• Haworth School District Tiered Programs for Gifted and Talented

    Haworth School District recognizes its responsibility to identify gifted and talented students within the school district and to provide these students with appropriate instructional adaptations and services to meet their varied needs.  To meet this requirement, we utilize the PK-12 Gifted Programming Standards from the National Association for Gifted Children as a basis of meeting the needs of our gifted learners.  These standards are woven throughout our various programs and service continuum as outlined below.  Our three tiers are designed to start with the least disruptive enrichment to an accelerated program that allows students to progress into more advanced content areas at an accelerated pace and beyond their chronological years.  

    PROGRAM VISION

    Haworth School’s gifted and talented programs are built around FOSTERING EXCELLENCE.  The programs provide role models for all and learning for students to strive BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE REGULAR CURRICULUM.  We will grow the “whole child”, striving for excellence in mind, not just accelerated learning.  Each student will have a balanced experience between opportunities to explore INDIVIDUAL PASSIONS, as well as continue to GROW INTERPERSONALLY through group challenges and projects. 

    We have two grade bands of G&T programming designed to meet the needs of our students.  These programs and levels of support are outlined in this document:  Haworth School District Gifted and Talented Handbook of Tiered Programs

    In grades 4-8, we have a formal pull-out program called ASPIRE (Advanced School Program in Innovation, Rigor, and Excellence).  This program meets with students on a weekly basis and is intended to provide students with additional challenges beyond the regular curriculum.  The selection criteria begins when a student is nominated by their teacher for the program.  If a parent is interested in nominating their child, please reach out to your child's classroom teacher and discuss the nomination.

     

    Two stages of data collection are used with multiple measures to assess if students are appropriate for the program.  

    Stage one includes a review of performance data already collected and 3 collective points are needed to move onto additional testing:

    • Link-It Form A ELA  (Meeting or Exceeding) - 1pt
    • Link-It Form A MA 1pt (Meeting or Exceeding) - 1pt
    • Additional data point (i.e. F&P 1pt (on or above grade level in October), Prodigy, Start Strong, etc) - 1pt

    Once students have enough points to qualify and the committee agrees to put them forward to testing, the Cognitive Achievement Test (CogAT) will be administered along with specialized assessments for twice exceptional students or ELL students (as needed).  

    Sample scoring tiers:

    • Stanine score 9 - 4pts
    • Stanine score 8  - 3 pts
    • Stanine score 7 - 2 pts

    Students that attain 6 or more cumulative points will be admitted into the program.  

    Appeal Process:  Parents can submit an appeal directly with the supervisor of special education, hornej@nvnet.org.  All appeals should include a rationale and additional data to be considered.  

    Filing a Formal Complaint to the Board of Education:  An individual who believes that the district has not complied with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:35-34 et seq. may file a complaint with the Board of Education.  This policy for filing a complaint shall be linked to the homepage of the Board’s Internet website.  Form for filing a complaint.  The Board shall issue a decision, in writing, to affirm, reject, or modify the district’s action in the matter.  The individual may then file a petition of appeal of the Board’s written decision 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. BOE Gifted and Talented Policy