- Towne Meadows Elementary
- Self-Contained Gifted Program
Self-Contained Gifted Program for Highly Gifted Learners, 4th–6th Grade
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The Self-contained Gifted Program provides an all-day differentiated learning experience addressing the individual needs of the highly gifted students. Students will be with other highly gifted peers for all core content areas (math, reading, writing, social studies and science). They will participate in special area instruction and are included in all grade level activities, field trips, and lunch.
The Self-contained Gifted Program currently has a 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classroom at Towne Meadows Elementary School.Qualifications for the Self-contained Gifted Program
Scores (on a state-approved gifted test) of 97+ in two of the three areas: verbal, quantitative, and/or nonverbal area(s), with the third score being 85 or higher or an IQ score of 130+.
Highlights of Self-Contained Gifted Program
- Project-based
- Problem-based
- STEM
- Lego Robotics
- Socratic Questioning
- Social-Emotional Curriculum
- Cross-curricular
- Technology-based
- Enrichment and Acceleration
- Language Arts (instruction is offered using College of William & Mary curriculum from the Center For Gifted Education and Michael Clay Thompson)
Location:
Towne Meadows Elementary
1101 N. Recker Road, Gilbert, AZ 85234School Grade Levels: Currently, one classroom for 4th grade, one classroom for 5th grade, and one classroom for 6th grade
Class Size: 25Transportation: 2020-21 School Year – Regional Bus Stops
Self-Contained Program Applications
Families interested in applying for the SCG Program must complete an online application.
Applications will be considered in the following order:
- Students who are siblings of students who are currently in the Self-contained Gifted Program or the GTC (Gifted Talented and Creative) Program at Highland Junior High School.
- Students residing in the Gilbert Public Schools boundaries or who are currently attending a Gilbert Public School.
- Students who reside outside of the Gilbert Public Schools boundaries or who do not currently attend a Gilbert Public School.
- Out of district students are welcome to apply for the Self-contained Gifted Program if they meet District eligibility (as noted above).
Out of District Students – In addition to the application, please submit the following information to the Teaching and Learning Department:
- A copy of your child’s most recent intellectual assessment results: Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) or other State of Arizona approved assessment or IQ tests administered by a licensed Psychologist/Psychiatrist
- A copy of your child’s most recent standardized test scores (i.e. AzMERIT, DIBELS)
- A copy of your child’s most recent report card
- Twice-exceptional students receiving special education or 504 services must attach: Copy of current IEP and most current special education evaluation report or copy of 504 plan
*Applications will not be accepted until all forms have been submitted
Siblings
Siblings are welcome to attend Towne Meadows through the Open Enrollment process. Acceptance is contingent upon the campus’ capacity to provide all services needed by the sibling(s).
Gilbert Public Schools Gifted Program Information
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Gilbert Public Schools administers Gifted Testing and Screening to enrolled students. As a reminder, Blanket Gifted Screening has been administered to all enrolled 3rd graders and will be administered to all enrolled 5th graders in February 2021. Unless your student is enrolled at Neely Traditional Academy, this campus administered the Blanket Gifted Screening to all enrolled 3rd graders October 2020, and is scheduled to administer to all enrolled 1st graders in February 2021.
The Request Gifted Testing Application Form will be open for parent requests from December 16, 2020 through March 5, 2021, for Kindergarten through 6th grade students that have not been tested in the last 24 months.
Gilbert Public Schools is a premier provider of services to Pre-K through Grade 12 students identified as gifted or twice-exceptional, using research-based instruction to address the needs of the whole child.
To achieve this vision, GPS seeks to:
- Address the social, emotional, cognitive, academic, physical, and kinesthetic needs of each gifted or twice-exceptional student.
- Use state-of-the-art diagnosis and pre-assessment tools that enable teachers to provide a rigorous curriculum at an appropriate instructional level for each student, with options that allow differentiation, individualization, and flexibility.
- Address the specific needs of gifted, highly gifted, profoundly gifted and twice-exceptional students using hands-on and project-based learning and innovative use of technology.
