Students will be preparing for the real world in D.R.A.G.O.N.S while they explore their interests, learn to set and accomplish their goals, self-evaluate, and step outside of their comfort zones! They will be in competition with themselves instead of others to instill a mindset of continual growth based on their individual needs.
Students with gifts and talents perform—or have the capability to perform—at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains. They require modification(s) to their educational experience(s) to learn and realize their potential. Student with gifts and talents:
Come from all racial, ethnic, and cultural populations, as well as all economic strata.
Require sufficient access to appropriate learning opportunities to realize their potential.
Can have learning and processing disorders that require specialized intervention and accommodation.
Need support and guidance to develop socially and emotionally as well as in their areas of talent.
-National Association for Gifted Children
The district will provide screening for all students to ensure that all potentially gifted students have an opportunity for consideration.
The district will use a variety of screening methods that reduce the chance of bias and provide an opportunity to identify the strengths of all students:
-Nationally normed achievement test scores
-Group intelligence test scores
-Missouri Assessment Program Scores
-Demonstrations of creativity or creative problem solving
-Recommendations from teachers, other personnel, parents/guardians, and peers
Based on screening results, some students will be targeted for individual evaluation.
Full scale or GAI scores, including confidence intervals where appropriate, on an individualized intelligence test at or above the 95th percentile.
The district uses the following tests of general mental ability:
-Wechsler Intelligence Scales
-Stanford-Binet Intelligence Tests
If achievement test scores are used for formal evaluation and placement, they must be derived from a norm-referenced test and the cut-off score must be set at the 95th percentile or higher. For interdisciplinary programs, tests must be used that sample a majority of the core subject areas of Math, Science, Social Studies, and Communication Arts.
-Offer opportunities above and beyond those offered through a standard grade level curriculum.
-Provide opportunities to explore and expand unique abilities and special interests.
-Provide a learning environment to enhance the areas of creativity, reasoning, decision making, problem-solving, and communicating.
-Provide experiences to extend personal knowledge and to develop a sense of personal responsibilities.
-Establish goals and objectives requiring collaboration and problem sharing with intellectual peers.
