Grand Rapids Area Schools

ISD #318 is committed to meeting the needs of gifted and talented learners

Gifted and talented children and youth are those students with outstanding abilities, identified at preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. The potential of gifted students requires differentiated and challenging educational programs or services beyond those provided in the general school program. Students capable of high performance include those with demonstrated achievement or potential ability in one or more of these areas: general intellectual and specific academic subject.

*Minnesota Department of Education Definition

How is a student at ISD #318 referred  for a gifted and talented identification evaluation? 

• Referrals Based on Data  
  • ALL K-8 ISD 318 students are screened for giftedness using thresholds built in our data warehouse, eduCLIMBER.  eduCLIMBER thresholds assist in identifying students in grades K-12  who are performing at the highest levels of academic achievement (in both math and reading). 
• Teacher and/or Family Referral 
  
  • Teachers and/or families are encouraged to refer students performing at extremely high academic levels and exhibiting traits of giftedness. 
  • Teacher and family referrals may not result in an immediate GATE evaluation.  At the time of referral, a review of the student's historical data will be conducted in order to determine whether or not the gifted and talented coordinator will proceed with a full GATE evaluation.

GATE enrichment groups meet multiple times a week at each site K-5 (led by a licensed teacher).  These weekly small groups dive into math, reading, science and social studies enrichment activities.  Students in grades K-6 are clustered into classrooms with other students identified as gifted and talented.  Byrdseed tv is our primary curricula tool used along with other supplemental enrichment resources, technologies and instructional practices.

Math Masters is available for 5th Grade gifted and talented students and other high-achieving students in the area of mathematics.  Math Masters teams practice from January to April and participate in local and regional meets. If you are interested in coaching a math masters team, please reach out to jsjodin@isd318.org.