Bristol Township School District Gifted Program
The mission of the Bristol Township School District’s gifted program is to ensure that all gifted and talented students are identified and provided individualized and challenging educational programs based on each student’s strengths and needs, develop their unique talents and abilities and to encourage them to join all students in making positive contributions to society. After determining eligibility and the need for specially designed instruction for each individual student, an appropriate educational program will be determined by a multidisciplinary team comprised of school personnel and parents. Flexibility in determining options will be encouraged.
According to PA Code:
“Each school district shall establish procedures to determine whether a student is mentally gifted. This term includes a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher or when multiple criteria as set forth in this chapter and in Department Guidelines indicate gifted ability. Determination of gifted ability will not be based on IQ score alone. Deficits in memory or processing speed, as indicated by testing, cannot be the sole basis upon which a student is determined to be ineligible for gifted special education. A person with an IQ score lower than 130 may be admitted to gifted programs when other educational criteria in the profile of the person strongly indicate gifted ability. Determination of mentally gifted must include an assessment by a certified school psychologist.”
Other criteria:
1. A year or more above grade achievement level for the normal age group in one or more subjects as measured by nationally normed and validated achievement tests able to accurately reflect gifted performance. Subject results shall yield academic instruction levels in all academic subject areas. (22 Pa. Code §16.21(e) (1))
2. An observed or measured rate of acquisition/retention of new academic content or skills that reflect gifted ability.
3. Demonstrated achievement, performance or expertise in one or more academic areas as evidenced by excellence of products, portfolio or research, as well as criterion referenced team judgment. (22 Pa. Code §16.21(e) (3))
4. Early and measured use of high level thinking skills, academic creativity, leadership skills, intense academic interest areas, communications skills, foreign language aptitude or technology expertise. (22 Pa. Code §16.21(e) (4))
5. Documented, observed, validated or assessed evidence that intervening factors such as English as a second language, disabilities defined in 34 CFR 300.8 (relating to child with a disability), gender or race bias, or socio-cultural deprivation are masking gifted abilities.
Data Used to Screen Students
Universal assessments are completed for all students during their elementary years. From this data, profiles of cognitive ability are gleaned, and this data is viewed alongside with measures of academic performance. One universally administered measure of ability is the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test® Third Edition (NNAT®3). The NNAT-3 is a group-administered assessment of nonverbal ability. All students in 2nd grade will participate in the Naglieri.
How Do Students Get Referred for a Gifted Identification Process?
A student can be referred for an evaluation to determine their eligibility and their need for gifted support programming either by parents or by representatives from the school district. If parents request an evaluation, this must be presented to the school district in writing. Parent requests for a gifted evaluation should be directed to your child’s building-based principal and/or school counselor.
Gifted Individualized Education Program:
The GIEP team will develop a GIEP for a student it determines to be gifted based upon the evaluation report and also determines the educational placement. Members of the team are the student’s parent(s), the student. One or more of the student’s teachers, a representative form the district (chairperson) who is knowledgeable about and can commit district resources, other persons as necessary. The GIEP contains a the students present levels of educational performance, annual goals and short term learning outcomes responsive to the learning needs identified in the evaluation report. The document also contains a statement of specially designed instruction and support services, appropriate objective criteria, assessment procedures and timelines, at least annually, determining whether goals and outcomes are being achieved.
Programs:
- Elementary: The program is designed to meet the needs of mentally gifted students is called PREP(Program for Realizing Educational Potential).The main goal of the program is to enrich the students and enable them to assimilate higher level thinking skills into usable life skills. To achieve this goal the following curriculum areas are utilized: science, math, social studies literature, study skills, research skills, technology and computer skills, creative writing and foreign language.
- Middle School: The Humanities curriculum replaces the regular education classes of English and social studies. The approach is thematic with the core being the appropriate social studies program at each grade level. English instruction of grammar and vocabulary are incorporated into the writing program. Literature corresponds to the themes and/or grade level social studies subject. Emphasis is placed on writing, research, working independently, and utilization of the skills of problem-solving, critical and divergent thinking and computer usage.
- High School: The Humanities curriculum replaces the regular education class of English at each grade level. Emphasis is placed on writing, research, working independently, and utilization of the skills of problem-solving, critical and divergent thinking and computer usage. Creative writing, expository essays and research papers are required to prepare students for post secondary study or the world of work.
Gifted Staff
Elementary
Christine Schrack
[email protected]
Middle School
John Kinloch (Armstrong)
[email protected]
Tom Volpe (Franklin)
[email protected]
High School
Aron Kotofsky
[email protected]
Frank Merk
[email protected]
Vince Mirarchi
[email protected]