Our Philosophy

Students benefit most from a curriculum designed to meet their individualized learning styles and abilities. The Radford City gifted program seeks to identify eligible students and to implement differentiation strategies and enrichment programs designed to serve gifted learners.

Identification

The search for and identification of gifted students is a continuous process. Students may be nominated by their parents, teachers, peers, or by the gifted coordinator.   Nomination forms are available from the elementary coordinator, Alice Thompson.  Nomination and screening occur throughout the academic year, and the elementary coordinator conducts an annual screening in grades K-6.  Criteria for entering the candidate pool from the screening process for specific areas of academic ability include any one of the following: a score equal to or greater than 3 on the parent/teacher checklist, a score equal to or greater than the 96^th percentile on any one or more of the Stanford Nine subtests (total mathematics and total reading ) or a score equal to or greater than the 96^th percentile on the Otis Lennon School Ability Tests (verbal or non-verbal).  The coordinator collects this data and presents it to the Identification and Placement Committee for determination of eligibility.  The gifted coordinator notifies parents of the committee's decision.

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Services

The classroom teacher and coordinator write an academic progress plan for each student who is identified. This plan is sent to the parents, and a copy is filed in the student's records. Services available to students include acceleration, differentiation in the regular classroom, weekly pull-out enrichment classes with the coordinator, and other enrichment opportunities.

Gifted Advisory Committee

The local gifted advisory committee reviews the local plan for gifted education.  Gifted program personnel, other teachers,  parents, and a high school student serve on the committee.  Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 4:00 in the School Board Office on Wadsworth Street.  The public is invited to attend.

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