Purpose of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Program

As stated in Article 9B (our legislation and program standards that guides the work of AIG in North Carolina), the purpose of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Program is to provide an appropriately challenging educational program for students who perform, or show potential for performing, at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment. Academically or intellectually gifted students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual areas, specific academic fields, or in both intellectual areas and specific academic fields. Academically or intellectually gifted students require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular educational program. Outstanding abilities are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic status, and in all areas of human endeavor. 

Identification Processes

School-Based Committee for Gifted Education (SBCGE)

Our School-Based Committee for Gifted Education (SBCGE) focuses on data-based decision making to ensure equitable access to screening, referral, and identification through the following practices:

Powell's SBCGE uses multiple data sets to identify and nurture high potential among students across all ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic groups. SBCGEs will discuss all opportunities available for gifted identification with underrepresented populations. Our AIG Teacher, Ms. Poisson, also works with each gade level to implement enrichment opportunities in core instruction.

Nomination

Our SBCGE receives nominations from various stakeholders throughout the school year. A nomination may come from a parent/guardian, teacher, administrator, self-referral or other stakeholder. The nomination is a formal request to begin the referral process. By nominating a student, the stakeholder is effectively informing the SBCGE that they recognize traits of giftedness in that particular student.

Referrals

The referral process includes a collection and analysis of available classroom/school data as well as a review and analysis of historical data. This information is stored in an online database that is accessible for all AIG teachers. The SBCGE will utilize available data to determine next steps in the evaluation process and what additional data, if any, needs to be collected. The SBCGE team will determine what additional information, if any, needs to be collected to determine eligibility for gifted identification.

Gifted Services and Talent Development

In alignment with state guidance, gifted students are gifted "all day everyday," which means they are provided rigorous experiences within the classroom as well as with the AIG teachers.  Gifted education services are provided for students who qualify for the AIG program in Kindergarten through 5th grade and Talent Development program. Services for AIG and Talent Development students include differentiated curriculum and instruction that extends and enriches the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Below outlines the support provided by the classroom teacher.

Identified Students

Grades K-2

Identified Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students receive differentiated curriculum and instruction in reading/language arts and/or mathematics within the general education setting. Options may include cluster grouping, flexible grouping, and a variety of extension and enrichment activities provided by the classroom teacher in collaboration with the AIG teacher.

Grades 3-5

All students receive differentiated curriculum and instruction in reading/language arts and/or mathematics within the general education setting. AIG Teachers provide direct and indirect services to gifted identified students in grades 3-5. Identified students are served directly a minimum of 45 minutes per week per area of identification. 

Opportunities for Enrichment and Development

Talent Development

Talent Development students are defined by being high performing students that show the potential for gifted identification and/or that have high performing characteristics. Participation in the Talent Development Program will depend upon various factors and multiple data points determined by the School-Based Committee for Gifted Education.Students that are Talent Developed are served alongside their identified peers. 

Data is reviewed by the SBCGE at least three times per year to determine if a student in Talent Development qualifies for gifted identification. 

Explorers

Third Grade Explorers Model to provide opportunities for all third grade students to exhibit gifted behaviors and to nurture & develop those behaviors among students across all ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic groups. 

Explorers is delivered in both whole groups and small groups that can change throughout the year.  Participation in Explorers does not guarantee future gifted identification. 

Additional Acceleration Opportunities Available to All WCPSS Students

Single Subject Acceleration (SSA)

Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) is the practice of assigning a student to a higher-grade level than is typical, given the student’s age, for the purpose of providing access to appropriately challenging learning opportunities in either math or English/language arts.

Test requests will only be received by your child's school during the SSA Spring Test Request Window for your child's school calendar. Students may only be assessed for SSA in ONE subject area: reading or mathematics.

For additional information, please visit https://sites.google.com/wcpss.net/aigatpowellmagnetelementary/single-subject-acceleration-ssa

Click on the image below to view WCPSS AIG Family Brochure.