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Gifted and Talented

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We are currently accepting nominations for Gifted & Talented nominations in grades 3, 4 & 5
 
Who is eligible for nomination?
 
3rd, 4th & 5th grade students who are
 
  • new to DKIES, enrolled at our school and who have documentation verifying their status as Gifted and Talented from a previous school
  • who have the characteristics of a Gifted and Talented student, as defined in #1 below
 
If you would like to nominate your child complete this form by September 27, 2024.  
 
Parents will receive an email confirmation identifying the testing dates and necessary information in mid-October. 
Testing will be held during the school days in mid-October.  Specific dates TBD.
Screening results will be communicated to parents in mid-November and eligible students will join the GT classes at that time.
 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Last Updated on 08/15/24)

1. How does the Leilehua Complex define characteristics of a Gifted and Talented student?

Gifted learners are “children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment.” (U.S. Department of Education, 1993, p.3)
  • Is able to express ideas in a variety of alternate ways.
  • Generates a large number of ideas or solutions to problems and questions, often offers unusual, way out, or unique, clever responses.
  • Needs little external motivation to continue an activity that he/she finds interesting, is willing to persist on challenging tasks.
  • Can analyze an issue from many points of view.
  • Exceptional ability to draw inferences; perspectives. 

2. What is the identification process?
 
The identification round occurs once a year in October for grades 3-5 and the spring for grade 2.
  1. An announcement letter is sent to parents and teachers of grades 3-5 students. 
  2. Parents and teachers can submit a nomination form and a rating scale for the student.
  3. Nominated students are screened in multiple categories (e.g, cognitive ability, achievement, creativity, writing, parent/teacher rating scale, etc.) during in-person testing sessions.
  4. Student data is gathered for review, recommendation, and approval from the administration team.
  5. Parents and homeroom teachers are notified of the screening results. Students who qualify have the opportunity to enroll in an enrichment program.

3. What is the enrichment program like at DKIES?
 
Students attend weekly sessions where they have opportunities to collaborate and create with peers.  This year, students will explore how they are community contributors--what strengths, talents, experiences or interests do they contribute to our GT class, our school and the larger community.  Students will have the opportunity to think critically, facilitate learning and create extended learning opportunities for themselves and others. 
 
Last school year, students story-boarded and recorded a video to introduce the WASC visiting committee to our school, created lego murals promoting picture books to our school community and used stop motion animation to tell stories.
 
4. Are grade levels mixed?
 
Yes, the current cohort includes students from grades 3, 4, and 5. The makeup of the next cohort will vary depending on the testing results.  Second grade students will join our class in the spring.
 
5. When is the next testing period? 
 
The next testing period will be October 2024.  All testing is held over two half-day sessions on campus.  
 
6. My child was tested previously and qualified. Does my child need to retake the test?
 
No, if your child has already been identified in previous identification rounds at our school, he/she does not need to be tested again. The child will stay enrolled in the enrichment program with parent permission.
 
7. My child was tested previously but did not qualify. Can I submit another nomination?
 
Yes, you can submit another nomination but after waiting one full year. For example, if your child tested in fall 2023, you can submit another nomination the fall of 2024.
 
8. My child qualified as Gifted and Talented from another state. Can my child enroll in the enrichment program at DKIES?
 
With appropriate paperwork and records from the previous school, the child will be enrolled in the enrichment program until the next round of identification period. In order to continue enrollment in the enrichment program, the child needs to participate in testing and qualify when testing is offered at our school.
 
Military Interstate Compact:
"A receiving school district in a member state agrees to initially honor placement of a student based on the student’s enrollment in the sending state as long as that school has a similar or equivalent program. For example, if a student was in Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus, a Gifted and Talented Program, or an English as a Second Language Program in his/her previous school, the student will be placed in that course or program in the receiving school. However, the Compact allows the receiving school to subsequently perform an evaluation to ensure the child is placed appropriately according to its requirements. This provision ensures students will not be placed in a “holding” class while they are awaiting assessment, thus missing out on valuable instruction, but does not take away the new school’s right to set their own criteria for placement in programs or courses. In addition, the Compact does not require the receiving school district to create a course or program that is not currently offered, but does require that the district demonstrate reasonable accommodation. The receiving school may allow the student to attend similar educational courses in other schools within the district if the receiving school does not offer such educational courses."