Serving the gifted child: School district teams with parents to improve GT programs

When it comes to gifted and talented students, Beaufort County educators believe it's time to put a stronger focus on this small yet important group.

They believe that improved programs for "GT" students cannot only help the gifted student but provide benefits for the entire school district.

"GT" students have the opportunity to take advanced classes that can help them get into prestigious colleges or secure scholarships, that in turn can boost the reputation of a district as a place that sets high academic standards for its students.

Additionally, "a highly motivated achieving student is going to be able to make a tremendous contribution in critical areas that the United States needs," said Mary Seamon, chief instructional services officer for the Beaufort County public schools.

Nationally, however, GT programs have suffered under No Child Left Behind, which focuses on low-achieving students.

A "State of the States Report," compiled by the National Association for Gifted Children, says problems with gifted and talented programs include a lack of conformity throughout school districts, limited GT services, lack of teacher training and inconsistent accountability reporting.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

JoAnn Orischak, the parent of three gifted and talented children, is heading up PATH2 -- Parents of the Academically Talented of Hilton Head.

The idea to form PATH2, she said, found her.

"I was sitting in my living room reading, and there was this wonderful article about gifted and talented advocacy groups," she said.

Her idea was to form a group for parents at the Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts, but it quickly grew to encompass all Hilton Head schools, bringing parents of elementary, middle and high school GT students together. Bluffton parents are also getting involved.

PATH2 wants more communication between elementary, middle and high schools to ensure emphasis is placed on GT programs at all levels.

The goals of PATH2 are to:

• Raise awareness of gifted children's needs through parent educational meetings featuring noteworthy guest speakers

• Serve as a vehicle for improved communication between schools, parents and the district

• Advocate for gifted children's needs through supporting relevant and appropriate legislation

• Work with the district to ensure gifted and talented programs and resources are consistent and aligned with federal and state regulations for gifted education.

"The most important thing is the student's needs need to be met," Orischak said.

DISTRICT EFFORTS

District officials understand the importance of groups like PATH2. Academic improvement officer Mary Briggs included the formation of such an organization in recommendations on improving GT education districtwide. The plan is to either expand PATH2 or establish similar groups throughout the school system.

"It helps to have elementary, middle and high school parents together," Briggs said. "The elementary parents have questions about what's coming in the future."

Briggs said she found several inconsistencies in GT programs throughout Beaufort County schools, including a few instances where teachers who weren't certified in gifted education were responsible for instructing GT students.

As of next year, all teachers responsible for educating entire classes of gifted students will carry a state endorsement, which is earned through two graduate-level courses. Regular classroom teachers will be required to take a brief training session on gifted education.

Other new measures designed to improve gifted and talented education in the Beaufort County School District that will go into effect next year include:

• "College for Kids," a summer camp program that allows students to take educational classes at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, will be expanded.

• All seniors in advanced placement and international baccalaureate classes will be required to perform a community service project.

• Michael Clay Thompson's "Word within a Word," a Latin root word program already used in elementary schools, will be used through ninth grade.

• High school freshman will have the opportunity to take tests in foreign language and English at the beginning of the year to determine whether they can move on to higher levels.

• The opportunity for middle school students to earn high school, or Carnegie credits, in English and foreign languages will no longer be available and will be replaced by rigorous honors courses.

CONSTANT CHALLENGE

Another issue is keeping students on the right track throughout their K-12 career. Briggs said the district is concerned that some GT students don't stick with challenging classes.

"(Sometimes) we lose students between elementary programs and high school advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs," she said.

Briggs believes GT students need to be provided with adequate rigor early on. If they are not challenged in lower grades, they will feel overwhelmed in advanced high school classes. Her recommendations are designed to ensure consistent rigor.

For instance, Seamon said, honors classes will be more challenging and will encourage students to take rigorous offerings in high school.

It's those kinds of things that Amy Dungan, a member of PATH2 and a second-grade teacher at Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate Elementary School, hopes the group will keep tabs on. She's all for studentsgoing for credits early, especially when it may lead to them earning college credit in high school.

"As a parent, it behooves me to have my kids get as many credits as possible, so I don't have to pay for it in college," Dungan said. "Hopefully, through this group, some of those concerns will be addressed."

IF YOU GO

•What: PATH2 meeting

•When/where: 6 p.m. Tuesday at Hilton Head Island Middle School auditorium, 55 Wilborn Road

• Agenda: Mary Seamon, chief instructional services officer Beaufort County schools, will talk about the goals and objectives of the district's honors program