Chapter 16 Gifted Education Services

In Pennsylvania, gifted services under Chapter 16 of the state's education regulations are designed to meet the unique educational needs of students who demonstrate outstanding intellectual and creative abilities. These services ensure that gifted students receive appropriate and challenging educational opportunities that go beyond the standard curriculum. Chapter 16 mandates that school districts identify gifted students through a comprehensive evaluation process and develop a Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP) tailored to each student's strengths and areas of giftedness. The goal is to provide enriched and accelerated learning experiences that foster intellectual growth, creativity, and the development of advanced skills, ensuring that gifted students reach their full potential.

 

The gifted evaluation process in Pennsylvania is a thorough and systematic procedure designed to identify students who may need gifted education services under Chapter 16 regulations. The process begins with a referral, which can be initiated by teachers, parents, or other school personnel who observe exceptional academic or intellectual abilities in a student. Once referred, the student undergoes a multi-criteria evaluation conducted by a certified school psychologist, including standardized tests, observational data, and input from teachers and parents. The evaluation assesses various domains such as intellectual functioning, academic performance, creativity, and task commitment. If the evaluation determines that the student meets the criteria for giftedness, a Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP) is developed to tailor educational programming to the student's specific needs and strengths, ensuring they receive appropriate and challenging learning opportunities.

 

In Pennsylvania, "Child Find" in the context of gifted education refers to the proactive efforts by school districts to identify students who may qualify for gifted education services under Chapter 16 regulations. This process ensures that all children who demonstrate high intellectual and creative abilities are located, evaluated, and provided with the appropriate educational programs. Schools are required to conduct public awareness activities, utilize screening processes, and consider referrals from teachers, parents, and other stakeholders to identify potential candidates. Through comprehensive evaluations and assessments, Child Find aims to ensure that no student with gifted potential is overlooked, and that each identified student receives the necessary support to develop their unique capabilities.

 

In Bethel Park, the initial Child Find includes the implementation of the InView Cognitive Skills Test in grades 2 and 6.  The InView Cognitive Abilities Assessment is a standardized test designed to measure the cognitive abilities and academic potential of students in grades 2 through 12. Developed by CTB/McGraw-Hill, InView evaluates key areas such as verbal reasoning, sequences, analogies, and quantitative reasoning, providing a comprehensive profile of a student's intellectual capabilities. The results of the InView assessment help educators identify students who may benefit from advanced academic programs, including gifted education services. By assessing cognitive skills that are critical for learning and problem-solving, InView offers valuable insights into a student's strengths and areas for growth, guiding instructional planning and educational placement decisions.

 

A Gifted Written Report (GWR) is a comprehensive document generated after a student in Pennsylvania undergoes a formal evaluation to determine eligibility for gifted education services under Chapter 16 regulations. This report includes detailed findings from various assessment tools and measures, such as standardized tests, observational data, and input from teachers and parents. The GWR outlines the student's cognitive abilities, academic performance, and specific areas of giftedness, providing a clear justification for the determination of gifted status. Additionally, the report includes recommendations for educational programming and interventions tailored to the student's unique strengths and needs. The GWR serves as a critical component in developing a Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP), ensuring that the student receives appropriate and challenging educational opportunities.

 

Acceleration - refers to any means of matching the child's ability and level of motivation with advanced content. This can include grade skipping, subject acceleration, and compacting of curriculum. 

 

Acceleration Review Team (ART)-Is a group of current and/or past teachers for the content area of acceleration,  principal, gifted support teacher, and school psychologist that review data pertaining to student acceleration in subject or grade level.

 

Curriculum Compacting- is the use of pre-testing and post-testing to determine how instructional time should be spent.  Reduced time may be spent on content of which students demonstrate proficiency or mastery.

Curriculum Telescoping -is the progression through curricula at a pace that is faster than the regular instructional pace.  Typically, this will be used for purposes of completing either three courses in two years or four courses in three years.  Curriculum compacting can be a crucial tool in the practice of curriculum telescoping.

Enrichment-refers to activities that builds and/or goes beyond the regular curriculum to offer greater context and a deeper dive into subject matter

Educational placement - overall educational environment in which gifted education is provided to a gifted student.

Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP) - written plan developed by a team of individuals in accordance with state regulations, describing the educational program and services to be provided to a gifted student, based on and responsive to the results of an evaluation and written report.

Gifted Multidisciplinary Evaluation (GMDE) - systematic process of testing, assessment, other evaluative processes and information that describes a student’s academic functioning, learning strengths, intervening factors, educational needs, and is used by a team to make a determination about whether or not a student is gifted and needs specially designed instruction.

Gifted Multidisciplinary Team (GMDT) - team of designated individuals who conduct a GMDE.

Gifted student - school-age student who meets the definition of mentally gifted; school-age student with an IQ of 130 or higher OR  when multiple criteria as set forth in state regulations and PA Department of Education guidelines indicate gifted ability. Determination of gifted ability will not be based on IQ score alone. A student with an IQ score lower than 130 may be admitted to gifted programs when other educational criteria in the student’s profile strongly indicate gifted ability.  In addition, deficits in memory or processing speed, as indicated by testing, cannot be the sole basis upon which a student is determined to be ineligible for gifted special education. When there is a significant disparity between their working memory/processing speed and general abilities, the General Ability Index will be considered.  A person with an IQ score lower than 130 may be admitted to gifted programs when other educational criteria in the profile of the person strongly indicate gifted ability. Determination of mentally gifted must include an assessment by a certified school psychologist.

 

 

Mentally gifted - outstanding intellectual and creative ability, the development of which requires Specially Designed Instruction  and/or support services not ordinarily provided in the regular education program.

School age - the period from the earliest admission of a student to the district’s kindergarten program or beginner program until the student turns twenty-one (21) or graduates from high school, whichever occurs first. (Pol. 201)

Specially designed instruction - adaptations or modifications to the general curriculum, instruction, instructional environments, methods, materials or a specialized curriculum for students who are gifted.