Title: Gifted Education in Virginia
1Gifted Education in Virginia
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
2The Virginia Plan for the Gifted
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
3The Virginia Plan for the GiftedRATIONALE
- The Standards of Quality for Public Schools in
Virginia state that each school division must - develop criteria for the early identification of
gifted students, - assist in the preparation of teachers and other
support staff members (counselors, school
psychologists, etc.) to serve the educational
needs of gifted students, and - establish and evaluate differentiated programs
following the Board of Education approved
regulations.
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
4The Virginia Plan for the Gifted
- Is provided to assist local school personnel in
the development of a comprehensive plan of
educational services for their gifted students. - A copy of the plan may be found at
http//www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/Gifted/g
ftpln.html
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
5The Virginia Plan for the Gifted
- The Regulations Governing Educational Services
for Gifted Students outline the responsibilities
of local school divisions according to the
Virginia Constitution. - These responsibilities include
- establishment of identification procedures
- development of criteria for screening and
identification - development of a local plan
- funding
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Gifted
6The Virginia Plan for the Gifted
- Gifted students come from many backgrounds,
- and their special abilities cover a wide
- spectrum of human potential. The Regulations
- governing educational services define gifted
- students as those students
- "whose abilities and potential for
accomplishment are so outstanding that they
require special educational programs to meet
their educational needs."
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Gifted
7The Virginia Plan for the Gifted
- Categories of Potential Identification in
Virginia, K 12 - General Intellectual Aptitude
- Specific Academic Aptitude
- Technical and Practical Arts Aptitude
- Visual or Performing Arts Aptitude
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Gifted
8Local Plan
- Each school division must submit a Local Plan to
the Department of Education (DOE) for approval. - A divisions plan is written for a five-year
cycle currently either 2000 05 or 2001 06. - Once plans are submitted to the DOE, they undergo
a peer review process, then are revised and
resubmitted for approval.
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Gifted
9Local Plan (cont.)
- The Local Plan must include the following
- components
- statement of philosophy
- statement of program goals and objectives
- identification procedures (K 12), in at least
one of the four defined areas of giftedness - procedures for notifying parents of the need for
more information and for obtaining permission
prior to placement - policy for notification of a change in placement
or exit from a program - assurances regarding student record maintenance
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Gifted
10Local Plan (cont.)
- Required components (continued)
- procedures for identifying and evaluating student
outcomes - procedure for matching service options
(instructional approaches, settings, and
staffing) to student needs - procedures for the selection and training of
personnel - procedures for evaluating the program
- other information requested by the DOE
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Gifted
11The State of Gifted Education in Virginia
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Gifted
12The State of Gifted Education in Virginia (2005
2006)
- State Funds 25,996,673
- Local Match 20,731,033
- Academic year Governors Schools 7,704,078
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Gifted
13The State of Gifted Education in Virginia (2005
06)
- Total appropriation for FY 2003 25,996,673
- Academic year Governors Schools 7,704,078
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Gifted
14Statistics for 2005 06
- NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED
- General Intellectual Ability 88,614
- Specific Academic Ability 71,386
- Visual and Performing Arts 11,634
- Technical and Practical Arts 1,561
- Commonwealths Unduplicated Total
173,195
Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
15Statistics for 2004 05
NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED
Technical Arts 1,561 Performing Arts
11,634 Academic 71,386 General 88,614
Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
16Statistics for 2005 06 (cont.)
- ETHNICITY OF IDENTIFIED STUDENTS
- Unspecified 2,874
- American Indian/Alaskan Native 405
- Asian 15,398
- Black 16,859
- Hispanic 6,057
- White 116,898
- Native Hawaiian 120
Virginia Department of Education
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
17Statistics for 2005 06 (cont.)
- ETHNICITY OF IDENTIFIED STUDENTS
- Unspecified 2,874 American Indian/Alaskan
Native 405 - Asian 15,398 Black 16,859
- Hispanic 6,057 White 116,898
- Native Hawaiian 120
Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
18Areas of Service for 2002 03
- AREAS OF SERVICE
- 1 area 42 divisions
- 2 areas 50 divisions
- 3 areas 28 divisions
- 4 areas 6 divisions
Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
19Areas of Service for 2002 03 (cont.)
- AREAS OF SERVICE
- 1 area 42 divisions
- 2 areas 50 divisions
- 3 areas 28 divisions
- 4 areas 6 divisions
Virginia Department of Education
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
20Characteristics of Gifted Students
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Gifted
21General Characteristics of Intellectually/Academic
ally Gifted Students
- Characteristics include
- Advanced vocabulary and language development
- Excellent memory
- Intense and longer periods of concentration than
age-mates - Preference for older companions
- Habit of asking many questions
- Creative and imaginative
- (Based on the works of Barbara Clark, Jane
Piirto, Karen Rogers, Linda Silverman, and Joyce
VanTassel-Baska.)
