Gifted and Talented
The Buena Regional School District, pursuant to the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act signed into law in January 2020, defines a Gifted & Talented student as “a student who possesses or demonstrates a high level of ability in one or more content areas when compared to chronological peers in the school district and who requires modifications to the educational program in order to achieve in accordance with their abilities.”
Policies, Procedures and Services
Buena Regional School District’s Board of Education maintains policies and procedures regarding Gifted & Talented education, including student identification, services, appeals, complaint procedures, and parent access to information regarding programming and supports.
Buena Regional School District uses multiple measures to identify gifted students in grades PK–12, including benchmark assessment data, classroom performance, teacher recommendations, Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) results, statewide assessment data, and other indicators of advanced academic potential and achievement.
Gifted & Talented education in grades PK-2, and grades 6-12 includes modifications within the curriculum and instructional adaptations that enable our gifted students to participate in, benefit from, and demonstrate knowledge and application of the NJSLS at the appropriate instructional level.
Gifted & Talented services in grades PK–2 and grades 6–12 primarily include differentiated instruction, curriculum modifications, enrichment opportunities, and instructional adaptations within the classroom setting aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). In grades 3–5, students may also participate in a pull-out enrichment program focused on critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, passion projects, and presentation experiences.
The district will continue to provide families with resources and information through the district website and ongoing communications. Teachers, educational staff, and administrators will participate in ongoing professional development to strengthen understanding of gifted learners and effective instructional practices for Gifted & Talented education.
Please contact Jessica Waddington, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, with any questions.
Resources
Continuum of Services
Tiered Services
Program services for students identified as gifted learners or bright children may be delivered in different ways depending upon the needs of each student. Below are different service provisions.
Tier 1: Differentiation within the general education classroom
The consultation model provides an opportunity for the classroom and the Gifted and Talented teacher to collaborate in order to modify specific assignments or units of study for the gifted student within the regular instruction. Students may receive leveled and tiered curricular materials and assignments and also participate in differentiated classroom experiences such as: curriculum compacting, learning centers, and flexible groupings.
Tier 2: Enrichment beyond the general education classroom
Occasionally, there is a student who demonstrates such passion and drive for a subject, topic, or unit of study that they need and can benefit from experiences beyond the traditional classroom. Enrichment opportunities may include assembly programs, field trips, guest speakers, interest-based clubs, additional courses, enrichment clusters, or instruction from a Gifted and Talented teacher.
Tier 3: Advancement and/or acceleration [above grade level]
Advanced classes, dual enrollment, independent study, differentiation, and mentorships may also be options for gifted and talented students in the Buena Regional School District.
Appeals / Procedural Complaint Process
The parents or guardians of any student denied inclusion into the Gifted & Talented program may appeal the decision. Appeals process:
- Begin by contacting your child's principal to appeal the decision
- The Principal and the Director of Curriculum & Instruction will meet to review the child’s information to determine if further screening or consideration of the student is appropriate.
- The committee will issue a decision on the appeal and inform the parents/guardians of the outcome.
Student Characteristics
BRSD utilizes multiple measures to identify students for Gifted & Talented services and programming. In developing and refining programming for gifted learners, the district consults the Gifted Programming Standards established by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), as well as guidance and resources from MENSA.
Gifted students may demonstrate characteristics across cognitive, creative, affective, and behavioral domains. These characteristics may include advanced problem-solving abilities, intellectual curiosity, creativity, leadership, heightened sensitivity, perseverance, strong moral reasoning, and intense focus on areas of interest. Giftedness may present differently among students and is not always reflected solely through traditional academic measures.
Cognitive
- Keen power of abstraction
- Interest in problem-solving and applying concepts
- Voracious and early reader
- Large vocabulary
- Intellectual curiosity
- Power of critical thinking, skepticism, self-criticism
- Persistent, goal-directed behavior
- Independence in work and study
- Diversity of interests and abilities
Creative
- Creativeness and inventiveness
- Keen sense of humor
- Ability for fantasy
- Openness to stimuli, wide interests
- Intuitiveness
- Flexibility
- Independence in attitude and social behavior
- Self-acceptance and unconcern for social norms
- Radicalism
- Aesthetic and moral commitment to self-selected work
Affective
- Unusual emotional depth and intensity
- Sensitivity or empathy to the feelings of others
- High expectations of self and others, often leading to feelings of frustration
- Heightened self-awareness, accompanied by feelings of being different
- Easily wounded, need for emotional support
- Need for consistency between abstract values and personal actions
- Advanced levels of moral judgment
- Idealism and sense of justice
Behavioral
- Spontaneity
- Boundless enthusiasm
- Intensely focused on passions—resists changing activities when engrossed in own interests
- Highly energetic—needs little sleep or down time
- Constantly questions
- Insatiable curiosity
- Impulsive, eager and spirited
- Perseverance—strong determination in areas of importance
- High levels of frustration—particularly when having difficulty meeting standards of performance (either imposed by self or others)
- Volatile temper, especially related to perceptions of failure
- Non-stop talking/chattering
