GT/DISCOVERY PROGRAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is the GT/Discovery program?

Discovery is the academic enrichment/acceleration program provided for students who have been identified as intellectually and/or creatively gifted and talented.

How are students identified?

Students who are referred for the Discovery program go through a screening process, which involves five areas: verbal aptitude, nonverbal aptitude, achievement in math and reading, creativity, and qualitative data collection.

Students whose dominant language is Spanish will go through a screening process, which involves four areas: nonverbal aptitude, achievement in math and reading, creativity, and qualitative data collection. Achievement, aptitude, and creativity tests will be administered in Spanish when appropriate.

Who refers students?

A teacher, parent, student, or other interested persons observing a student with consistent evidence of gifted characteristics may refer him/her

What are some of the characteristics of a gifted student?

• advanced/extensive vocabulary
• work advanced beyond the grade level/age
• extremely inquisitive, asks many questions, often challenging, provoking and/or demanding
• in-depth understanding of complex concepts
• persistence is evident in areas of interest
• high level of curiosity, energy, enthusiasm and vigor for new ideas
• advanced reasoning
• feels keenly about own ideas and solutions to problems, and often expresses them regardless of what others may think
• likes to examine new possibilities for problems/solutions, rather than fitting within a structure
• especially original imagination
• sustained attention span
• initiates projects and often prefers to work alone
• keenly observant
• keen sense of humor