Gifted Education in Virginia

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Gifted Education in Virginia
Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
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The Virginia Plan for the Gifted
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Gifted
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The Virginia Plan for the GiftedRATIONALE

• The Standards of Quality for Public Schools in
  Virginia state that each school division must
• develop criteria for the early identification of
  gifted students,
• assist in the preparation of teachers and other
  support staff members (counselors, school
  psychologists, etc.) to serve the educational
  needs of gifted students, and
• establish and evaluate differentiated programs
  following the Board of Education approved
  regulations.

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Gifted
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The Virginia Plan for the Gifted

• Is provided to assist local school personnel in
  the development of a comprehensive plan of
  educational services for their gifted students.
• A copy of the plan may be found at
  http//www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/Gifted/g
  ftpln.html

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Gifted
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The Virginia Plan for the Gifted

• The Regulations Governing Educational Services
  for Gifted Students outline the responsibilities
  of local school divisions according to the
  Virginia Constitution.
• These responsibilities include
• establishment of identification procedures
• development of criteria for screening and
  identification
• development of a local plan
• funding

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Gifted
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The Virginia Plan for the Gifted

• Gifted students come from many backgrounds,
• and their special abilities cover a wide
• spectrum of human potential. The Regulations
• governing educational services define gifted
• students as those students
• "whose abilities and potential for
  accomplishment are so outstanding that they
  require special educational programs to meet
  their educational needs."

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Gifted
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The Virginia Plan for the Gifted

• Categories of Potential Identification in
  Virginia, K 12
• General Intellectual Aptitude
• Specific Academic Aptitude
• Technical and Practical Arts Aptitude
• Visual or Performing Arts Aptitude

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Gifted
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Local Plan

• Each school division must submit a Local Plan to
  the Department of Education (DOE) for approval.
• A divisions plan is written for a five-year
  cycle currently either 2000 05 or 2001 06.
• Once plans are submitted to the DOE, they undergo
  a peer review process, then are revised and
  resubmitted for approval.

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Gifted
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Local Plan (cont.)

• The Local Plan must include the following
• components
• statement of philosophy
• statement of program goals and objectives
• identification procedures (K 12), in at least
  one of the four defined areas of giftedness
• procedures for notifying parents of the need for
  more information and for obtaining permission
  prior to placement
• policy for notification of a change in placement
  or exit from a program
• assurances regarding student record maintenance

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Gifted
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Local Plan (cont.)

• Required components (continued)
• procedures for identifying and evaluating student
  outcomes
• procedure for matching service options
  (instructional approaches, settings, and
  staffing) to student needs
• procedures for the selection and training of
  personnel
• procedures for evaluating the program
• other information requested by the DOE

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Gifted
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The State of Gifted Education in Virginia
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Gifted
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The State of Gifted Education in Virginia (2005
2006)

• State Funds 25,996,673
• Local Match 20,731,033
• Academic year Governors Schools 7,704,078

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Gifted
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The State of Gifted Education in Virginia (2005
06)

• Total appropriation for FY 2003 25,996,673
• Academic year Governors Schools 7,704,078

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Gifted
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Statistics for 2005 06

• NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED
• General Intellectual Ability 88,614
• Specific Academic Ability 71,386
• Visual and Performing Arts 11,634
• Technical and Practical Arts 1,561
• Commonwealths Unduplicated Total
  173,195

Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
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Statistics for 2004 05
NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED
Technical Arts 1,561 Performing Arts
11,634 Academic 71,386 General 88,614
Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
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Statistics for 2005 06 (cont.)

• ETHNICITY OF IDENTIFIED STUDENTS
• Unspecified 2,874
• American Indian/Alaskan Native 405
• Asian 15,398
• Black 16,859
• Hispanic 6,057
• White 116,898
• Native Hawaiian 120

Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
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Statistics for 2005 06 (cont.)

• ETHNICITY OF IDENTIFIED STUDENTS
• Unspecified 2,874 American Indian/Alaskan
  Native 405
• Asian 15,398 Black 16,859
• Hispanic 6,057 White 116,898
• Native Hawaiian 120

Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
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Areas of Service for 2002 03

• AREAS OF SERVICE
• 1 area 42 divisions
• 2 areas 50 divisions
• 3 areas 28 divisions
• 4 areas 6 divisions

Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
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Areas of Service for 2002 03 (cont.)

• AREAS OF SERVICE
• 1 area 42 divisions
• 2 areas 50 divisions
• 3 areas 28 divisions
• 4 areas 6 divisions

Virginia Department of Education
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Gifted
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Characteristics of Gifted Students
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Gifted
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General Characteristics of Intellectually/Academic
ally Gifted Students

• Characteristics include
• Advanced vocabulary and language development
• Excellent memory
• Intense and longer periods of concentration than
  age-mates
• Preference for older companions
• Habit of asking many questions
• Creative and imaginative
• (Based on the works of Barbara Clark, Jane
  Piirto, Karen Rogers, Linda Silverman, and Joyce
  VanTassel-Baska.)

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Gifted
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General Characteristics (cont.)