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Gifted
22General Characteristics (cont.)
- Characteristics (continued)
- Perfectionism
- Love of books and reading
- Intense curiosity
- Intensity in emotions and interests
- Keen sense of humor with a love of puns
- Ability and interest in problem solving
- (Based on the works of Barbara Clark, Jane
Piirto, Karen Rogers, Linda Silverman, and Joyce
VanTassel-Baska.)
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Gifted
23Identification
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Gifted
24Identification
- According to the Virginia Plan, the degree
- and type of giftedness of the student
- should be determined through the use of
- a variety of criteria. No single instrument
- shall be used as the sole criterion in
- determining students who qualify for
- gifted programs.
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Gifted
25Identification (cont.)
- A combination of at least four of the following
criteria should be used to develop a student
profile - Assessment of appropriate student products,
performance, and/or portfolio - Record of observation of in-classroom behavior
- Appropriate rating scales, checklists, and/or
questionnaires - Individual interview
- Individual or group aptitude tests
- Individual or group achievement tests
- Record of previous accomplishments (such as
awards, honors, grades, etc.) and - Additional valid and reliable measures or
procedures.
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Gifted
26Services for Gifted Students
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Gifted
27Service Delivery Options
- The decision to use one service option (e.g.,
- program adaptation) instead of another, or a
- combination of options should be based upon
- the degree to which each option suits the
- philosophy of the school division and the unique
- needs of the gifted students in the division.
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Gifted
28Service Delivery Options
- Service options may include
- special classes provided on a part-time basis
- differentiation in the regular classroom
- honors or advanced level courses
- full-time classes (center or school based)
- seminars and special workshops
- mentorships
- independent study
- counseling sessions
- access to secondary level specialized programs
(i.e., Governor's School) - (Taken from The Virginia Plan for the Gifted)
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Gifted
29Curriculum Modification
- The curriculum design should provide a balance of
content, process (including critical inquiry and
self-directed learning skills) and product
skills, emphasize interdisciplinary content and
integration of learning strategies. Additionally,
curriculum for gifted learners should - be reflected in a sequential plan of modification
that extends the grade level Standards of
Learning in all content areas, as appropriate - be delivered in a manner which aligns the
curriculum options with the category of
giftedness for which the student has been
identified, and - require levels of complexity, abstractedness, and
multifacetedness which appropriately challenge
identified gifted learners. - (The Virginia Plan for the Gifted)
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Gifted
30The Virginia Association for the Gifted (VAG)
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
31What is VAG?
- VAG was founded in 1977 to support gifted
education. - Membership is open to individuals who are
interested in education of the gifted.       Â
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
32What is VAGs vision?
- The Virginia Association for the Gifted is a
- statewide organization of parents, educators,
- and community leaders that advocates
- appropriate instruction for all gifted learners.
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Gifted
33What is VAGs mission?
- The Virginia Association for the Gifted fosters
research - and supports specialized preparation for
educators of the - gifted. The association disseminates information,
- maintains a statewide network of communication,
and - cooperates with organizations and agencies to
improve - the quality of education in the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
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Gifted
34Programs Sponsored by VAG
- A state conference is held in odd-numbered years
- A state seminar is held in even-numbered years
- Outstanding Teacher of the Gifted Award This
award recognizes individuals for their
contributions to the gifted education programs in
their respective region.
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Gifted
35Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)
- Summer Scholarships for Students K 12 These
summer scholarships are designed for those gifted
and talented students who wish to attend academic
or artistic programs during the summer months.
The scholarships are in amounts arranging from
100 - 300 and are available for students, K-12.
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Gifted
36Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)
- NAGC Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award
This award consists of a 500 U.S. Savings Bond
and a Certificate of Excellence. It is designed
to recognize excellence in young children and is
awarded by the National Association for Gifted
Children to one student (between grades 3-6) in
each state who has distinguished himself/herself
in academics, leadership, or the arts.
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Gifted
37Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)
- Grants for Innovative Ideas Grants in the
amount of 500 will be awarded to individuals or
teams whose proposed projects support the goals
of VAG and directly service gifted students.
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
38Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)
- Leader of the Year Award This award is
presented to an individual at any level (parent,
teacher, coordinator, administrator, legislator,
other) whose exemplary leadership and outstanding
contribution to gifted education has affected
Virginias children, teachers, schools, programs,
and/or policies.
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Gifted
39Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)
- Parent of the Year Award This award is
presented annually, by region, to a parent whose
exemplary contribution to gifted education has
affected Virginias children, teachers, schools,
programs, and/or policies.
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Gifted
40Contact VAG
- Virginia Association for the Gifted
- P. O. Box 26212Richmond, VAÂ 23260-6212Voice
Mail (804) 355-5945Fax (804) 355-5137Email
vagifted_at_comcast.netLiz Nelson, Executive
Director
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted