• Gifted and Talented Program

    The Lacey Township School District believes that all students have the ability to succeed and thrive in the proper learning environment.  It is the goal of the district to create a student centered, comprehensive learning environment that meets the needs of all learners including our twice exceptional students.  This will be achieved through providing students with opportunities to enhance learning experiences in a collaborative setting. The lessons will integrate multiple disciplines while engaging students in hands-on project-based experiences which foster problem solving skills along with collaboration, research and analysis, analytical and critical thinking, reasoning, and strategizing. 

    In order to achieve these goals we will be offer the following continuum of services:

    • Cluster grouping
    • Differentiated and tiered instruction 
    • Modification of pacing 
    • Access to higher level classes and materials 
    • Dual Enrollment College classes 
    • Advanced Placement classes

    The Lacey Township Gifted and Talented Program is currently under review and will be revised throughout the year and over the summer of 2021.

    Policies and Procedures

    Professional Development

    Teachers: 
    Teachers received training in the 2019-2020 school year on the use of data for instructional decision making.  High School teachers attended Advanced Placement conferences.  Teachers across the district attended professional development on equity, engineering and STEM, Differentiated instruction, and Problem Based Learning. For the 2020-2021 school year teachers will continue to receive professional development on differentiated instruction, addressing the needs of our exceptional students, identification of gifted traits and behaviors in all students, and the use of data to drive instructional practices.

    Educational Services Staff:
    During the 2019-2020 school year, educational services staff were provided the opportunity to attend several professional development opportunities that included but not limited to differentiated instruction and the development of wrap around services that address the needs of our exceptional students. These opportunities will continue to extend into the 2020-2021 school year.  Educational services staff will have the opportunity to attend professional development outside the district as needed to support the students that they work with.

    School Leaders:
    During the 2019-2020 school year the school leadership team attended professional learning opportunities that focused on review and analysis of student data in an effort to make informed decisions to promote the acceleration of achievement.  Throughout the 2020-2021 school year that focus will continue along with professional development that addresses the identification of gifted and twice-exceptional students, strategies to support teachers and students in the gifted program, as well as the acquisition of the tools necessary to further develop the cluster grouping model in our K-6 buildings.

    Gifted and Talented Selection Criteria

    To be eligible to participate, students in grades K-6 are required to meet the following criteria:

    1. Score in the 90th Percentile on the Math and/or Reading sections of the 2019 NWEA MAP Test 
    2. 2019 NJSLA Score in ELA or Math of “Exceeds Expectations”
    3. Teacher/ Staff Recommendations
    4. Parental/Guardian Input
    5. Receive a Standard Age Score of 125 on the Cognitive Abilities Test

    Placement in Gifted and talented programs in grades 7-12 is based on the following:

    1. Student interest
    2. Teacher recommendation
    3. Past academic record
    4. Standardized testing scores
    5. Knowledge survey

    This data is reviewed yearly and placements are updated.

    *Selection criteria will be reviewed and updated during the 2020-2021 school year.

    Appeals/Complaint Process
    Parents or students may appeal the gifted and talented placement decision.
    Written notification, either a letter or an email, must be given to the building principal.
    Following receipt of the written notification, a meeting will be scheduled with the parent,  student, teacher, an administrator, and the school counselor to discuss the child’s placement.
    A decision shall be issued in writing, to affirm, reject, or modify the district’s action in the matter.
    In accordance with board policy 9130, a complainant shall be notified that a decision of the board may be appealed to the Commissioner of Education through the Office of Controversies and Disputes in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:6-9 and the procedures set forth in State Board of Education regulations.

    Parent Resources:
    New Jersey Association for Gifted Children
    National Association for Gifted Children
    Hoagies Gifted Education Website