The Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA) is Colorado’s primary law with requirements for the implementation of specific elements and procedures for gifted education programs. The Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) is a legal document [22-20-R-12.00, C.R.S] outlining programming for identified gifted students and is used as a guide for education planning and decision-making. The ALP will provide documentation of gifted education services in the student’s area(s) of strengths, the student’s yearly growth, and the manner in which the child’s social and emotional needs will be addressed. The development of an ALP serves as a foundation for a partnership between the gifted student, the classroom teacher, the parent/guardian, and the gifted education teacher at the school.
In order to have an ALP written, a student must be identified as gifted or highly gifted in Denver Public Schools. Copies of the ALPs are kept in the district’s student database and are evaluated and updated each year.
ALPs are required for all identified students ECE-12.
The Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) :
provides a guide for advanced instruction and learning opportunities in the student’s identified area(s) of strength
is created in collaboration with parents/guardians, classroom teachers, and gifted education teachers
includes standards-based goals - both academic and social emotional
provides an opportunity to dialogue with teachers about the student’s needs
establishes guidelines for advanced growth within the parameters of a public school setting
In the fall, the GT teachers will send out a google form survey for families of identified GT/HGT students to fill out. This information is shared with classroom teachers to discuss the student’s chosen goals, as well as strategies and supports on how to implement them into the classroom. The ALP is then sent home to families. It can be revisited at any time. Since all ALP goals are standards aligned, they are met within the classroom curriculum organically and are not separate curriculum for gifted students.