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Gifted And High Achievers

email link icon Pat Copeland [ pat_copeland@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us ], Director
email link icon Kishia T. Dixon [ kishia_t_dixon@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us ], Coordinator
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA  30083
678.676.0291
678.676.0229 (fax)

The Georgia Board of Education defines a gifted student as "a student who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual, creative, and/or artistic ability(ies), possesses exceptional leadership skills, or excels in specific academic fields and who needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her abilities."

Programs

The program for the gifted is part of the Teaching and Learning department and is funded by the state. The procedures for identifying and placing students in the gifted program are governed by the opens in new window icon Georgia Department of Education's Gifted Program Office [ http://www.gadoe.org/ci_iap_gifted.aspx ]. DeKalb County Schools offers the Discovery Program in elementary schools and the Impact Program in the middle and high schools.

Discovery Program

Elementary students participate in the gifted program for a minimum of 225 minutes per week and are supported by a certified teacher of the gifted.

Impact Program

Middle and senior high school gifted students are taught at least one period per day in a content-based program by a certified teacher of the gifted. In high schools, gifted students may also participate in advanced placement (AP), directed-study courses, and mentorship.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for gifted services, students must qualify in three of the following four areas:

mental ability
minimum of 99 percent in at least one sub-test area (grades K–2)
minimum of 96 percent in at least one sub-test area (grade 3–12)
achievement
minimum of 90 percent on the total reading, total math, or complete composite
creativity
minimum of 90 percent on an assessment for creativity
motivation
minimum of 90 percent on an assessment for motivation (grades K–12)
a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) for two consecutive semesters in English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language if applicable (grades 9–12)

Notes

  • A qualifying score on a nationally normed test is required to meet the criteria in at least one area.
  • Any data used to establish eligibility in one area shall not be used to establish eligibility in another area.
  • Assessment scores are valid for two years.
  • Private test data may not be used to determine eligibility; it may be used as a referral for further evaluation.

Students new to DeKalb County School District may be evaluated for Gifted Program eligibility if the following documents are provided:

  • Gifted Program Eligibility Report/Satisfactory Gifted Program Continuation Report from the transferring school.
  • National Standardized Required Test Scores --- These scores may only be used to determine eligibility for Gifted Program evaluation. The scores may not be used to determine Gifted Program eligibility.
  • Teacher or parent recommendation based on current academic performance evaluated over a sufficient observation period.

The eligible, gifted student from an out-of-state school, private or home school must complete all tests required by the state and local systems to determine Gifted Program eligibility once enrolled in the DeKalb County School District. Reciprocity will be granted to students whose households include a member of the United States uniform services according to laws O.C.G.A. 20-2-2140 through 20-2-2180.

The eligible, gifted student from a school within the state of Georgia must provide a local school eligibility report or a satisfactory Gifted Program continuation form to earn reciprocity status required by the state and local systems to continue receiving Gifted Program services.

Students enrolled in a DeKalb School are evaluated to determine Gifted Program eligibility during their first, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth grade school years. Students new to DeKalb Schools may be evaluated during the school year of enrollment.

Continuation Policy - All identified gifted students must maintain a minimum 80% or higher in the gifted class and regular classes.