Overview of
Gifted Services in Arlington Public Schools
Arlington
Public Schools is dedicated to maximizing the strengths and potential of all
students so they may become self-confident, well-rounded, responsible and
productive citizens. Believing that each and every individual has merit, we
recognize that certain learners within the school population have unique
abilities, interests, needs and potential for accomplishment. These
characteristics necessitate systematic, continuous services to present unique
and appropriately differentiated curricula and learning opportunities
responsive to individual learning rates, styles, and interests. Gifted students
need opportunities to think abstractly, work at various rates and levels of
complexity, and pursue tasks independently. In addition, students eligible for
gifted services need opportunities to learn with others of like abilities, as
well as opportunities to develop social relationships with others of all abilities.
The Office
of Gifted Services reflects this philosophy and complies with Virginia
Regulations Governing Educational Services for Gifted Students based on the
following concepts:
·Giftedness is developmental; it is
potential which must be nourished;
·Gifted students share some
characteristics with all other children; and
·There is variability among the
gifted.
The gifted
services eligibility process identifies students in the following areas.
·Specific Academic Aptitude: students with specific aptitudes in
the academic areas of mathematics, science, English, social studies
·Visual/Performing Arts Aptitude: students with specific aptitudes in
visual art and/or instrumental or vocal music areas
The goals of
Gifted Services include the following:
·Identify students in grades K-12 in
Specific Academic Aptitude(s) and Visual/Performing Arts Aptitude;
·Provide appropriate differentiated
services based on information provided in the identification process to meet
the identified student's unique learning needs;
·Train teachers and other professional
educators who instruct gifted students in learning characteristics and
behaviors of gifted children and differentiation of content, skills,
activities, and product development;
·Encourage involvement of parents and
the community-at-large in the educational program of gifted students.
For
information on Arlington
Public School's Gifted Services, visit:
