HALIFAX REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD SUPPORT FOR GIFTED & TALENTED STUDENTS

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1 Public X Report No. # Private Date June 25, 2008 HALIFAX REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD SUPPORT FOR GIFTED & TALENTED STUDENTS PURPOSE: BACKGROUND: To provide Halifax Regional School Board with an update on support for gifted and talented students within the board. Gifted students are those who give evidence of outstanding performance capability in a variety of areas and/ or academic fields. There is no one profile of a gifted student, and identification should be carried out using a variety of qualitative and, if needed, quantitative measures Gifted and talented students in Halifax Regional School Board are identified under the Special Education Policy Manual (1996) as students who may have needs that require adaptations or special programming to provide opportunities for them to meet their maximum potential. The process for identifying and supporting students follows the program planning process and is supported through the Challenge for Excellence Enrichment and Gifted Education Resource Guide. Programming must be driven by the student s learning needs. Many of these needs are supported by the classroom teacher through enrichment activities, adapted instructional approaches, assessment strategies, learning environments and resources. However, the classroom and public school program may not meet the needs of some students with exceptional abilities. When designated learning outcomes are changed to meet the needs of students, or additional outcomes are created, an individual program plan must be developed and implemented. In order to support the work of school personnel with relation to gifted students the board has provided the services of a Pilot Implementation Teacher Challenge for Excellence. This resource person coupled with a variety of print resources and videos may be used to help guide the development of support options for students. CONTENT: COST: FUNDING: Challenge for Excellence (1999) is the provincial guide used by school personnel to plan and develop support for gifted and talented students in Halifax Regional School Board. It outlines information regarding Schoolwide Enrichment, Identification of Students, Program Planning and Professional Development. Since 2003 the implementation of this guide in schools has been supported through the Challenge for Excellence Pilot Implementation Teacher. This individual has supported schools through school-based and central professional development opportunities and through meetings with school planning teams, administrators and teachers on a case by case basis. She/he has facilitated the collection and creation of support materials through the creation of the GIFTS newsletter, enrichment kits and the enrichment kiosk at Dartmouth Teacher s Center. She/he has acted as a liaison with the Student Services department of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and taken a lead role in the development of new support videos for schools. She/he has acted as the liaison with Dalhousie s Golden Key Honours Society mentoring initiative, which connects university students with students for tutoring and mentoring in schools from elementary through senior high. n/a n/a

2 TIMELINE: APPENDICES: RECOMMENDATIONS: COMMUNICATIONS: From: Implementation of support is ongoing Challenge for Excellence Enrichment and Gifted Education powerpoint and the Department of Education guide. That the board accepts this report for information purposes. For further information please contact: Geoff Cainen, Director, Program, or at ext 2114 Lance Bullock, Coordinator, Programs & Student Services, or at ext 4372 Cindy Tully, Consultant, Alternative Programming, or at ext 8409, Tim McClare, Pilot Implementation Teacher Challenge for Excellence, or at ext 4374 To: Halifax Regional School Board, June 25, 2008 Date last revised: June 24, 2008

3 Challenge for Excellence: Enrichment and Gifted Education Halifax Regional School Board

4 The provision of programming and services for students with gifts and talents is part of the provision of a quality education in the province of Nova Scotia. (Special Education Policy 1.3)

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6 Definition of gifted The term gifted refers to students who give evidence of outstanding performance capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership, or in specific academic fields. The characteristics are not all inclusive and students with gifts and talents may not exhibit all of these characteristics at any given time. (Challenge For Excellence)

7 Challenge for Excellence Inclusive Schooling and School-wide Enrichment Identification Process Program Planning Professional Development

8 Programming Initial student support begins in the classroom Student support is a collaborative effort of the school planning team Follows the program planning process

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10 School-Wide Enrichment School-wide enrichment provides a foundation of support to students with gifts and talents while enhancing educational opportunities for all students (Challenge for Excellence)

11 Stage 1: Screening and Identification Identification is a comprehensive process that includes the gathering of data related to academic, social, emotional, cultural, and behavioural perspectives.

12 Stage 2: Instructional Strategies by Classroom Teachers Differentiation based on readiness, interests and learning styles Critical and creative thinking Problem Solving Student Led Research Enrichment

13 Stages 3-4: Referral to Program Planning Team Program Planning Team Meeting Additional Assessment Information Development of Formal Adaptations

14 Stages 5-8: Development, Implementation & Review of an IPP Development of outcomes based on students strengths and needs Monitored, reviewed and revised regularly

15 Options for Programming Curriculum Compacting Independent Study Grouping strategies Mentors Learning Stations Acceleration Advanced Courses

16 Implementation Since 2000, there has been support provided to schools interested in implementing Challenge for Excellence Pilot Implementation Support Teacher additional positions to support high schools

17 Pilot Implementation Teacher Supports teachers and schools through meetings and on-site professional development. Facilitates Central PD workshops Facilitates GIFTS newsletter Development of Enrichment Kits Development of the Enrichment Kiosk at DTC Collaborates with Department of Education Golden Key

18 Materials in HRSB schools: Challenge for Excellence Guide Fact Sheet on Enrichment Challenge for Excellence videos Enrichment Clusters Total Talent Portfolios Program Planning School-wide Enrichment Model Alberta Learning Binder

19 Society gains from the advancement of all abilities and from the highest development of all its members, whatever their strength. That which nurtures and actualizes each individual nourishes us as a society. (Clark, 1992, as cited in Challenge for Excellence)