IFE-P2 - Talented and Gifted Programs

The special needs of talented and gifted students will be addressed by way of classroom enrichment and school-based programs for identified students in the School Division. The Principal of each school will be responsible for the implementation of classroom enrichment programs and the establishment of appropriate school-based activities necessary to meet the unique educational needs of all talented and gifted students within the school.

Consultative services will be available, on a limited basis, through the Student Services Department, to school staff, parents and students to provide assistance at all grade levels in the areas of identification, programming, and instructional techniques appropriate for talented and gifted students.

Each Principal will be responsible for evaluation of the classroom enrichment programs and other school-based TAG programs within the school.

The Student Services Department will be responsible for the evaluation of the divisional TAG program and will submit an annual report in this regard to the Superintendent of Schools.

Student Acceleration Guideline

The practice of acceleration is recognized as one means of meeting the educational needs of certain talented and gifted children in the Portage la Prairie School Division. Acceleration is intended as a means of allowing students to pursue their own interests, develop skills and abilities that are beyond the requirements of the curriculum, and, if appropriate, advance through the grade structure at a faster rate than the normal promotion of one grade per school year.

The primary means of acceleration in the Prairie Spirit School Division is to enrich the programs of identified students while they remain in the regular classroom, through the assistance of the school’s Resource Teacher. A second means of providing acceleration is to involve course compacting in specific subject areas, developed by the Classroom Teacher with the assistance of the Resource Teacher. A third means of acceleration involves a student working with a class at an advanced grade level in a specific area.

The preceding means of acceleration may not meet the needs of all talented and gifted students. In such cases, advancing the student to the next grade may be the most appropriate plan. Students will not be advanced to the next grade until the parents have met with School Division personnel for discussion and consultation.

Because of the importance of placing students in the most suitable program and the most suitable grade level, Principals and staff shall ensure that the following guidelines are followed before accelerating a student to the next grade level of instruction and learning.

• 1. Whenever a school is considering accelerating a student by advancement to the next grade, the Principal and the school team shall meet with the parents to discuss the various acceleration alternatives.

  2. If grade advancement is still a desirable alternative, the Principal shall get permission from the parents to involve appropriate personnel from the Student Services Department.

  3. The School Psychologist together with the School Counsellor, Classroom Teacher, and Resource Teacher will gather information by observing, interviewing, and assessing the student to determine specific social, emotional, and intellectual strengths and suitability for acceleration.

  4. The Principal shall arrange a meeting to review all of the findings; this meeting will include parents/guardians, the student (where applicable), Principal, Classroom or Subject Area Teacher, Resource Teacher, School Counsellor, and the School Psychologist.

  5. After reviewing the information, the Principal may choose to advance the student to the next grade level or use one of the other means of acceleration.

  6. The Principal will advise the parents and the Division personnel of the decision.

  7. The Principal should initiate a review of the decision after a reasonable period of time has been allowed for the original decision to be implemented.