What is SAS?
Schools for Advanced Studies demonstration sites receive the SAS designation for their exemplary Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) implementation. The Schools for Advanced Studies designation, initially implemented in the 1998-1999 school year, was created to acknowledge exemplary school models of innovative, equitable and effective GATE practices districtwide. By providing high-quality differentiated instruction with an emphasis on depth, complexity, acceleration and novelty, SAS sites offer high-level academic opportunities that meet the unique educational needs of K-12 gifted learners, identified in the Intellectual Ability, High Achievement Ability, Specific Academic Ability, Creative Ability and Leadership Ability categories or verified based on critical thinking/achievement.
The SAS model, which is in alignment with the California Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program Resource Guide and the State Board of Education Recommended Standards for Programs for Gifted and Talented Students, explicitly supports the District's goal to ensure equitable GATE participation for underrepresented students. It is District policy that resident schools must undergo a rigorous application process every five years to obtain or maintain the SAS designation. Independent charter schools and magnet programs are not eligible for the SAS designation.
Please contact the GATE/SAS coordinator at the SAS site directly to inquire about the services offered at the school for gifted/high ability learners. Each SAS site must adhere to State and District GATE/SAS requirements; however, schools have flexibility in the clustering model, thematic emphasis, differentiated instructional strategies and enrichment opportunities provided to students. Detailed school information can be found on the District's School Search Tool at https://GoTo.LAUSD.net (click Explore).
