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Student Support » Gifted & Talented

Gifted & Talented

Gifted and talented students are those students between the ages of four and twenty-one whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted students include students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic and ethnic, cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas:

  • General or Specific Intellectual Ability
  • Specific Academic Aptitude
  • Creative or Productive Thinking
  • Leadership Abilities
  • Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Musical or Psychomotor Abilities


Gifted Program Goals

  1. To build a cohesive peer support group for learning and socialization.

  2. To equip and support faculty in their efforts to appropriately differentiate curriculum and instruction for gifted and twice exceptional students.

  3. To build a support system for the unique emotional needs of gifted and twice exceptional students.

  4. To challenge students in their area of talent on a regular basis.

  5. To create partnerships with the wider public that enhance both community life and student-centered objectives.

  6. To educate the school community about the gifted in order to remove barriers and to promote understanding.

GT Facilitators

Aspen View Academy has two full-time Gifted & Talented Facilitators on staff. Kimberly Mayne is the GT Facilitator for students in grades K-4 and Brittany Zellmer is the GT Facilitator for students in grades 5-8.

 

Please see the link below (Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented) to learn about opportunities for parents of Gifted and Talented students – Parent Coffees at Panera Bread in Castle Rock, SENG Parent Discussion Groups, and to sign up for their newsletter!

 

GIFTED CHILDREN’S BILL OF RIGHTS:

 

You have a right to

  • know about your giftedness.
  • learn something new everyday.
  • be passionate about your talent area without apologies.
  • have an identity beyond your talent area.
  • feel good about your accomplishments.
  • make mistakes.
  • seek guidance in the development of your talent.
  • have multiple peer groups and a variety of friends.
  • choose which of your talent areas you wish to pursue.
  • not to be gifted at everything.

 

Information Links:

Universal Screening

Letter from Douglas County School District regarding Screening 2023-24

 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

DCSD is committed to implementing equitable practices to increase access to advanced/gifted learning opportunities. Based on state and national recommendations and requirements, we implement Universal Screening for students in 2nd grade (February).
 
2nd Grade Universal Screen
As part of this process, ALL students in 2nd grade not identified for gifted programming will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) the week of February 6.  This assessment indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates.  These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.  

If your child is already identified for gifted programming, they will not participate in this universal screen testing. Your Gifted Education Facilitator will contact you directly with information about this process. 
 
Kindergarten/ 1st Grade Gifted Identification Referral Testing 
  • If your child is in K or 1st  grade and you believe he/she needs evaluation for Gifted Identification and Services, you may refer your child for testing by initiating the Gifted Identification Process.  
  • NOTE:  Requesting this assessment automatically initiates the process to evaluate for Gifted Identification. 
  • Please request CogAT testing for your child by completing the Referral for Gifted Identification linked HERE
  • Upon receipt of this form the Gifted Education Facilitator will connect with you to discuss next steps in the gifted identification process.

DCSD is committed to implementing equitable practices to increase access to advanced/gifted learning opportunities. Based on state and national recommendations and requirements, we implement Universal Screening for students in 2nd grade (February).

 

As part of this process, ALL students in 2nd grade not identified for gifted programming will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) the week of February 14. This assessment indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates. These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.

 

If your child is already identified for gifted programming, they will not participate in this universal screen testing. Your Gifted Education Facilitator will contact you directly with information about this process. 

DCSD is committed to implementing equitable practices to increase access to advanced/gifted learning opportunities. Based on state and national recommendations and requirements, we implement Universal Screening for students in 2nd grade (February) and 5th or 6th grade–a student’s final year of elementary school (November).

 

As part of this process, ALL students in 5th graders not identified for gifted programming will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) the week of November 1st, 2021.  This assessment indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates.  These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.  

 

If your child missed their regular universal CogAT screening last year, they will be assessed during this window.  This would pertain to students currently in 3rd and possibly 6th or 7th grade (depending on the last grade in elementary).

 

If your child is already identified for gifted programming, they will not participate in this universal screen testing. Your Gifted Education Facilitator will contact you directly with information about this process. 

If your child is in K or 1st  grade and you believe he/she needs evaluation for Gifted Identification and Services, you may refer your child for testing by initiating the Gifted Identification Process.

 

NOTE:  Requesting this assessment automatically initiates the process to evaluate for Gifted Identification.

 

  • Please request CogAT testing for your child by completing the Referral for Gifted Identification linked HERE

  • Upon receipt of this form the Gifted Education Facilitator will connect with you to discuss next steps in the gifted identification process.

  • If your child is in grades 3 or 4 and you believe he/she needs evaluation for Gifted Identification and Services, you may refer your child for testing by initiating the Gifted Identification Process.  
  • NOTE:  Requesting this assessment automatically initiates the process to evaluate for Gifted Identification. 
  • Please request CogAT testing for your child by completing the Referral for Gifted Identification linked HERE.
  • Upon receipt of this form the Gifted Education Facilitator will connect with you to discuss next steps in the gifted identification process.