MISSION GOALS | IDENTIFICATION| WHAT’S NEW

Students are identified through a process that involves recommendation from a teacher, counselor, school administrator, or parent, followed by an analysis of multiple measures including standardized and locally administered assessments, subject grades, and results of the Slosson Intelligence Test – Revised 3rd Edition. Students must score a 125 or higher to be eligible for participation in the program.

The Irvington Public School District defines Intellectually Gifted students in the following way: Intellectually gifted students perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. Intellectually Gifted students exhibit high-performance capability in intellectual areas, specific academic fields, or in both intellectual areas and specific academic fields. Intellectually gifted students require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular educational program. Outstanding abilities are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.

Gifted students are those students whose abilities and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional that they are among those who require special services. The Irvington Intellectually Gifted Program seeks out and provides services for students with advanced intellectual, verbal-linguistic, and/or logical-mathematical aptitude. Keep in mind that gifted individuals are not a homogenous group, and therefore may exhibit these characteristics in varying degrees and intensities. It is not expected that a gifted child will exhibit all of the traits listed nor are the presence of any of these characteristics prove that a child is gifted.

The New Jersey Administrative Code for the Department of Education now makes special provisions for gifted education and has the following definition: “Gifted and Talented students means those exceptionally able students who possess or demonstrate levels of ability, in one or more content areas, when compared to their chronological peers in the local district and who require modifications of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities.” (N.J.A.C. 6A:6-13)

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) with concerns about the district’s ability to address a student’s needs, including identification and continuum of services, every effort will be made to resolve the issue through district administration.

If not satisfied, the parent(s)/guardian(s) may file a complaint with the Irvington Board of Education. If still unsatisfied, the parent(s)/guardian(s) may file a petition of appeal of the Board’s written decision to the Commissioner of Education.

Source: Janice Szabos, Gifted Child Quarterly.