formally identified.
On math acceleration, Moore confirmed the Math Rocks program will expand districtwide in 2026-27 so that every elementary campus offers accelerated math (students can remain at their home campus). "The Math Rocks expansion, as you know, is starting in next year, 2026, 2027, where all elementary campuses will offer Math Rocks," she said. Trustees asked for multi-year referral and identification trend data; Moore agreed to provide longitudinal comparisons in future board updates.
