Gifted and Talented Task Force

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Gifted and Talented

Task Force

Presentation to the Howell Township

Board of Education March 29, 2006

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Established Criteria

Philosophy and Goals Description of the Population to be Identified and Serviced

Finance/Program Budget Research-Based Best Practices Accessibility: Meeting Students’ Needs Identification Staffing and Professional Development Curriculum Evaluation of Program Options

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Areas of Consensus

Label the program not the child Provide a range of tiered services Expand programmatic impact on student

population/find ways to service more children

Explore all no-cost strategies and low-cost options

Continue acceleration: explore ways to expand opportunities to include more children in the elementary grades

Revise curriculum for all programs

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Areas of Consensus

Revise identification procedures– Based on multiple criteria – Include the provision for parents and

teachers to recommend students for screening

– Look at all pertinent and available data prior to making decisions on placement

– Criteria weighted evenly to maintain consistency

– Explore appeals process

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K-8 Proposed Program

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Project ExploreK-1

Build upon current enrichment learning kits

Further develop grade level thematic planning and resources to better meet primary students’ learning needs and interests

Expand upon current implementation of differentiated instruction at the primary level

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Flexible Enrichment Cluster GroupingGrades 2-5

Cluster grouping: Strategy to group identified students, usually those in the top 3-5% of ability in the grade level population in a mixed-ability classroom

Cluster groups will be housed in grades 2-5 at each of the 10 elementary schools

Cluster grouping teachers will be provided staff development to increase familiarity with instructional strategies to meet student’s individual needs

Students will be screened every year to determine eligibility for services

Flexible cluster grouping will provide much needed peer to peer relations while assisting teachers in providing appropriate and necessary differentiated instruction for these students

G&T Supervisors, in collaboration with building administration, will work to identify cluster group students

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G & T SpecialistsGrades K-5

Two specialists will be assigned five elementary schools each and visit them on a weekly basis.

The enrichment cluster groups will be in place and will provide the specialist with an identified group of students in which to work.

In addition, the G&T specialists will work with kindergarten and first grade classrooms to identify students for placement into the second grade enrichment cluster groups. The main objective of the specialist is to provide individualized support and resources for students in kindergarten through fifth Grade.

These specialists will serve as invaluable resources to district administration and teachers in identifying and servicing students’ needs, strengths, and interests.

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Project GOAL4-5

Project GOAL will remain at LOP Two self-contained classrooms

– 4th grade– 5th grade

Acceleration of Mathematics begins in the 4th grade.– Students complete three years worth of

mathematics in two years time Revised curriculum and identification

procedure

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Project PLUS6-8

Site-based middle school program– School/program choice no longer an issue

Will provide services in both Math/Science and Humanities

Math acceleration– 6th Grade: Pre-Algebra– 7th Grade: Algebra I– 8th Grade: Geometry

Revised identification procedure Revised curriculum in all four content areas

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Budget Implications

Staffing: $100,000 Curriculum Development:

Project Explore/Enrichment K-5$2,625

Project GOAL 4-5 $1,050 Project PLUS 6-8 $4,200

Staff Development: Cluster Group Teachers $8,400 Specialists $1,050 Project GOAL$1,050 Project PLUS$6,300

Total $124,675

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Budget Details

Total $124,675Minus $18,000 savings from OLSAT testingMinus $2,000 from G&T workshop

allotmentMinus $7,055 from G&T summer curriculum

– Total available to fund proposed program: $27,055

– Difference needed to fund program = $97,620

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Budget Details cont…

Potential for difference to be made up with elimination of G&T busing to middle school magnet programs– Transportation costs =$100,835

Total savings will phase in as current six grade class completes magnet program at MSN and MSS.– Savings = $100,835 - $97,620 = $3,215

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Transportation: Budget Details

Year 1 - 2006/2007 – eliminate two routes

Save $25,214 Year 2 - 2007/2008

– Eliminate four routesSave $50,407

Year 3 - 2008/2009– Eliminate two routes

Save $25,214Proposed Program

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Program Limitations

Cost of two specialists Accelerated math program will be very

rigorous Perception: Students remaining together

for four subjects is not good Perception: Quality of current programs

will be “watered down” Implementation dependent upon three

year “phasing in” process

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Program Strengths Specialists provide instruction to students in grades K through 5 Specialists available as resource for K-5 teachers Maintains and strengthens current programs Will feature revised identification procedures Improves upon current curriculum Provides means to service identified students within home

school setting beginning in Kindergarten. Site-Based middle school program will create over $100,000

dollars in savings due to decreased transportation costs Fiscally responsible: Staffing costs can be offset from savings

in transportation. Move to eliminate middle school magnet school choice allows

for home school option Higher percentage of students serviced across the district More students receive Accelerated Math program at the middle

school

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Percentage of Student Population Serviced

Current Program

% of student

pop. Proposed Program

% of student

pop. K12 20-40 3 to 53 20-40 3 to 54 25 3 65 5 to 85 25 3 65 5 to 86 56 6 75 87 56 6 75 88 56 6 75 8

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Identification:Three Phase Process

Nomination – Step One: Test Score Nominations– Step Two: Teacher Nominations– Step Three: Alternate Pathways – Step Four: Special Nominations

Screening: All eligible students– Step Five: Committee Analysis

Selection– Step Six: Notification

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Next Steps

Transition of Programmatic Options Funding: Monitoring of budgetary

development in preparation of services Staff Development Development of the following:

– Formalization of specific identification criteria baselines for services

– Curricula/courses of study to enhance current programs

– Communication to administration, teachers, and parents

– Cluster grouping implementation

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In conclusion…

“Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best”–Henry Van Dyke