ABOUT TALENTED & GIFTED
VISION
The vision of the Pulaski County Special School District’s gifted and talented program is to offer a quality and exemplary program that motivates, challenges, and enables students to maximize their academic growth and learning potential.
MISSION
The mission of the Pulaski County Special School District Talented and Gifted Program is to provide students the opportunity to interact with their intellectual peers as they experience a challenging and differentiated program designed to meet their cognitive and effective needs while maximizing their leadership, communication, critical thinking, creative thinking, and research/independent learning. Also, the district will strive to maximize their depth and complexity of knowledge, higher levels of inquiry, and develop a sense of individual worth and responsibility to self and to society.
RATIONALE
The Pulaski County Special School District identifies students who meet the criteria for the Arkansas Department of Education definition of gifted and talented children and youth. These children and youth possess unique abilities, and their needs must be addressed.
Gifted and Talented children and youth have high-ability, learn quickly in their area(s) of competence, and require more than what is offered in the standard curriculum.
STUDENT SURVEYS
PCSSD K-12 PROGRAMS FOR TALENTED AND GIFTED
DISCOVERY
The DISCOVERY PROGRAM GRADES K-2: The Discovery curriculum is taught as WHOLE GROUP enrichment in all K-2 classrooms weekly by a certified TAG Facilitator. The certified TAG Facilitator maintains records (i.e. portfolio, skills checklist) to document student(s) actions/responses, which is considered long-term identification.
ALPHA
The ALPHA PROGRAM GRADES 3-5: Students can be referred/nominated by teachers, parents, peers and students. A bi-racial screening committee consisting of administrator, classroom teachers, counselor, and Alpha facilitator utilizes a case-study approach in the selection of gifted students. Based on multiple criteria, a student profile is created for each child nominated. School staff and placement committees are provided with an in-service prior to nominations. Information is provided on how to identify students from under-served sub-populations. This in-service is updated as needed with new information and research.
Curriculum designed for the Alpha program focuses on higher order thinking and problem-solving skills, research, analytical reading and writing, and enriched mathematics. All GT curriculums are reviewed for multicultural infusion.
An appeal process allows parents to challenge the non-placement of their child in the program.
In grades 3-5 identified students participate in the Alpha program. Alpha is a program for elementary students who have been identified through a fair, equitable, and thorough placement process. Students are served by utilizing a pull-out model with 150 minutes weekly. The overall objective of the program is to improve research, thinking, and communication skills by providing a flexible curriculum that is qualitatively different.
TAG/PRE-ADVANCED PLACEMENT
The Pre-Advanced (Pre-AP) 6-8: Pre-AP courses are offered at all middle schools in the four core content areas at grades 6-8. They are more challenging than regular-level classes and will likely have rigorous homework and tests to help you prepare for the advanced level of AP classes. Students receive advanced Math opportunities, physical science and foreign language classes. These courses are part of the daily instruction. All Pre-AP teachers are current with their Pre-AP endorsement certification. Gifted and talented students receive differentiated services through Pre-AP courses where teachers are trained to integrate Talented and Gifted and College Board curriculum.
Within these classrooms, the identified gifted and advanced student will be given opportunities to complete advanced products, and will have exposure to a variety of learning experiences which may include out-of-school assignments.
Within these classrooms, the identified gifted and advanced student will be given opportunities to complete advanced and innovative performances or products, and exposure to a variety of learning experiences which may include out-of-school assignments.
TAG/ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Advanced (Pre-AP) 9-12: Pre-AP courses are offered at all high schools in the four core content areas and Music, Art, and Computer Science at grades 9-12.
At the high school level, gifted and talented students receive differentiated services through Pre-AP and AP courses where teachers are trained to integrate TAG curriculum and College Board curriculum.
High school opportunities for our 9th-12th grade identified students consist of Pre Advanced Placement, Advanced Placement, and concurrent college courses. In addition, students that successfully complete their AP courses take the end of course College Board AP exams. These students receive weighted credit and with a score of 3, 4, or 5 on these exams can receive college credit for the course which includes all college/universities in-state and defined college/universities out-of-state).
Academic competitions and excellence are offered at all high schools.
Each AP teacher is required to create a syllabus that must be approved by the College Board.
apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/ap-a-glance
Within these classrooms, the identified gifted and advanced student will be given opportunities to complete advanced and innovative performances or products, and exposure to a variety of learning experiences which may include out-of-school assignments.
OTHER ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
Odyssey of the Mind, Quiz Bowl, Stock Market Game, Geography Bee, Spelling Bee, History Day, creative writing, Speech Clubs, collaborative teaming, lunchtime book chats, curriculum extensions, as well as many others.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
STATE AND LOCAL PULASKI COUNTY OPPORTUNITIES FOR TALENTED AND GIFTED STUDENTS
AEGIS Program(s)
AIMS – Saturday Prep Sessions
Arkansas Commitment
Arkansas Governor's School
Arkansas Mentoring & Networking Association --STEM
Boys State and Girls State
Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy
RESOURCES FOR TALENTED AND GIFTED