What are the continuum of service components in the new Gifted Education program?
Level 1 – Support at all elementary sites Gifted Education staff are present in all elementary buildings. Classroom teachers participate in professional development to understand the characteristics of gifted learners and address their academic needs. Student screening for needs-based pull-out instruction is provided beginning in grade two. Level 2 – Cluster-Based Service (CBS) Gifted Education (GE) staff collaborate with and support the general education classroom teacher. In kindergarten and first grade, the GE teacher goes into each classroom to focus collaborative instruction on higher-level thinking skills and differentiation. Affective support is provided outside of the classroom for students demonstrating the greatest need for rigor. In grades two through six, the GE teacher focuses on differentiating instruction in the cluster classroom with students who have the greatest need for rigor. Professional development for the Gifted Education teacher and cluster classroom teacher at
