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Gifted and Advanced Programs Paulding County SChools

Vision: Our vision is to provide a safe, healthy, supportive environment focused on learning and committed to high academic achievement. Through the shared responsibility of our stakeholders, students will be prepared as lifelong learners and as participating, contributing members of our dynamic and diverse community. In support of the district vision, the Gifted program will provide gifted learners with opportunities to extend and enhance the curriculum through differentiation of content, process, product, and learning environment.

Mission: To identify students for the gifted program as outlined by the Georgia Department of Education (SBOE Rule 160-4-2-.38). To provide a rigorous, challenging, and diverse curriculum for students in the gifted program.To provide opportunities to express their extraordinary and unique abilities through performance tasks designed to produce advanced research skills, develop critical and creative thinking and problem-solving skills, and increase communication skills.

THE GIFTED STUDENT is one who meets the eligibility criteria as identified in this rule and as defined in the GaDOE Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services.

Gifted students will develop and practice advanced research skills and methods, creative thinking and creative problem-solving, critical thinking and logical problem solving, and advanced communication skills. Gifted students will develop an understanding of self and how their unique characteristics may influence interactions with others.

NOMINATION AND REFERRAL: Classroom teachers, parents/guardians, counselors, administrators, students, or any other responsible persons who have knowledge of the student's intellectual function may refer a student according to the Georgia Department of Education guidelines. Nomination guidelines and appropriate forms are available from the school's Gifted teacher.

REFERRAL WINDOWS: WINDOW 1: 09/26/22 – 10/14/22 WINDOW 2: 01/09/23 – 01/26/23

AUTOMATIC REFERRAL: Students are referred automatically each year based on the norm-referenced universal screener in grades 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th . Private psychology tests may not be used for eligibility but may be considered. A gifted education teacher will notify parents/guardians in writing of a child’s referral and will obtain their written consent for formal evaluation.

Elementary Model: Identified gifted students in grades K‐5 will be served by the Gifted teacher using the resource model. Gifted teachers use interdisciplinary units that match the advanced learning needs of their students and that challenge higher-level thinking for the gifted student. Some elementary schools are clustering gifted students into ELA and/or math classes at least two segments daily during which interdisciplinary instruction is taking place with a gifted endorsed classroom teacher.

Middle School Model: Students in grades 6-8 are served daily during advanced academic courses depending on their area of giftedness. Students are placed on an academic team where they receive direct instruction in various content areas from a teacher certified in the area of gifted. Middle school teachers differentiate the curriculum to meet the needs of the gifted learner and document program resources and procedures in their lesson plans.

High School Model: In high school, gifted students have a variety of options for daily service. The primary options include Honors/Advanced Placement (AP) courses and post-secondary options.

POINTS OF CONTACT: Gifted teacher at your local school, principal, school’s principal, PCSD Gifted and Advanced Programs Coordinator, Irina Keith, EdD, ikeith@paulding.k12.ga.us Phone: (770) 443-8000.

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