- Ensure appropriate training and professional development for teachers of gifted education students.
- Provide mechanisms for effective communication between families and school professionals.
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How are students assessed for Gifted Identification?
Great effort is made to provide the most appropriate placement for every child attending Gilbert Public Schools. GPS currently utilizes the state approved CogAT Form 7 computer-based assessment to identify students for Gifted Services.
Students who score in the 95th percentile are eligible for Gifted Services and will receive specific information about the services available to qualified students through their enrolled school site.
Students are eligible for GPS provided Gifted Testing once every 23 months. Every student enrolled in Grades 3 and 5 will be screened for Gifted Potential and further Gifted Testing unless parents/guardians elect to opt out of this Blanket Screening.Gifted Testing Contact
Lynn Emerson, District Test Coordinator 480-497-3392
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What is the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)?
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a group-administered K-12 assessment intended to estimate students' learned reasoning and problem-solving abilities. The test is divided into three independent batteries: Verbal, Quantitative and Non-Verbal. All three batteries appraise inductive and deductive reasoning.
Each battery also appraises additional cognitive abilities that specifically relate to that battery:- Verbal: Picture Analogies--Sentence Completion--Picture Classification
- Quantitative: Number Analogies--Number Puzzles--Number Series
- Non-Verbal: Figure matrices--Paper Folding--Figure Classification
Scores indicate the relative standing of a student in comparison to other students in a particular norm group. The percentile rank designates the percent of students in the norm group who earned scores that were the same as or lower than a particular score. For example, if a fourth-grade student receives a 92 percentile score on the Verbal Battery, it means that 92% of fourth-grade students in the standardization sample received scores lower than the score achieved by this particular student.
Gifted Testing Contact
Lynn Emerson, District Test Coordinator 480-497-3392
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How can my child be considered for Gifted Testing?
Students in Grades 3 and 5 will be screened as part of their grade level program by their classroom teacher. Families who do not wish to have their child participate in the Grade Level Screening may opt out. For students not enrolled in Grades 3 or 5, there is a Gifted Testing Application that may be completed by the parent/guardian to request consideration for Gifted Testing. Information regarding your school's process can be found by contacting your child's school.
Because of Gilbert Public Schools' protocol of administering Gifted Testing and Screening only to enrolled students, any requests for testing made on or after July 15th will be evaluated and, if approved, scheduled for on enrolled campus testing beginning Monday, August 17, 2020. As always, the student's enrolled campus will schedule and communicate specific Gifted Testing dates. For any families who had made a Gifted Testing Request PRIOR to the COVID-19 school closures, those requests have already been evaluated if approved, and have been forwarded to your students' enrolled campus for consideration of test administration. As a reminder, Blanket Gifted Screening is scheduled to be administered to all enrolled 3rd graders in October 2020 and all enrolled 5th graders in February 2021. Unless your student is enrolled at Neely Traditional Academy, this campus is scheduled to administer Blanket Gifted Screening to all enrolled 3rd graders in October 2020 and all enrolled 1st graders in February 2021.
Gifted Testing Contact
Lynn Emerson, District Test Coordinator 480-497-3392
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My child was tested in another school district. Do those scores count?
Scores from other districts are screened by the Assessment and Accountability Department. Gifted scores must be a result from a State Approved Test and align with Gilbert Public Schools Gifted Criteria.
To have your student's Out of District Gifted Testing Results evaluated, please send to:- Contact Lynn Emerson, District Test Coordinator at 480-497-3392 for email instructions
- Mail to: Gilbert Public Schools, Assessment & Accountability, 140 S Gilbert RD, Gilbert, AZ 85296
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Is summer Gifted Testing Available?
Gilbert Public Schools does not offer summer Gifted Testing.
Gifted Testing Contact
Lynn Emerson, District Test Coordinator 480-497-3392
Gifted Education Department Contacts
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- Dr. Renea Kennedy

- Dr. Matthew Moix

- Lynn Emerson