Beechwood Elementary School

Primary Talent Pool 

About the Primary Talent pool

What is the Primary Talent Pool (PTP)?

The Primary Talent Pool is a group of students who possess demonstrated or potential ability to perform at exceptionally high levels in the primary years (Kindergarten through Third Grade).  These students may be referred to as high-potential learners.  The purpose of selecting students to participate in the  Primary Talent Pool is to provide early enrichment for those students whose talents must be nurtured in order for those talents to fully develop.  These students are not automatically identified as gifted once they reach the fourth grade.  They must be formally identified by meeting certain criteria.





How are students selected for the Primary Talent Pool?

A minimum of three informal assessment measures are used to provide evidence that a student should participate in the Primary Talent Pool.  Evidence can be gathered from teacher, parent and community member observations of student behaviors and work samples.  A school committee reviews the evidence to determine if a primary student is a high-potential learner and should be included in the Primary Talent Pool. The committee considers environmental, cultural and disabling conditions.  Students can be placed in the talent pool at any time during their primary years.  


What percentage of students in primary should be included in the Primary Talent Pool?

According to 704 KAR 3:285, “high-potential learner” are students who typically represent the top quartile (25%) of the entire student population in terms of the degree of demonstrated gifted characteristics and behaviors.

Why should 25% of primary students be involved in the PTP?

It is important to cast a wide net to find high potential learners.  The PTP could include the top 5% in each of five areas (general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, leadership, creativity and visual and performing arts) for a total 25% of the entire primary school population.


How are students served in the PTP?

Students in the PTP at Beechwood receive differentiated services from their classroom teacher that are matched to their needs, interests, and abilities.  Third-grade PTP students are cluster-grouped for reading and/or math and served by a regular classroom teacher who differentiates the curriculum.   Your child's classroom teacher supports each student each day by differentiating instruction based on student interests and abilities.   Whether the content area is math, reading, writing, science, or social studies, our primary teachers use a variety of strategies to reach each learner. 

Once your child is selected for the Primary Talent Pool, he or she will remain in the program until June 30th following the third-grade year.*  Services will adapt and change to meet the needs of your child.  


*What happens after the third grade?

In the third grade, additional testing begins in the second semester to determine if a student will be formally identified for the Gifted and Talented Program.  Permission slips for additional testing go home in January.  Teacher and parent surveys will be completed, and students will take the IOWA reading and math test and the OLSAT beginning in February. A screener for creativity is also implemented. 

Students may be formally identified in the areas of General Intellectual Ability, Creative and Divergent Thinking, Specific Academic areas of math, language arts, science, or social studies as well as in the Visual or Performing Arts.  Once a student is formally identified for the Gifted and Talented Program, he or she will remain in the program until graduation from high school.

About Mrs. Ritchie, Gifted and talented Coordinator and Teacher

Contact Mrs. Ritchie at ashley.ritchie@beechwood.kyschools.us