Philosophy

Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy (PTAA) recognizes the individual differences in abilities, needs, and interests of the school population it serves. A sound instructional program for PTAA students includes provision for gifted and talented students. Gifted learners benefit from instruction that develops and challenges their unique abilities while fostering creativity and productivity. A quality service provides both cognitive and affective development. Students are challenged to develop their potential and be successful in an appropriate learning environment.

Goal

PTAA aims to deliver quality education for all students and support the needs of gifted learners.

Objectives

• To provide a service where students are encouraged to reach their full potential and become self-directed, life-long learners.
• To receive instruction from properly trained educators who understand and respect the unique needs and modalities of the gifted learner.
• To encourage and assist students in formulating, analyzing, and solving real-world problems dealing with local, state, and world issues, to become exceptional contributors to society.
• To help each student develop and maximize such research skills as collecting, classifying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating data.
• To encourage product development using emerging technologies, techniques, materials, and forms.
• To seek out and include students who demonstrate the necessary abilities to be successful in a challenging learning environment regardless of cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and socio-economic barriers.
• To cultivate each student’s listening, written, and oral communication skills.

Gifted Learners are served through

• GT program pull-out program (Grades K-5)
• Our Honors Courses (Grades 6-12) in the subject areas of Math, Science, English, History, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement (AP)
• Gifted and Talented Identification Assessment Opportunities
• Kindergarten Screening for Assessment
• Third Grade Assessment
• Parent/Teacher/Student Referrals - windows in Fall and Spring
• Students Transferring from another School District Previously Identified for Gifted and Talented Services

Kindergarten Assessment

Beginning in Kindergarten, PTAA considers all students potential candidates for gifted education services. Kindergarten teachers will deliver learning experiences that are high-level, open-ended activities intended to diagnose gifted behaviors. Teachers will observe and monitor all students in the first semester.

In the spring, campus GT teachers screen each kindergarten student individually and review data from classroom activities to identify those who meet the initial criteria. Upon parental approval, the campus GT teacher will conduct further evaluations.

Students who meet the district gifted education service criteria will be recommended to receive GT services at their campus. Services will begin the following semester.

If a student has a qualifier in the 97th percentile or above from the CogAT, additional assessment will follow per parent permission.

Third Grade Assessment

All Third Grade students will be administered the CogAT (The Cognitive Abilities Test). CogAT is a multiple-choice K-12 assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions given in the Fall Semester. This test will provide data points to determine if a G/T assessment is needed.

Students Transferring from another School District Previously Identified for Gifted and Talented Services

When an identified gifted student transfers from another school district, the selection committee shall review the student’s records. It will review the data to determine whether or not the expectations of the previous district are equal or exceeded to determine placement or further assessment.

PTAA will review test results from other districts provided they were nationally normed ability and achievement tests and are not more than two years old. PTAA is unable to honor assessments conducted outside of a school environment, such as those conducted by a private counselor or clinician. Students may request or be referred for testing in the summer before school. Otherwise, transfer students will be assessed during the fall and spring. Please get in touch with your campus Gifted and Talented Specialist (GT) or the district Gifted and Talented Coordinator.

Furlough Information

The District may place on a furlough any student who is unable to maintain satisfactory performance or whose educational needs are not being met within the structure of the gifted and talented program. A furlough may be initiated by the District, the parent, or the student.

In accordance with the Board-approved program, a furlough shall be granted for specified reasons and for a specified period of time. At the end of a furlough, the student may reenter the gifted and talented program, be placed on another furlough, or be exited from the program.

Parents/Students: To request furlough from services: Complete the Furlough Request form and submit it to the campus Gifted and Talented Specialist or PTAA Gifted and Talented Coordinator.

The request will be considered as soon as possible by the G/T committee.

In such cases, a conference among the parent/guardian, counselor/principal, gifted/talented campus specialist, gifted/talented district coordinator, and the student (if appropriate) must be held before a furlough is granted. Appropriate documentation, signed by the parent/guardian and other members of the furlough procedures, will be placed in the student’s gifted and talented records at the conclusion of this process. If the student does not reenter the program by the end of the furlough period, they will be exited from the program.

Exit Information

The District shall monitor student performance in response to gifted and talented program services. If at any time the selection committee or a parent determines it is in the best interest of the student to exit the program, the committee shall meet with the parent and student before finalizing an exit decision.

Parents/Students/Educators: To request exit from services: Complete the Exit Request form and submit it to the campus Gifted and Talented Specialist or PTAA Gifted and Talented Coordinator.

The request will be considered as soon as possible by the G/T committee.

Students placed in the gifted and talented program may be exited by a campus screening committee when it is determined that it would be in the best interest of the student to discontinue the student’s participation. The student, parent/guardian, teacher, principal, or counselor may request that the student be removed from the gifted and talented program. In such cases, a conference among the parent/guardian, gifted/talented campus specialist, gifted/talented district coordinator, administrator, counselor and the student (if appropriate) must be held before the student is exited. Appropriate documentation, signed by the student’s parent/guardian and the G/T committee, will be placed in the student’s gifted and talented records at the conclusion of the process.

A student who exited from the program may not re-enter the program until one full academic year has elapsed. After that time, a student may be re-referred and must complete the entire screening process.

Appeals Information

A parent, student, or educator may appeal any final decision of the selection committee regarding selection for or exit from the gifted and talented program. Appeals shall be made first to the Campus GT Coordinator beginning at Level One. Any subsequent appeals shall be made to the District GT Coordinator beginning at Level Two.

Process for Appeals Regarding Selection and Removal

The parent/guardian of a student may appeal in writing the non-selection or exiting of a student. Upon receipt of the written appeal, the election committee will review the student’s application, scores, and performance. The committee may interview the student to determine whether special or unusual circumstances should be considered in the committee’s decision. The committee will communicate this decision in writing to the parent/guardian.

Honors Program

Gifted and Talented scholars in secondary schools (Grades 6-12) are served through our Honors Courses in the subject areas of Math, Science, English, History, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement (AP). Honors classes are academic choice programs, and students other than those who are identified as Gifted and Talented may participate.