1253 Clinton Avenue
Irvington
New Jersey 07111
Who Benefits from Gifted Services?
The Irvington Public School District describes students that could benefit from the Gifted Services program in the following way: students that perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. These students can exhibit high performance capability in intellectual areas, specific academic fields, or in both intellectual areas and specific academic fields. Students that could benefit from Gifted Services are those that require differentiated education services beyond that which is ordinarily provided by the regular educational program. These students exhibit outstanding abilities that are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.
Students that benefit from Gifted Services are those whose abilities and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional that they are among those who require special services. The Irvington Public Schools’ Gifted Services Program seeks out and provides services for students with advanced intellectual, verbal-linguistic and/or logical-mathematical aptitude, with the understanding that these individuals are not a homogenous group, and therefore may exhibit these characteristics in varying degrees and intensities.
There is a difference between a highly competent and accomplished learner and that of a gifted learner. The chart below lists traits commonly present in a “bright” child vs. a “gifted learner.” While it is not expected that a child will exhibit all of the traits listed nor are the presence of any of these characteristics proof that a child is gifted. Therefore, identification of students that would benefit from Gifted Services examines multiple measures.
Eligibility and Identification
Students are identified through multiple measures. The initial referral may be a recommendation from a teacher, counselor, school administrator, parent, or the student themselves. The school district also employs universal cognitive testing for students in grades 2 and 6 to discover potentially eligible students that may have not been referred. Following a referral or universal testing, an analysis of other measures such as standardized and locally administered assessments, subject grades, the Slocumb-Payne Teacher Perception Inventory, and results of the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) are used to determine eligbility.
Complaint Procedures
The Intellectually Gifted Program of the Irvington Public Schools follows the guidelines set forth by the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act NJ SGTA.
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) with questions, concerns, or complaints about the program or the district’s ability to address a student’s needs, including identification and continuum of services, should first reach out to the school counselor or building principal. If unresolved, the next point of contact is the program supervisor listed on this website.
Any individual who believes that the district has not complied with the provisions in the law or administrative code related to gifted and talented services may file a complaint in writing with the Board of Education.
If the complaint is not resolved to the individual’s satisfaction or the individual is not satisfied by the written decision of the Board of Education, the individual may then file a petition of appeal of the Board of Education’s written decision to the Commissioner of Education through the Office of Controversies and Disputes in accordance with law (N.J.S.A. 18A:6-9) and the procedures set forth in the State Board of Education regulations.