Policy Statement

Effingham County School System policies and procedures are designed to promote equity in identification of gifted students from diverse populations. Gifted students may be found within any race, ethnicity, gender, economic class, or nationality. Students with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and/or behavioral problems may also be found to be gifted. Identified students are admitted for gifted services through appropriate administrative procedures and served by teachers endorsed or certified in Gifted Education. Personnel to work in the area of gifted are authorized in O.C.G.A., 20-2-152(b).

Notice to Parents/Guardians

Parents/guardians shall be notified in writing of the following information about the gifted program:

• Referral procedures, and eligibility requirements, published annually in the Student Handbook and Implementation Plan posted on the district's website.
• Notification of initial consideration for gifted education services.
• Types of gifted services provided, academic standards, teaching methods, and manner of evaluation of student performance.
• Standards for maintaining gifted eligibility, continued services, and probation criteria and length.
• Termination of gifted services.

Whenever possible and requested, written notifications will be provided in the home language of the student.

Reported Referrals

K-12 students may be nominated for consideration for gifted services by a teacher, counselor, administrator, parent/guardian, peer, self, or other individual with knowledge of the student’s abilities. A Nomination for Consideration for Evaluation form may be submitted at any time.

Automatic Referrals

• 3rd - 5th Grades: Students who have a > 90 academic average over the last three grading periods will be automatically nominated.
• 6th - 8th Grades: Students who have a > 90 academic average over the last three grading periods will be automatically nominated.
• 9th - 11th Grades: Students who earn AP Potential for 15 or more courses based on PSAT data AND have a > 90 academic average accumulated over the previous two year academic averages will be nominated.

Note: The principal/designee of each school is responsible for reviewing system-wide data. A Nomination for Consideration must be submitted for automatic referrals, but students are not automatically eligible for evaluation or services without meeting criteria.

Evaluation Information

• Evaluations are conducted by gifted-certified teachers approved by the district.
• Written parental consent is required for evaluation.
• Assessments meet requirements stated in Rule 160-4-2-.38.
• The most current evaluation information (within two calendar years) will be used to determine eligibility.
• Students will not be evaluated more than once every two calendar years.
• Testing occurs during designated fall and spring windows.
• Automatic referrals may use current system-wide generated data (grades, Georgia Milestone scores) in lieu of additional tests in those areas.

To be eligible, a student must meet the criteria using either the psychometric approach or the multiple criteria approach. If eligible, parental consent must be given prior to services beginning.

Delivery Models

Any state approved model may be used to provide gifted services in Effingham County to meet advanced learning needs and interests, including Resource, Advanced Content, Cluster Grouping, and Collaborative Teaching. Effingham County also allows schools the opportunity to use State approved innovative models.

Curriculum and Instruction

The Program for Gifted Education is an academic program. Each eligible student with signed consent will be provided a minimum of five segments of gifted service per week (or yearly equivalent).

• Schools ensure reasonable effort is made to match services to documented advanced needs.
• Curriculum focuses on cognitive, learning, research/reference, and metacognitive skills while incorporating state content standards.
• Content areas may include: mathematics, science, English/language arts, social studies, foreign language, fine arts, and vocational/technical education.
• Schools ensure quality materials to meet the need of a differentiated curriculum.