Leon County SchoolsGifted and Talented Program

2009-2010 Update

Leon County SchoolsGifted Programs

• 1,547 gifted students are currently enrolled in Leon County Schools.

• Of those, 1,320 students participate in Leon County Schools’ gifted program.

• We have 72 gifted endorsed teachers and many more currently working on the endorsement.

Leon County SchoolsElementary Gifted Programs

• 404 “gifted” students participate in gifted programs at the elementary level.

• We offer gifted services to students at 23 elementary schools on 15 school sites.

• Several of the 15 school sites serve as satellite centers, offering gifted services to nearby public and private schools.

• Additionally, home school students are served on several of these sites.

Leon County SchoolsElementary Gifted Programs

• Enrichment activities are offered at all 15 elementary school sites offering gifted services.

• Enrichment programs are often thematic/subject oriented, incorporating higher level thinking and real world tasks.

• Some school sites offer gifted classes in social studies, science, math, and/or language arts as well.

What does an “enrichment” program offer?

• exploratory experiences that expose students to a variety of disciplines, topics, ideas, and fields of knowledge not ordinarily covered in the regular curriculum

• instructional methods and materials that promote creative thinking, problem-solving, learn how to learn skills, advanced level research skills, and critical thinking

• opportunities for students to pursue advanced level study in topics of individual interest

Leon County’s Secondary SchoolsGifted Programs

• Of the 384 “gifted” middle school students, 370 participate in the middle school gifted program.

• Of the 749 “gifted” high school students, 549 participate in the high school gifted program.

• Many of our “gifted” students move into Advanced Placement coursework in high school.

• Secondary gifted programs are offered through content areas, i.e. math, science, social studies, and language arts.

Leon County SchoolsCurriculum Initiatives for Gifted

2009-2010

Building our Cadre of Teachers of Gifted

•In the summer of 2009, Leon County Schools Staff Development Office offered a well-attended training on “teaching gifted children in the regular education classroom.•Project Citizen provided opportunities for our teachers of the gifted to collaborate on problem-based learning activities.• Leon County received a grant award of $350,000 which will provide more opportunities for teachers to secure the gifted endorsement.

Project Citizen

•Entire classes of students work cooperatively to identify a public policy problem in their community.•They then research the problem and develop their own solution in the form of a public policy,•The students create a political action plan to enlist local or state authorities to adopt their proposed policy. •Participants develop a portfolio of their work and present their project in a public hearing before a panel of civic-minded community members. 

Mrs. Arrington’s Class at Canopy OaksProject Citizen

Mrs. Arrington’s class at Canopy Oaks and Mrs. German’s class at Roberts Elementary were both recognized at the Service Summit last week.

U.S. Department of Education

Fund for Improvement of Education (FIE)

$350,000

STEM in the Gifted and Talented Elementary Classroom

Purpose of the Grant

Develop a quality elementary STEM program that is exclusive and specific to our gifted and talented students.

What is “STEM”?

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a national movement to:

• improve K-12 teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

• prepare students for higher education as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers in the 21st Century

• ensure that students are taught by well-prepared, highly effective STEM teachers

Why do we need STEM programs for gifted and talented students?

What do we need STEM programs for Gifted and

Talented students?

• U. S. students scoring above the 90th percentile in mathematics and science are among those making the least progress in school.

• The percentage of U. S. students majoring in STEM disciplines in college and choosing STEM careers is decreasing while the percentage of foreign students in these fields is increasing.

• Top U. S. students continue to perform below the level of top students in other countries in the areas of mathematics, science and problem solving.

National Association for Gifted Children Math/Science Task ForceMarch 2009

Why do we “need” STEM programs for Gifted and Talented students?

• The overall proportion of STEM degrees awarded in the United States has historically remained at about 17% of all postsecondary degrees awarded.

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007) reports, “Occupations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are expected to grow by 22% between the years 2002 and 2012. In comparison, the job growth for all other occupations is 10%.”

Why do we “need” STEM programs for Gifted and Talented students?

• A dramatic demographic shift is occurring in the US. women and minorities collectively are becoming a significant majority of the workforce.

• Historically, the scientific and engineering workforce has had only modest success in attracting women, African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans to its ranks. Yet, the job market for graduates in these fields is greater than ever before and will only continue to increase.

What does LCS FCAT Data tell us?

Fifth Grade FCAT Science Data for Students Identified as Gifted (Spring

2009)

94 Students Tested

30% scored a level 5.49% scored a level 4.20% scored a level 3.1% scored a level 2.No students scored a level 1.

Fifth Grade FCAT Science Data by GenderAll LCS Students – 2,314 tested

Subgroup Percent scoring a 4 or higher

Male 19%Female 14%

LCS Fifth Grade FCAT Mathematics Data for Students Identified as Gifted

94 Total Gifted Students Tested

68% scored a level 5.30% scored a level 4.2% scored a level 3.No students scored a level 2.No students scoring level 1.

Purpose of the Grant

Develop a quality elementary STEM program that is exclusive and specific to our gifted and talented students.

Elementary Gifted STEM Committee

• Science teachers• Elementary teachers of gifted/talented• Administrators• District Level Personnel• Curriculum Developers• Representatives from FSU’s High Magnetic Field

Laboratory, Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, Challenger Learning Center, and FSU Teach

• Parents

Goals of the Elementary Gifted STEM Initiative

• Ensure that every elementary school has a teacher on staff who is knowledgeable about the needs of gifted and talented students and STEM content identified in the Next Generation Science Standards.

• Create and implement replicable, sustainable models of research-based STEM instruction in the “gifted and talented” elementary classroom.

• Collaborate with local educational organizations in providing real world STEM experiences for our gifted and talented students.

Recommendations of the Elementary Gifted STEM Committee

• Recruit science enthusiasts among our elementary teachers to participate in gifted endorsement and STEM content area training.

• Establish a curriculum team made up of gifted teachers, science teachers, and representatives from local educational agencies.

• Implement STEM content and strategies for gifted learners in the elementary classroom.

• Collaborate with local educational agencies in the development of lessons that address real-world STEM experiences.

To Learn More about STEM and Gifted:

“The National Defense Education Act, Current STEM Initiative and the Gifted,”

Gifted Child Today, Spring 2008, volume 32, no. 2.

Go to: www.nagc.org.