Gifted and Talented Students
The Kiski Area School District complies with the standards and regulations outlined in Chapter 16 of the PA School Code for identified gifted and talented students by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Supports are provided for identified students in grades K-12 that are consistent with their individual needs and abilities while seeking to maximize their potential.
Pennsylvania defines Giftedness using a variety of criteria. The term mentally gifted is defined as "outstanding intellectual and creative ability requiring the development of specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education program."
Characteristics of mentally gifted include (but are not limited to):
- IQ of 130 or higher or other factors (listed below) that indicate gifted ability.
- Observed or measured acquisition/retention rates that reflect gifted ability (i.e., how quickly a child learns new concepts or information and how long a child can retain acquired information)
- Achievement, performance, or expertise in one or more academic areas that demonstrate a high level of accomplishment
- Higher-order thinking skills
Identifying Gifted Students:
There are multiple methods by which a student may be identified for Gifted Services.
- The district Child Find process incorporates the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test administered in grade two and a Teacher Recommendation Process.
- Teachers may nominate students in grade levels not being administered the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test. When a student is nominated, an intellectual ability screener is administered, and the results are considered along with Teacher and Parent Evaluations against the qualification matrix.
- Parents may nominate their child for evaluation in writing annually, and evaluation will pick up with the intellectual ability screener.
Permission to Evaluate is sent to the family if a student meets the criteria against the qualification matrix after any identification method.
The District acknowledges that students identified as mentally gifted are required to receive free, appropriate instructional programs to meet their educational needs.