Gifted & Talented

• The Morris School District has teachers identified for each grade or grade band K-8.  For grades 9-12, teachers are assigned to courses, academies, extra-curricular experiences and clubs that are designed to address gifted learners and interests.
• For K-5, related arts (specialists) teachers are assigned to work with students for each grade band.
• For Grades 6-8, a dedicated Quest teacher will be assigned to work with the Quest students.
• The groups will give students opportunity for connections and group projects with students of similar interest.
• Local, county and state-wide competitions and experiences will be available for students at the appropriate grades.

• There will be school level rosters (for all grade levels) once students are identified. A master list will be created/updated on an Identified Student Spreadsheet.  

• The identified student name, school, grade and 6-digit SID will be recorded by the school.  Students will then be coded as G&T in PowerSchool to meet the new reporting requirement of the DOE.

TIER I:

ALL STUDENTS

• Students may participate in short-term (enrichment, small group. or STEM experiences) and/or long-term extension projects

• PD is and will be provided for G&T and homeroom teachers to ensure that all areas of learning are responsive to student needs (i.e., Morris County Consortium Membership, G&T Conferences)

• Principals and teachers should use resources provided to determine needs of “strong learners” and for “gifted learners” -- these are two different things.  Differentiation will be provided to students who need enriched instruction

• Partnering activities between homeroom and G&T teachers with data review will help us determine if younger students (before 4th grade) are in need of a more formal tier 2-independent project opportunities.  A teacher following at least two rounds of benchmark assessments may initiate a formal identification process

TIER II:

SCHOOL WIDE ENRICHMENT 

• All MSD students are given the opportunity to participate in School Wide Enrichment

• Grade K is a classroom/grade level based enrichment program that works to expose students to all learning domains

• Grades 1-5 are formally organized in small group clusters based on learning inventory results

• At the K-5 level, 4 weeks of Enrichment at least once per school year will be facilitated

• Grades 6-8 enrollment in during/after school teams, experiences and projects that are linked to student interest

• School Wide Enrichment is organized, facilitated by principal, G&T teachers

TIER III:

QUEST

• QUEST is a portion of our G&T program

• QUEST is for students who need extensive enrichment beyond the curriculum and classroom practices that are already provided

• Identification for participation in QUEST typically begins at 4th grade but can expand if deemed necessary at the school level.  Identification can be done in any grade from 4th-8th.  If a student isn’t identified one year, they can be identified in subsequent years 

• Quest participation continues from year to year through Grade 8

• Identification is based on Multiple Measures

• Projects are problem based and/or personal interest explorations using the Inquiry Based learning model

All students have access to Tiers I and II of the MSD G&T Program. For more formal identification for Tier III opportunities, Multiple Measures are collected. Each school will utilize a spreadsheet to calculate and record scores. 

•  MSD Behavioral Checklist (Parent)

•  MSD Behavioral Checklist (Teacher)

•  Student Self-Nomination (if applicable)

•  Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Assessment results*

•  Most recent i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment Scores for Reading and Mathematics

*The characteristics of gifted students (outlined in table above) will be considered in the identification process. 

*Standardized Tests will be considered as needed for entry into Quest.

*Non-Verbal measures (Naglieri Test) is included as a way to increase inclusion of Bilingual students and other students who may be limited by typical response assessment.

*The demographics of the school district will be reflected in the demographics of G&T programs.

*Additional measures will be considered as needed and incorporated into the identification process

Each year principals compile the data and rank the grade level across the district.  They select the top 5-7% of the entire grade level across the district as consideration for inclusion in the Quest Program

• Exact timelines for identification are updated yearly and on the district website. 

• Our initial identification typically begins in October. 

• Previously identified students will begin G&T Programs as early as the second week of the typical school year. 

• Parent letters are sent to inform the start of programs.

• Nominations for G&T can be made throughout the school  year.

Gifted & Talented curriculum exists for grades K-8 in the Morris School District.  

• Our curriculum and program design is guided by the NAGC Programming Standards

• In addition, all curriculum in the Morris School District contains accommodations for G&T students as required by the NJDOE.  

• Program resources are updated regularly

Professional Development is and will be provided for G&T and homeroom teachers to ensure that all areas of learning are responsive to student needs.

• NAGC Memberships

• Morris County Consortium Membership

• G&T Conferences

• Data Driven support for Gifted Students

• Local PLC and professional development opportunities

At the high school level, the Programs of Study highlights program offerings to meet the needs of a variety of students, including through the STEM Academy and the Life Design Lab.