House Bill 282, passed in 1999 with an addendum in 2000, requires that all school districts identify students who are gifted in grades K-12. The State also requires that the district prepare Written Education Plans (WEPs) for gifted students served in their identified areas (Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, Cognitive Ability, Creative Ability, and/or Visual/Performing Arts).

In order to begin the identification process in all areas, a collection of eligible students must be gathered. Superior ratings on State Achievement Tests are used to indicate students who will be given state-approved nationally-normed tests to complete the identification process. Students may make scores required for identification on these tests or may come five percentage points within the identification score. If the second option occurs, students are given another chance to qualify as gifted by being given a second test. For the Visual and Performing Arts identification, rubrics done on collections of artworks and performances must qualify a student as gifted. Parents, teachers, and peers may nominate a student to be tested for gifted by contacting the gifted office (988-5750).

Two Intervention Specialists, Carole Keil and Connie Dennis work with the three elementary buildings. They teach 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade language arts as a replacement for all or part of their regular language arts curriculum. In the middle school one Intervention Specialist, Jackie Creekbaum, teaches language arts to gifted 6th, 7th, and 8th graders identified in reading. Honors classes in math are provided for those students gifted in math. For gifted students not directly served by the Gifted Intervention Specialists, teachers write individualized education plans (WEPs) to show how they differentiate curriculum in order to challenge these students.

In the high school, gifted students may take honors classes in all academic areas. Advanced Placements classes are also available for advanced science, math, and English courses.

It is the districts desire to challenge each individual child at his/her ability level. All our teachers put much time and effort into accomplishing this.

Parent Advocates for Gifted Education

(PAGE) Monthly Meetings for 2007-08:

September 13: Overview of program: MS Cafetorium 6:30-7:30 Keil, Creekbaum, Fugate

October 24: College Preparation: EMS Media Center 6:30-7:30 , Graff

January 29: Benefits of Music/Arts/Speaking: SME Arts Building 6:30-7:30 Apgar, Fowler, Rolfes, McBride, Oakley, Creekbaum, Dennis, Keil . —Showcase of talent

March 18: Motivation: Panel of students: Benefits of Gifted Ed. EMS Cafetorium 6:30-7:30 HS students

May 5: Gifted Showcase: EMS Cafetorium 6:30-7:30 Gifted LA Students—Grades 3-5