Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

The term “gifted and talented” in education is used to indicate a learning difference.  Like other learning differences, giftedness is identified through both formal testing and specific evaluative measures.  Students with this learning difference typically have an IQ score in the top 5% of their population and demonstrate a variety of unique and advanced behaviors on a daily basis.

Gifted and talented students are different in that they may learn at a faster rate, understand concepts at a greater depth and complexity, have exceptional abstract reasoning skills, and are naturally creative and innovative in their thinking.  Therefore, it is crucial that their educational program be tailored to their unique learning needs in order to properly cultivate their academic potential.

While there is no universal definition of giftedness, the State of New Jersey Department of Education in its administrative code (N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1) defines gifted students as: Those students who possess or demonstrate high levels of ability, in one or more content areas, when compared to their chronological peers in the local district and who require modification of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities. The code requires that school districts identify students as to their potential with respect to giftedness. The regulations require that students be compared to their chronological peers in the local school district. New Jersey does not have state-level criteria such as mandated tests or assessments, grade point averages, or IQ scores. Local school districts must use multiple measures to identify students who may benefit from this type of program.

Identification for the Gifted and Talented Education program is multi-faceted and consists of a measure of ability, measure of achievement, and measure of gifted and talented behaviors.  Identification currently takes place in the beginning of 3rd grade.  Students who do not meet the criteria during their 3rd grade year, will be invited to test again in 4th and 5th grade. The screening process can be re-opened to new students entering grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. 

Students who score in the 95th percentile or above on the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) are students whose needs may not be met through a traditional regular education curriculum.  This may also be true of students who score in the 95th percentile or above in Mathematics or English/Language Arts on other Achievement tests or “Exceed Expectations” on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments. These students are holistically evaluated by their teachers and counselors to determine whether they regularly present behaviors indicative of a need for curriculum modification or extension.  

If identified as gifted and talented, the student’s parents/guardians will be invited to a meeting to discuss involvement in the GT program and to provide consent for participation.  

According to the 'Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act':

5. a.  The Commissioner of Education shall develop a protocol pursuant to which an individual may submit a complaint alleging that a school district is not in compliance with the provisions of this act, and the executive county superintendent of schools shall investigate the complaint. The protocol shall also include procedures for remediating gifted and talented programs in school districts found to be in noncompliance.

b. A complaint submitted to the executive county superintendent pursuant to this section may only allege noncompliance that has occurred within one year prior to the date that the complaint is submitted.  The complaint shall include:

     (2)   the name, address, and contact information of the complainant.

c. The executive county superintendent shall complete the investigation within 60 calendar days after receipt of the complaint and issue a written decision with proposed remediation, if necessary, to the complainant and the school district

Policy 

2464 - Gifted and Talented Students