• Characteristics (continued)
• Perfectionism
• Love of books and reading
• Intense curiosity
• Intensity in emotions and interests
• Keen sense of humor with a love of puns
• Ability and interest in problem solving
• (Based on the works of Barbara Clark, Jane
  Piirto, Karen Rogers, Linda Silverman, and Joyce
  VanTassel-Baska.)

Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted
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Identification
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Gifted
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Identification

• According to the Virginia Plan, the degree
• and type of giftedness of the student
• should be determined through the use of
• a variety of criteria. No single instrument
• shall be used as the sole criterion in
• determining students who qualify for
• gifted programs.

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Gifted
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Identification (cont.)

• A combination of at least four of the following
  criteria should be used to develop a student
  profile
• Assessment of appropriate student products,
  performance, and/or portfolio
• Record of observation of in-classroom behavior
• Appropriate rating scales, checklists, and/or
  questionnaires
• Individual interview
• Individual or group aptitude tests
• Individual or group achievement tests
• Record of previous accomplishments (such as
  awards, honors, grades, etc.) and
• Additional valid and reliable measures or
  procedures.

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Gifted
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Services for Gifted Students
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Gifted
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Service Delivery Options

• The decision to use one service option (e.g.,
• program adaptation) instead of another, or a
• combination of options should be based upon
• the degree to which each option suits the
• philosophy of the school division and the unique
• needs of the gifted students in the division.

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Gifted
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Service Delivery Options

• Service options may include
• special classes provided on a part-time basis
• differentiation in the regular classroom
• honors or advanced level courses
• full-time classes (center or school based)
• seminars and special workshops
• mentorships
• independent study
• counseling sessions
• access to secondary level specialized programs
  (i.e., Governor's School)
• (Taken from The Virginia Plan for the Gifted)

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Gifted
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Curriculum Modification

• The curriculum design should provide a balance of
  content, process (including critical inquiry and
  self-directed learning skills) and product
  skills, emphasize interdisciplinary content and
  integration of learning strategies. Additionally,
  curriculum for gifted learners should
• be reflected in a sequential plan of modification
  that extends the grade level Standards of
  Learning in all content areas, as appropriate
• be delivered in a manner which aligns the
  curriculum options with the category of
  giftedness for which the student has been
  identified, and
• require levels of complexity, abstractedness, and
  multifacetedness which appropriately challenge
  identified gifted learners.
• (The Virginia Plan for the Gifted)

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Gifted
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The Virginia Association for the Gifted (VAG)
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Gifted
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What is VAG?

• VAG was founded in 1977 to support gifted
  education.
• Membership is open to individuals who are
  interested in education of the gifted.        

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Gifted
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What is VAGs vision?

• The Virginia Association for the Gifted is a
• statewide organization of parents, educators,
• and community leaders that advocates
• appropriate instruction for all gifted learners.

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Gifted
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What is VAGs mission?

• The Virginia Association for the Gifted fosters
  research
• and supports specialized preparation for
  educators of the
• gifted. The association disseminates information,
  
• maintains a statewide network of communication,
  and
• cooperates with organizations and agencies to
  improve
• the quality of education in the Commonwealth of
  Virginia.

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Gifted
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Programs Sponsored by VAG

• A state conference is held in odd-numbered years
• A state seminar is held in even-numbered years
• Outstanding Teacher of the Gifted Award This
  award recognizes individuals for their
  contributions to the gifted education programs in
  their respective region.

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Gifted
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Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)

• Summer Scholarships for Students K 12 These
  summer scholarships are designed for those gifted
  and talented students who wish to attend academic
  or artistic programs during the summer months.
  The scholarships are in amounts arranging from
  100 - 300 and are available for students, K-12.

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Gifted
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Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)

• NAGC Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award
  This award consists of a 500 U.S. Savings Bond
  and a Certificate of Excellence. It is designed
  to recognize excellence in young children and is
  awarded by the National Association for Gifted
  Children to one student (between grades 3-6) in
  each state who has distinguished himself/herself
  in academics, leadership, or the arts.

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Gifted
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Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)

• Grants for Innovative Ideas Grants in the
  amount of 500 will be awarded to individuals or
  teams whose proposed projects support the goals
  of VAG and directly service gifted students.

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Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)

• Leader of the Year Award This award is
  presented to an individual at any level (parent,
  teacher, coordinator, administrator, legislator,
  other) whose exemplary leadership and outstanding
  contribution to gifted education has affected
  Virginias children, teachers, schools, programs,
  and/or policies.

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Gifted
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Programs Sponsored by VAG (cont.)

• Parent of the Year Award This award is
  presented annually, by region, to a parent whose
  exemplary contribution to gifted education has
  affected Virginias children, teachers, schools,
  programs, and/or policies.

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Contact VAG

• Virginia Association for the Gifted
• P. O. Box 26212Richmond, VA  23260-6212Voice
  Mail [phone]Fax [phone]Email
  vagifted_at_comcast.netLiz Nelson, Executive
  Director

Property of the Virginia Association for the
Gifted