Table of Contents

Student Levels of Enrichment/Gifted Services

Gifted Support Services

Enrichment Services

Elementary Enrichment Services

Middle School Enrichment Services

High School Enrichment Services

South Fayette teachers meet the needs of all students by providing a challenging environment that encourages children to grow and develop their intellectual abilities and talents. Services are available to all students, whether identified as gifted or not, who demonstrate a need for differentiated instruction to reach their potential.

 

 

 

 

Gifted Support Services

South Fayette School District follows the requirements for gifted education services as outlined in 22 PA Code, Chapter 16, Special Education for Gifted Students in coordination with Chapter 4, Academic Standards. These regulations require the provision of gifted education services to students who have been identified as gifted and in need of specially designed instruction. The services are developed and implemented through the Gifted Individualized Education Program (GIEP).

Specific procedures for the education of all gifted students are implemented by the district in the following areas:

• Public awareness activities through published notice in parent handbooks, posted website information, and booklets that are easily accessible to parents in the main office of each building.
• “Child Find” requirement and screening at all grade levels.
• Multiple criteria evaluation procedure including ability and achievement testing, grade point average, group IQ scores, and parent and teacher rating scale information. All of these scores are plotted on the District Screening/Identification Matrix.
• Multidisciplinary evaluation and reevaluation procedures.
• Iowa Acceleration Scale when necessary to determine subject and grade acceleration.

Gifted Individualized Education Program

• Initial program based on and responsive to results of the evaluation.
• Procedures in place for transfer students.
• Guidelines followed for GIEP team composition, timelines and components of the Gifted Individualized Education Program.

Educational Placement

• Determination of need for support services to ensure the benefit from or access to the gifted education program.
• Placement occurs based on gifted student’s needs and ability for provisions of appropriate specially designed instruction.
• Guidelines followed for caseload and class size.

Procedural Safeguards

• Compliance with parental consent requirements, timelines, and due process rights and procedures, and confidentiality.

Additionally, Professional Education Plans, which include the Act 48 and Induction Plan, provide in-service training and other professional development opportunities on effective practices to support the provision of quality gifted education services in the South Fayette School District.

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Enrichment Services

Unlike Gifted Support Services, enrichment services are not mandated by law. However, it is determined through local school districts if they choose to offer enrichment services to students. Also, it is determined through local school districts as to what will be delivered to students as enrichment services and how will those services be delivered in grades K-12. South Fayette School District is committed to excellence so we do promote, encourage and support a “School-Wide Enrichment Model” in grades K-12.

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Elementary Enrichment Services

Criteria and Collaboration of Enrichment Services
Classroom teachers in grades K-4 differentiate instruction and curriculum in both language arts and mathematics to meet the needs of high ability learners. Our language arts and mathematics curriculums are both designed so that teachers can easily differentiate lessons and assignments for students. One additional strategy that we use to differentiate for high ability learners is enrichment cluster groups. The enrichment cluster groups meet in the enrichment room during the students’ language arts or math time. The classroom teachers make some adjustments for activities or instruction that the children miss when they are away from their regular classrooms, but many times children participating in enrichment clusters are often asked to complete missed classroom activities at home as homework. Children are selected to participate in enrichment cluster groups according to their demonstrated academic strengths and knowledge of the skills and concepts being taught within a classroom. The students that are selected to participate in the pullout enrichment groups have demonstrated a “need” for additional challenges beyond the curriculum. Children that score in the 95 th national percentile in reading, math, and language arts on the Terra Nova achievement tests are screened for enrichment placement. These children must also demonstrate excellence, extend themselves beyond the regular classroom requirements, and be capable of missing regular classroom instruction on a daily basis.

Enrichment services at the K-4 level include:

Services to all students:

• Artist in Residence programs in grades 2,3,4 (all students in grade level)
• Collaborative Language Arts/Guidance project with guidance counselor for grade 3 (all students in grade level)
• Career Day with guidance counselor for grade 4 (all students in grade level)

Services to some students:

• Language arts enrichment cluster groups, K-4 –Additional opportunities to read and write, extend comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and complete research
• Mathematics enrichment cluster groups, K-4 – Meaningful practice and further develop skills in problem solving, critical thinking, conceptual understanding, and performance tasks.
• Competitions – History Bowl (gr 4), Science Bowl (gr 4), Calcu-Solve (gr 3-4).

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Middle School Enrichment

For middle school students, enrichment is offered in language arts (grades 5-6), mathematics (grades 5-6), science (grade 7) and social studies (grades 7-8). To determine placement in the enrichment cluster groups, the enrichment coordinator and the subject area teachers review the students’ Terra Nova Achievement Test scores from the previous spring; all students who have scored at the 95 th percentile or higher are considered. Secondly, we review final grades from the previous school year; students who have earned a 96% or higher in that subject will also be considered for enrichment. Once the first quarter grades are determined, students who maintain or achieve a 96% in language arts or math will participate in the enrichment cluster groups. Science and social studies enrichment students will remain in the cluster group until their assigned project is completed. Students will be re-evaluated each quarter for eligibility by the enrichment coordinator and the classroom teacher.

Middle School Enrichment Services:

• Classroom teachers differentiate to meet the needs of highly-able students
• Cluster groups are offered for students who consistently exceed the regular curriculum: language arts (grades 5-6), math (grades 5-6), science (grade 7), and social studies (grades 7-8)
• The Enrichment Coordinator can be consulted to plan, coordinate, and facilitate enrichment activities as needed throughout the school year
• The Enrichment Coordinator recruits for, organizes, and supervises various opportunities and competitions sponsored by local organizations:
  • History Bowl*
  • Calcu-Solve*
  • MATHCOUNTS*
  • Science Bowl*
  • Future Problem Solving
  • Future City Competition
  • Creative Convention*
  • Jr. Benchmarks
  • English Festival
  • Stock Market Game
  • IndEEE 500 cm. Robotics Car Race
  *Students are recommended for these activities by classroom teachers and student slots are limited.

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High School Enrichment Services

Although high school students are often sufficiently challenged within the curriculum, it is essential that students become involved in academic opportunities outside of the classroom to extend and apply their learning. These academic activities are often what set a student apart in the college or job application process.

Enrichment is offered to South Fayette High School students in the form of academic experiences, opportunities and competitions. The Enrichment Coordinator collaborates with the content area teachers to provide opportunities that are worthwhile and appropriate for our students. Students are recommended for these various activities by their content area teachers based on their area of interest and classroom performance. Because each opportunity is unique, the criteria for recommendations vary. Details of the opportunity are communicated through a meeting with the Enrichment Coordinator and/or a letter sent to the home. Ultimately, the decision to participate is left to the student to determine based on the level of interest and commitment required. In the event the number of students interested in participating exceeds the number permitted, a competition within the school will determine which students will represent South Fayette.

Many clubs/organizations are run by the faculty after school. Students participating in these opportunities also extend the learning process beyond the curriculum.

Listed below are the types of enrichment services provided at the high school.Examples of each type of opportunity are included; however, the opportunities may vary year to year based upon student interest.

Academic Opportunities
Examples include, but are not limited to Speakers, Seminars and Governor’s Schools

Academic Competitions
Examples include, but are not limited to Science Bowl, Calcu-Solve and English Festival

Academic Experiences
Examples include, but are not limited to Apprenticeships and Career Fairs

After – School Clubs/Organizations
Examples include, but are not limited to FBLA, Model UN, Forensics, Mock Trial, Forensic Science and Foreign Language

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