By Martin Couch
Lynn Harrison is one educator that[more] is focused on the Gifted and Talented students at Bryant.
She explained the exact meaning of GT.
“The Arkansas Department of Education defines the gifted and talented as, ‘children and youth of high potential or ability whose learning characteristics and educational needs require qualitatively differentiated educational experiences and/or services. Possession of these talents and gifts, or the potential for their development, will be evidenced through an interaction of above average intellectual ability, task commitment and /or motivation, and creative ability,‘” she said. “Students who exhibit above average ability, creativity, and task commitment are often referred for gifted evaluation by their classroom teachers.”
At the elementary level, GT students are in the same classroom where a teacher holds a gifted certification. At the middle school level, sixth grade students are placed in a GATE content class where they are also taught by a certified teacher in gifted education.
Students in the seventh and eighth grades participate in a monthly pull-out class also taught by teachers with gifted certification or by those who are working toward that certification. And gifted students in grades 6 through 12 also take pre-AP, AP, and/or concurrent credit classes.
The Bryant School District Gifted Programs has begun the gifted identification process.
“Students in grades 2-11 can be referred for gifted evaluation which takes about 6- 8 weeks to complete,” Harrison said. “Placement of those identified as gifted begins in the district at the third grade. Parents requesting that their children be referred for gifted evaluation should request a conference with the child’s teacher to discuss referral. The parent may, however, refer his or her child him/herself.”
Parent Referral Forms can be found at the Bryant School District website (go to Departments and the to Gifted Programs and General Information) or contact S. Lynn Harrison, K-12 Supervisor for Bryant Gifted Programs at 501-653-5075 or by email at lharrison@bryantschools.org.
Lynn Harrison
Thank you for such a nice article, Martin. 🙂