Applications are still available for the Self-Contained Program for the 2020–2021 School Year!

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Self-Contained Gifted Program for Highly Gifted Learners, 4th–6th Grade

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 85234

School Grade Levels: Currently, one classroom for 4th grade, one classroom for 5th grade, and one classroom for 6th grade

Class Size: 25

Transportation: 2020-21 School Year – Regional Bus Stops

Self-Contained Program Applications

Families interested in applying for the SCG Program must complete an online application.

Self-Contained 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

Due to the COVID-19 events and school closures, Gifted Testing Requests have been suspended until July 15, 2020. 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 24, 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 and have been forwarded to your students' enrolled campus for consideration of test administration beginning August 24, 2020.

As a reminder, Blanket Gifted Screening will 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 will administer Blanket Gifted Screening to all enrolled 3rd graders in October 2020 and all enrolled 1st graders in February 2021.

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.

Request Gifted Testing

COVID-19 Closures and Gifted Testing

Due to the COVID-19 events and school closures, Gifted Testing Requests have been suspended until July 15, 2020. 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 24, 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 and have been forwarded to your students' enrolled campus for consideration of test administration beginning August 24, 2020.

As a reminder, Blanket Gifted Screening will 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 will administer Blanket Gifted Screening to all enrolled 3rd graders in October 2020, and all enrolled 1st graders in February 2021.
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
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
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.

Due to the COVID-19 events and school closures, Gifted Testing Requests have been suspended until July 15, 2020. 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 24, 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 and have been forwarded to your students' enrolled campus for consideration of test administration beginning August 24, 2020. As a reminder, Blanket Gifted Screening will 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 will administer Blanket Gifted Screening to all enrolled 3rd graders in October 2020 and all enrolled 1st graders in February 2021.

Request Gifted Testing

Gifted Testing Contact

Lynn Emerson, District Test Coordinator 480-497-3392
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 lynn.emerson@gilbertschools.net
- or mail to: Gilbert Public Schools, Assessment & Accountability, 140 S Gilbert RD, Gilbert, AZ 85296
Is summer Gifted Testing Available?

Gifted Education Department Contacts

Name:

Title:

Location:

Showing results for "Professor named Smith at Elementary School"

Amber MacRobbie

480-545-2173

Dr. Matthew Moix

480-497-3322

Lynn Emerson

480-497-3392

Last Modified on April 30, 2020

Self-Contained Gifted Program

Applications are still available for the Self-Contained Program for the 2020–2021 School Year!

Self-Contained Gifted Program for Highly Gifted Learners, 4th–6th Grade

Qualifications for the Self-contained Gifted Program

Highlights of Self-Contained Gifted Program

Self-Contained Program Applications

Gilbert Public Schools Gifted Program Information

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.

COVID-19 Closures and Gifted Testing

How are students assessed for Gifted Identification?

What is the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)?

How can my child be considered for Gifted Testing?

My child was tested in another school district. Do those scores count?

Is summer Gifted Testing Available?

Gifted Education Department Contacts