Gifted Information
McDuffie County School District endorses the philosophy that education is a means by which each individual has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. We believe that all students have the right to educational experiences that challenge their individual level of development, whether it is below, at, or beyond the level of peers their age. Special programs for gifted students are one outgrowth of this commitment. Students in grades K-12 who demonstrate a high degree of intellectual, academic, and/or creative abilities may be nominated for evaluation to determine eligibility to participate in the program for gifted and talented students.
The aim of the gifted program is to assist eligible gifted students in reaching their potential through a challenging curriculum and differentiated instruction based on elaborate, complex, and in-depth studies of major themes, ideas, and problems. The instructional goals are as follows:
The aim of the gifted program is to assist eligible gifted students in reaching their potential through a challenging curriculum and differentiated instruction based on elaborate, complex, and in-depth studies of major themes, ideas, and problems. The instructional goals are as follows:
- To meet individual needs of gifted students with rich and rigorous curricula content and learning experiences;
- To nurture critical and creative thinking and problem solving opportunities;
- To encourage citizenship and leadership development;
- To provide students with self-directed and small group learning opportunities that involve planning, interpreting, finding, evaluating, and using reference information and technology; and
- To foster student communication of information, ideas, and solutions clearly and accurately.
The McDuffie County School System uses a variety of search methods to identify potential students who demonstrate needs for gifted services, as defined by state rules and regulations. A student may be automatically recommended by existing test scores; recommend himself or herself; or be recommended by parents, peers, teachers, counselors, or administrators for referral to the gifted education program. To be eligible for gifted education services in McDuffie County, students will be evaluated in four data categories: mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. Students will be evaluated using instruments and qualifying scores as described by the Georgia Board of Education Rule 160-4-2-.38 [Education Program for Gifted Students].