Talent Development Program faq’s

Office of Gifted and Talented Education

21 Thirkeld Avenue, S.W.

Atlanta, GA 30315

404-802-7585 (Office)

404-624-2007 (Fax)

Talent Development Program FAQ’s

High ability learners are identified to participate in the Talent Development Program by the Gifted and Talented teacher at the identified school utilizing defined criteria set by the Office of Gifted and Talented.

Students meeting identification criteria will be recommended for the Talent Development Program. Once recommended for the program:

• 
  Parent receives Consent Form
  
• 
  Talent Development meeting is held
  
• 
  Students begin participating
  

During the first weeks of school, the Gifted & Talented teacher will review the records of all ineligible students tested for the Gifted Program according to state guidelines over the past two years. Talent Development students are identified and placed in the fall.

No. Identification for the Talent Development Program is determined by a student’s testing history. Priority levels are in place to equitably place students in the Talent Development Program in order to accurately address the needs of high ability learners.

No. Schools that have fewer than 50 identified gifted students are eligible to implement a Talent Development Program. Only Gifted Classes that have fewer than 12 identified gifted students are permitted to add Talent Development students to their Gifted and Talented class roster.

Each school in APS has a gifted eligibility chairperson.  If you have any questions regarding the Talent Development program at a specific school, s/he will be able to assist you. 

 

What are the benefits of the Talent Development Program?

The Talent Development Program is designed to deliver rigorous and relevant curriculum to students in grades 1-8 to accommodate for their range of academic and intellectual needs. This program creates opportunities to expose high ability learners to gifted and talented pedagogy in order to increase critical thinking skills.

In elementary school, gifted students receive five gifted segments each week and receive instruction from a gifted endorsed teacher. Once identified, students begin services in September.

In middle school, gifted students receive five segments each week through content courses. The exact courses for a student are determined by past classroom performance, nationally normed achievement test scores, and teacher recommendations. Once identified, students will begin services at the change of semester.

Talent Development Curriculum and Program Delivery Models

TD classes will be comprised of a maximum of 14 Gifted and Talented and Talent Development students. The students will study thematic units which integrate and extend the core curriculum. While students extend their content knowledge in Language Arts, Social Studies and Science, they will develop advanced communication skills, advanced research skills, critical thinking skills, and creative thinking skills. Students will participate in 2-3 nine-twelve week units of study during the year.

TD classes will be comprised of a maximum of 17 Gifted and Talented and Talent Development students. The students will study thematic units which extend the core curriculum of Language Art, Science and Social Studies. While students extend their content knowledge in the core areas, they will develop advanced communication skills, advanced research skills, critical thinking skills, and creative thinking skills.

Collaboration will take place in schools that are allotted a full-time gifted teacher but do not have the number of identified Gifted and/or Talent Development students for 3 or 4 days of gifted class. The gifted teacher will work with the school administration to identify two-four teachers with whom the gifted teacher will collaborate on Fridays. The general education teachers selected must have identified gifted children in their classes so that FTE funding at the gifted weight can be maximized. The Office of Gifted and Talented will assist with scheduling to ensure a maximization of funds. Attention should be taken not to overload the gifted teacher with preparations for that day. The Gifted teachers will model teaching strategies to differentiate instruction or to develop critical and creative thinking skills.

Cluster grouping may be used in schools where one or more general education teacher holds or is pursuing the gifted endorsement. Identified gifted students must be placed in the gifted endorsed teacher’s classroom and must be served in their area(s) of strength: language arts/reading and/or mathematics. FTE funding at the gifted weight can be collected for up to 2 segments.