TOPIC: Gifted and Talented Program Study (Revised: June, 2016)

GUIDING CHANGE DOCUMENT: Gifted and Talented Program Study
Context and Reality
“The Why” / Unacceptable Means
“The Not-How” / Results
“The What”
·  EPS has strong education tradition with a culture of innovation, academic excellence, and high achievement
·  District approved its Next Generation of EPS Strategic Plan in June 2012 with an educational vision that seeks to personalized learning experiences for all students
·  EPS’ is implementing the “next generation” of education for learners birth to grade 12
·  Gifted and Talented programming is provided at each school
·  Current Gifted and Talented delivery model provides a continuum of services that is curriculum-based in gr. 3-6, and student-based in gr. 7-12
·  The district utilizes a Response to Instruction/Intervention approach to help personalize learning for all students
·  The student population identified for receiving Gifted and Talented services is approximately 11% of total EPS enrollment, although 50% of the EPS student population performs in the top quartile
·  Gifted and Talented Services enrollment is not representative of total student population
·  Gifted and Talented program leadership model includes the Director of Teaching and Learning and Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator
·  Gifted and Talented Parent Advisory Council provides insights and counsel to the program leaders
·  District General Fund provides $707,376 to support the Gifted and Talented services program, which is offset by $117,291 of state aid and $11,774 of extracurricular fees revenue
·  District Achievement and Integration budget provides $175,000 to support the Young Scholars portion of the Gifted and Talented program
·  Resource (funds, staff, time, facilities and technology) challenges exist that need to be addressed
·  EPS is currently researching better alignment of facility options with program needs and expectations
·  EPS completed a program leadership assessment in spring 2013, the last strategic review of the Gifted and Talented program was more than 17 years ago
·  EPS is a member of the Intermediate School District 287 and ECSU, which offer additional opportunities for partnership and personalized learning opportunities
·  Several neighboring school districts offer full-time gifted program / 1.  Fail to align with “All for All” initiative
2.  Fail to align with Next Generation of EPS strategic plan and initiatives
3.  Exceed available resources of funds, facilities and time
4.  Develop recommendations that do not demonstrate best practices at state or national level
5.  Fail to meet national gifted program standards as identified by NAGC (National Association for Gifted Children)
6.  Fail to align with district policy or current state and federal requirements
7.  Develop recommendations that do not account for periodic updates to the School Board
8.  Use placement criteria, including assessments, which have not been reviewed for cultural and racial bias
9.  Do nothing and maintain the status quo / Develop recommendations to advance Gifted and Talented programs and services for the 2017-18 school year, which:
A.  Utilize a phased implementation approach
B.  Enhance accountability through multiple success measures
C.  Enhance achievement and opportunity for ALL students and uphold the district’s values
D.  Enhance understanding of student needs and create student learning options through technology and applied learning
E.  Maximize the resources of funds, facilities and talent
F.  Unlock existing limits of learning through innovation, technology, use of time, and personalization
G.  Inform future facilities’ planning and staffing
H.  Create a common program vision and philosophy
I.  Develop a department scorecard framework to evaluate program effectiveness
J.  Design a district and site leadership model aligned with program vision and philosophy
K.  Create a staffing model framework to support the program vision and philosophy
L.  Provide consistent quality and equitable service across sites

Decision Making Steps

Phase / A. Reality / B. Options / C. Choice Making
Who? / STEP 3
●  Staff
●  Parents/Guardians
●  Students
●  Community Members
●  Research and Educational Experts
●  G/T Study Teams / STEP 2
●  Director of Teaching and Learning
●  Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator
●  Elementary Principal Rep
●  Secondary Principal Rep
●  Strategic Data Analyst
●  Lead Team Rep
●  Parent Reps
●  Teacher Reps / STEP 1
●  School Board
●  Superintendent (also Advisory)
When?
Meeting schedule will be modified as necessary / Mtg 3
Organize research teams to review areas of study
Mtg 5
Provide input and research
Mtg 8
Assess options and brainstorming
Mtg 11
Assess options and risks/benefit assessment to implementation / Mtg 2
Determine definitions, study approach, milestones and timelines
Finalize component study groups & role definition
Mtg 4
Determine process for gathering data and research
Mtg 6
Create options
Mtg 9
Refine options
Mtg 12
Develop recommendations
Mtg 14
Refine recommendations and develop draft action plan
Mtg 16
Finalize recommendations and action plan / Mtg 1
Finalize Guiding Change
Mtg 7
Review Options
Mtg 10
Review refined options
Mtg 13
Review recommendations
Mtg 15
Review recommendations and action plan
Mtg 17 (Jan/Feb, 2017)
Act on recommendations and action plan
What Issues and Questions? / ·  How will brainstorming and data be received?
·  How do you support change and advancements in services? / ·  How will data be managed and organized?
·  How will immediate action recommendations be prioritized?
·  Is it possible to pilot frameworks? / ·  What policy / procedural adjustments need to be made to better align resources to learning and program needs?
·  Do the recommendation meet the guiding change document requirements?

Completion Date: Recommendations to the School Board by January/February, 2017

N:\Board\Meetings\2014-15 Bd Mtgs\10-06-14 Special\Strategic Guiding Change Documents - attachment GT - FINAL.docx