Peaks Parent Information

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BSD7 Peaks & Gifted Education Parent Guide

Promoting Enrichment and Knowledge for Students

Background: The Bozeman School District is committed to recognizing and supporting all students in developing their full educational potential. Within our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), all students will be provided with  high-quality, standards-based instruction and intervention that is matched to students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs to maximize the success of each student. Gifted identification allows our school teams to anticipate and respond to possible academic, social, and emotional support students might need in order to be learning and interacting at an optimal pace and level. The gifted program follows BSD7 district policy and procedure 2166.

The Bozeman School District screens all students for gifted identification in third grade. Screening may occur outside of this window as determined through the MTSS process. Students are identified based on certain criteria. Please refer to the BSD7 Gifted Education website for more detail. 

Current practice: Ability Testing Composite Score 130 or above (2 deviations from district norms) OR score of  99% in one of three areas (verbal, non-verbal, quantitative). Students K-8 can be recommended for additional testing following the district MTSS process. Your student’s scores will be distributed after testing; however they should be available upon request and kept in student records. 

Educational Services: Most students will have their academic needs met in the classroom and during the tiered-support time(s) for math and reading within the school structure. In keeping with the district’s MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) process, there will be an effort to keep the focus on student learning and growth, not simply meeting grade level expectations.  

In the classrooms and within the school day, teachers use differentiation, particularly during the Go-To-Grow (What I Need) times. Schools may provide weekly learning and enrichment opportunities such as Word Masters or Continental Math League. Usually these are supported with the help of a parent volunteer so please reach out to your building principal if you are able to volunteer in your child’s school (Don’t worry! We provide the training!). Word Masters Challenge is a friendly “competition” as well. 

K-5: Gifted Education teacher pulls out 3rd, 4th/5th grade groups 1x a week at every elementary school (1 teacher - approx 149 students)

6-8: Gifted Education teacher works with students in grades 6, 7, 8. 

K-5: MSU Honors College mentors (25 mentors paired with 25 K-5 students 1 hr per week each semester, organized by Gifted Coordinator)