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Special Education Services » Gifted Education

Gifted Education

Windber Area School District provides Gifted Support for identified primary through secondary students. Children qualifying for gifted services receive a Gifted Individual Education Plan (GIEP) and work with a gifted support teacher on a program tailored to meet their needs.  The Windber Area School District complies with the standards and regulations set forth in Chapter 16 of the PA School Code for identified gifted students by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  

The term mentally gifted includes a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher or other factors (listed below) that indicate gifted ability.  Gifted ability cannot be based on IQ scores alone. If the IQ score is lower than 130, a child may be admitted to gifted programs when other conditions "strongly" indicate gifted ability.  

The other factors to be considered include:

  • Achievement test scores that are a year or more above grade level
  • Observed or measured acquisition/retention rates that reflect gifted ability (i.e. how quickly your child learns new concepts or information, and how long he or she remembers it)
  • Achievement, performance, or expertise in one or more academic areas that demonstrate a high level of accomplishment
  • Higher level thinking skills
  • Documented evidence that intervening factors are masking gifted ability

 

The Gifted Education program is offered through inclusive instruction and as individualized and/or small group opportunities. Academically challenging opportunities are designed or selected on an individual student basis and may include subject/skill compacting, independent study, subject/grade acceleration, Advanced Placement (AP) and College within the High School (CHS) courses, distance learning, early entry to college and individualized approaches to enhancing the depth of curricular concepts. These challenges provide students the opportunity to maximize their potential.

Students may be screened or evaluated and identified as gifted at any time throughout their school career. The process begins with a referral from within the school or a written request from parents and follows with a screening which may be completed by a school counselor or the school psychologist. If students meet the criteria set forth by the district, they are recommended to the school psychologist for further evaluation under a Gifted Multi-Disciplinary Evaluation (GMDE).

When parents and teachers have reason to believe a student could qualify for Gifted Education programming, they should contact their Building Administrator or School Guidance Counselor to initiate the data collection and referral process. Team meetings will be convened for discussions and decision-making. Parents and teachers will work together to ensure each child’s needs are met.