Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District Gifted and Talented Education

1. Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District Gifted and Talented Education Prepared by Mary Nourse GATE Coordinator 12/4/2008

2. What is GATE? • State funded program of unique educational opportunities for gifted or talented students • Serves high-achieving and under-achieving identified students

3. Where do we go from here? • Schedule events listed on plan. • Schedule in-service for staff/parents at earliest possible time. • Solicit volunteers to provide classroom enrichment activities, run book group and math club • Continue to support teachers and students

4. How does a student qualify for GATE in SPJUSD? • Multiple criteria are used: * Raven’s test score * Math and language arts scores * Parent and teacher nominations * Extraordinary talents * Special circumstances e.g. health issues • Qualificationlasts student’s entire school career

5. What are the key roles? • Identified students-may participate; not required • Non-identified students may participate-space available • GATE Administrator (Penny Berry)- oversees all aspects of program • GATE Coordinator (Mary Nourse)- runs identification process, maintains data, designs, coordinates, and evaluates program

6. Principals-implement program at school site, support students and staff members, involve parents and community • Teachers-refer students for identification, differentiate curriculum, provide independent study or flexible grouping, participate in professional development • Parents-attend advisory council and parent meetings, participate in professional development, assist in activities • GATE Advisory Committee-provides input on all phases of program, from identification to evaluation

7. Who serves on the advisory committee? • GATE Administrator • Coordinator • Site principal • Parents • Regular education teacher • Resource teacher • Community member • Everyone, especially students ,welcome to attend

8. What elements should be included in a GATE program? • Differentiated learning opportunities • Alternative learning environments • Elements to help develop responsibility • Commitment to constructive ethical standards • Opportunities to expand problem-solving abilities • Support for realistic, healthy self-concepts For more detailed information refer to the Gifted and TalentedResource Guide on the California Department of Education web site.

9. What is the current status of GATE in SPJUSD? • GATE Advisory Committee assisted with setting criteria for identification and program design. • GATE Coordinator completed identification and notification for 2008-09 school year. • GATE families, teachers, and administrators gathered to socialize and to brainstorm program ideas.

10. Coordinator and student administered survey to determine student s’ interests. • Advisory committee brainstormed resources to augment program. • Parent volunteer and coordinator synthesized ideas and drafted structure for 2-year plan. See handout-”GATE Program Planning Grid”.

11. Coordinator attended training for development and administration of GATE program; differentiation of curriculum • Coordinator is networking with : *Sierra County Historical Society *Sierra County Arts Council *Western Sierra Medical Clinic *The Sierra Booster *Nevada and Plumas County Schools *California Association for the Gifted

12. Coordinator has begun in-school enrichment classes: *Taught Mexican sugar skull making for LHS Spanish 4 *Planning lesson on Spanish- American War using primary sources for any history class

13. What are our SPJUSD GATE demographics? • Fifteen students already had qualified for the program • We tested 114 students-all second graders + other nominated students • Including the original fifteen,59 students are now qualified district-wide