Chapter 16Chapter 16

Special Education for Gifted StudentsSpecial Education for Gifted Students

Clarification from PreambleClarification from Preamble

Delete gifted education from Chapters 14 Delete gifted education from Chapters 14 & 342& 342

Draw a clear distinction between gifted Draw a clear distinction between gifted education as required by PA and special education as required by PA and special education for students with disabilities as education for students with disabilities as required by Federal lawrequired by Federal law

Continue to include gifted in Continue to include gifted in Departmental tracking systemsDepartmental tracking systems

Hear and investigate complaintsHear and investigate complaints

Preamble Preamble (continued)(continued)

Only certified school psychologists can Only certified school psychologists can administer tests and evaluation materials administer tests and evaluation materials to determine giftednessto determine giftedness

Reevaluations no longer required every 2 Reevaluations no longer required every 2 yearsyears

Gifted EducationGifted Education SDI to meet the needs of a gifted student SDI to meet the needs of a gifted student

that is – that is – – Conducted in an instructional settingConducted in an instructional setting– Provided in an instructional or skill areaProvided in an instructional or skill area– Provided at no cost to the parentsProvided at no cost to the parents– Provided under the authority of a SDProvided under the authority of a SD– Provided by an agencyProvided by an agency– IndividualizedIndividualized– Reasonably calculated to yield meaningful Reasonably calculated to yield meaningful

educational benefit and progresseducational benefit and progress– Provided in conformity with a GIEPProvided in conformity with a GIEP

New acronymsNew acronyms

GMDTGMDT Gifted multidisciplinary teamGifted multidisciplinary team GMDEGMDE Gifted multidisciplinary Gifted multidisciplinary

evaluationevaluation GIEP GIEP Gifted Individualized Gifted Individualized

Education Education

ProgramProgram GWRGWR Gifted Written ReportGifted Written Report

Dual diagnosisDual diagnosis

For students with dual diagnosis it is not For students with dual diagnosis it is not necessary to:necessary to:– conduct separate screenings and evaluationsconduct separate screenings and evaluations– develop separate IEPsdevelop separate IEPs– use separate procedural safeguards use separate procedural safeguards

proceduresprocedures

Follow Chapter 14 requirements to Follow Chapter 14 requirements to develop an IEP that includes gifteddevelop an IEP that includes gifted

Definition of Mentally GiftedDefinition of Mentally Gifted

Outstanding intellectual and creative Outstanding intellectual and creative ability the development of which requires ability the development of which requires specially designed programs or support specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education programin the regular education program

Definition of Mentally GiftedDefinition of Mentally Gifted (continued) (continued)

An IQ of 130 or higher (may not be based on IQ An IQ of 130 or higher (may not be based on IQ alone)alone)

Multiple criteria includes:Multiple criteria includes:– Achievement test scoresAchievement test scores– Acquisition and retention ratesAcquisition and retention rates– Demonstrated achievement, performance or expertise Demonstrated achievement, performance or expertise

in one or more academic areasin one or more academic areas– High level thinking skills, academic creativity, High level thinking skills, academic creativity,

leadership skills, academic interest areas, leadership skills, academic interest areas, communication skills, foreign language aptitude or communication skills, foreign language aptitude or technology expertisetechnology expertise

Evidence that intervening factors are not Evidence that intervening factors are not masking gifted abilitiesmasking gifted abilities

Screening and EvaluationScreening and Evaluation

SD must adopt and use a system for SD must adopt and use a system for identifying all students within the district identifying all students within the district who are thought to be gifted.who are thought to be gifted.

Public awareness activities must be Public awareness activities must be designed to reach parents of students in designed to reach parents of students in the public schools and the parents of the public schools and the parents of school-age children not enrolled in the school-age children not enrolled in the public schools.public schools.

