Who Can Receive Services in the REACH Program?
The Coweta County School System will provide services for all students who are eligible according to Georgia Rule 160-4-2-.38. The State of Georgia provides rules and regulations for the operation of gifted programs that require local boards of education to meet standards regarding notice, referrals, consent, eligibility, continuation, and reporting requirements. The Coweta County School System has adopted Board Policy IDDD and Administrative Regulation IDDD-R to guide the operation of the system’s gifted program.
What Can I Expect in My REACH Class?
Activities for REACH students include more elaborate, complex, and in-depth study of major ideas, problems, and themes than that addressed in the regular educational classroom. The successful attainment of these goals is dependent upon a collaborative effort among the educators, community members, parents, and students.
Students at the high school level receive services in three ways:
1. Resource Classes
2. Advanced Placement Courses
3. Post-Secondary Options
NEW TO THE COUNTY/SCHOOL:
My family just moved to Coweta from another Georgia county, and my child was in the gifted program at his/her previous public school. What do I need to do to make sure he/she is placed in gifted courses at ECHS?
1. If possible, try to obtain a copy of your child's gifted eligibility paperwork from your previous Georgia Public School. This will make the process go by more quickly.
2. When you register your child (or after your child has been registered), give a copy of your child's gifted records to the school registrar or gifted coordinator and request that your child be placed in the program at ECHS.
3. Once the records have been reviewed (and everything checks out), you will receive paperwork to fill out, granting us the permission to place your child in the gifted program.
My family just moved to Coweta from another state or country, and my child was in the gifted program there. What do I need to do to make sure he/she is placed in gifted courses at ECHS?
The State of Georgia does not recognize gifted status from students who were tested out of state. If you wish for your child to be tested for the gifted program, please notify the gifted coordinator, michelle.rogers@cowetaschools.net, during the referral window (September and January) for appropriate paperwork. If you are an active-duty military family who moved because of reassignment to a different military post or base, please contact the gifted coordinator.
My child just moved from a private school to ECHS, and my child was in the gifted program there. What do I need to do to make sure he/she is placed in gifted courses at ECHS?
The State of Georgia does not recognize gifted status from students who were tested at a private school. If you wish for your child to be tested for the gifted program, please notify the gifted coordinator, michelle.rogers@cowetaschools.net, during the referral window (September and January) for appropriate paperwork.
My child recently transferred from another Coweta County school. What do I need to do to make sure he/she is placed in gifted courses at ECHS?
A student's gifted record will already be recorded and flagged in Infinite Campus--you shouldn't have to do anything; however, if you notice on your child's schedule that he or she is not signed up to take either a gifted, AP, or dual-enrollment class, please notify either the counselor or the gifted coordinator.
NEW TO THE PROGRAM (REFERRALS, TESTING, PLACEMENT)
Who can refer a student for consideration for testing into the gifted program?
Anyone can refer a student for consideration: the student himself, a friend, a teacher, or a parent. Just request paperwork from the gifted coordinator, michelle.rogers@cowetaschools.net during the referral window (September and January).
What classes are open to students in the gifted program at ECHS?
Gifted 9th Grade Civics, Lit./Comp. I (Pre-Ap), Lit./Comp. II (Pre-AP). Also, students can meet their yearly requirements for remaining in the gifted program by taking any Advanced Placement (AP) course. Students must be enrolled in at least one gifted or AP class each year to remain in the program.
My child has an IEP--can he or she be tested for the gifted program, too?
Yes!
I submitted referral paperwork for my child to be considered for testing. What happens next?
Once we've received paperwork requesting that a child be considered for testing into the gifted program, we take the following steps:
We ask that you provide us with permission to review records and potentially test your child.
We meet with an Eligibility Team to review your child's records, grades, and previous test scores, etc. to determine whether or not he/she should be tested at this time.
For those students whom the Eligibility Team chooses to test, we will notify you of your child's testing day(s). For those we choose not to test at this time, we will also notify you.
Students will be tested under four categories: Intelligence, Achievement, Motivation, and Creativity.
The Eligibility Team will meet again to review scores and recommend students to the program.
Your child's scores and the results of the Eligibility Team's decision will be mailed to you and you will be offered the chance to meet and discuss the results.
If your child was accepted into the program, you will receive paperwork asking for permission for placement in the program.
If your child was accepted and we have received permission for placement, we will place your child in the appropriate gifted courses at the start of the next new semester.
STUDENTS ALREADY IN THE PROGRAM
I got a letter in the mail saying my gifted student is on academic probation. What does that mean?
If your child has been put on probation, it means that he/she made a grade of 70 or lower as his/her 9-weeks grade in either a gifted, AP, or dual-enrollment class. A student on probation will have a minimum of a 9-weeks period to bring his/her grades back up to 71+. During this time, the student will continue receiving services. If you would like to meet with the gifted coordinator and/or your child's teachers to discuss his/her progress, please call the Counselor's Office at 770-254-2850 to schedule an appointment.
I got a letter in the mail saying my gifted student has been removed from the program. What does that mean?
If you received a letter of removal, this means that your student failed to meet continuation criteria for a minimum of a 9-week period after being placed on academic probation. He/She will be removed from the gifted program and any classes labeled "gifted" at the end of the 9-weeks. If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss your child's removal, please call the Counselor's Office at 770-254-2850.
I want to have my child removed from the gifted program. What should I do?
If you want your child to be removed from the gifted program, you must submit a letter in writing to the gifted coordinator. Your child will then be removed at the next most convenient scheduling opportunity.
My child was removed from the gifted program, but I would like him/her to be reinstated. What do I do?
If you would like your child to be reinstated to the gifted program, you must submit a letter in writing to the gifted coordinator. In addition, your child must meet continuation criteria for reinstatement (student must have at least an 80 average in all core classes (English, science, social studies, mathematics, and foreign language).
Does my student receive any recognition at graduation for being in the Gifted/REACH program?
Students in the gifted program who complete their time in high school without being removed from the program (either voluntarily or due to grades) will receive special recognition at graduation by receiving a special tassel.
*Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, seals will no longer be distributed.