About GT
Learn about gifted education, identification, Advanced Learning Plans, and programming
Learn about gifted education, identification, Advanced Learning Plans, and programming
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Gifted & Talented programming provides opportunities for students with advanced learning needs to engage in advanced thinking, enrichment, inquiry, creativity, and authentic application of learning.
The goal is not simply to give students more work. It is to provide the appropriate level of challenge and opportunities for students to develop their strengths, interests, and capacity for independent learning.
At Aspen Ridge, we partner with St. Vrain Valley Schools and follow the district's established gifted identification process and criteria. This helps provide a consistent and equitable process for students across the district.
The district's gifted referral window opens each September and remains open throughout the month. During this time, parents and teachers may submit a referral application. The referral link will be shared in Aspen Ridge's weekly newsletters once it becomes available from the district.
After a referral is submitted, the district determines whether additional assessment is needed. Because all second-grade students participate in universal gifted screening, some students may already have relevant assessment data available.
Aspen Ridge also reviews multiple sources of student data, which may include:
STAR Reading and Math results
Classroom performance
Teacher observations
Cognitive achievement and assessment data
Portfolio evidence, when applicable
One important indicator is whether a student consistently performs at or above the 95th percentile over time.
However, the 95th percentile does not automatically result in gifted identification. Instead, it contributes to a broader body of evidence. The goal is to identify a consistent pattern of advanced performance or potential across multiple data points rather than relying on one assessment.
Gifted identification is not limited to Reading and Math. Students referred outside of these areas may be asked to submit portfolio evidence as part of the identification process. These portfolios are intended to be student-led.
Additional testing may also be recommended when more information is needed to build a body of evidence.
Other referral areas include:
Science
Social Studies
Creativity
Leadership
Writing
Visual Arts
Performing Arts
Music
Dance
World Languages
Psychomotor
The district's gifted referral window opens each September and remains open throughout the month. During this time, parents and teachers may submit a referral application. The referral link will be shared in Aspen Ridge's weekly newsletters once it becomes available from the district.
Typically near the end of April, school and district staff review referral information and the student's complete body of evidence.
Families are notified by letter in May. Students may:
Be identified for gifted services
Be placed under Program & Monitor status
Not qualify for identification at that time
Students who are formally identified for gifted services receive programming aligned with their identified area(s) of strength and an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP). Students designated as Program and Monitor may receive advanced learning opportunities while the school continues to monitor growth and gather information over time.
At Aspen Ridge, both identified and Program & Monitor students may participate in the K-8 Innovation Program.