GMDEGMDE Team includes parent(s), current teacher(s), Team includes parent(s), current teacher(s),

school psychologist, persons familiar with school psychologist, persons familiar with student’s educational performance and/or student’s educational performance and/or cultural background, and persons familiar with cultural background, and persons familiar with evaluation techniquesevaluation techniques

Referrals can be made by parent(s) or teachers Referrals can be made by parent(s) or teachers

Parental requests for evaluation must be in Parental requests for evaluation must be in writing and are limited to one per school termwriting and are limited to one per school term

Written report (GWR) requires names and Written report (GWR) requires names and positions but not signaturespositions but not signatures

GMDE - ReevaluationsGMDE - Reevaluations

Not required every two yearsNot required every two years

Required before changing educational Required before changing educational placement or upon recommendation by placement or upon recommendation by GIEP teamGIEP team

GIEPGIEP Team shall include parent(s), student (if parents Team shall include parent(s), student (if parents

choose to have student participate), district choose to have student participate), district representative, the student’s current teacher(s), representative, the student’s current teacher(s), other individuals at discretion of parent or SDother individuals at discretion of parent or SD

Notification to parents and others for attendance Notification to parents and others for attendance at GIEP meeting must be at least 10 calendar at GIEP meeting must be at least 10 calendar days in advance of the meetingdays in advance of the meeting

Annual goals must be written but do not have to Annual goals must be written but do not have to be measurablebe measurable

Short-term learning outcomes are measurable Short-term learning outcomes are measurable and should lead to annual goaland should lead to annual goal

Signatures are not requiredSignatures are not required

GIEP - ImplementationGIEP - Implementation

Within 10 school days or at start of school Within 10 school days or at start of school year if it was developed less than 30 year if it was developed less than 30 calendar days before the last day of calendar days before the last day of scheduled classesscheduled classes

If parents give consent (NORA) in person If parents give consent (NORA) in person at GIEP meeting, the GIEP can not be at GIEP meeting, the GIEP can not be implemented for at least 5 calendar days. implemented for at least 5 calendar days. This allows the parents the opportunity to This allows the parents the opportunity to revoke consent if they change their minds.revoke consent if they change their minds.

Caseload and Class sizeCaseload and Class size

Caseload - maximum of 75 studentsCaseload - maximum of 75 students

Class size - maximum of twenty studentsClass size - maximum of twenty students

MediationMediation

Impartial mediator may be requested to Impartial mediator may be requested to assist parents and school district in assist parents and school district in resolving dispute issuesresolving dispute issues

Mediation may not be used to deny or Mediation may not be used to deny or delay a party’s right to a due process delay a party’s right to a due process hearinghearing

Mediation agreement enforceable by the Mediation agreement enforceable by the Department of EducationDepartment of Education

Impartial Due ProcessImpartial Due Process

Pre-hearing conference is not requiredPre-hearing conference is not required

Parents request should be in writingParents request should be in writing

May be filed concerning the identification, May be filed concerning the identification, evaluation or educational placement, or evaluation or educational placement, or the provision of gifted education for a the provision of gifted education for a student who is gifted or thought to be student who is gifted or thought to be giftedgifted

Impartial Due Process Impartial Due Process (continued)(continued)

Parents may be represented by legal Parents may be represented by legal counsel and accompanied and advised by counsel and accompanied and advised by individuals with knowledge or training individuals with knowledge or training with respect to students who are gifted.with respect to students who are gifted.

Hearing shall be held within 30 calendar Hearing shall be held within 30 calendar days after requestdays after request

Hearing officer’s decision shall be issued Hearing officer’s decision shall be issued within 45-days after hearing requestwithin 45-days after hearing request

Impartial Due Process Impartial Due Process (continued)(continued)

Hearing is open to public unless otherwise Hearing is open to public unless otherwise requested requested

The hearing officer’s decision may be The hearing officer’s decision may be appealed to a three-member appeal panelappealed to a three-member appeal panel

The decision of the appeal panel may be The decision of the appeal panel may be appealed to a courtappealed to a court

EndEnd