Gifted and Talented Program

Elementary Level Program

The Collingswood School District provides a variety of services for its Gifted & Talented (G&T) students. Identified kindergarten and first grade students receive a combination of whole-class and small group instruction using the Primary Elementary Thinking Skills (P.E.T.S) Program and STEAM activities. Second through Fifth grade students are identified for participation in one or more of the small group programs for the following units of instruction: Reading and Literacy, Mathematics, and Science.

After the 2022-2023 school year, the OLSAT 8 assessment will only be given to third grade students.  Any student who has taken the OLSAT 8 assessment in a previous year will not be eligible to take it again.

 

Secondary (6-12) Level Program

Students in grades 6-12 are served through comprehensive accelerated, honors and advanced placement programs in the humanities, STEM, the arts, and leadership.


Gifted and Talented Program Supervisor

Supervisor K-12
Dr. Karen Principato
kprincipato@collsk12.org

Identification Procedure

Kindergarten:

  • Kindergarten students will receive whole class instruction for the first 20 minutes of the session. Kindergarten students may be selected to receive the last 10 minutes of small group instruction using the P.E.T.S. Framework (Primary Elementary Thinking Skills) and STEAM activities.  Multiple measures are used to identify students:

First Grade:

  • First Grade students will receive whole class instruction for the first 20 minutes of the session.  First Grade students may be selected to receive the last 10 minutes of small group enrichment instruction by using the P.E.T.S. Framework (Primary Elementary Thinking Skills) and STEAM activities.  Multiple measures are used to identify students:

Second Grade:

  • Second Grade students may be selected for participation in one or more of the small group instruction for the following units: 

  • First Marking Period: Mathematics 

    • Into Math Growth Measure score of 281 or higher (Exceeds Expectations)

    • Earn an E in mathematics on their final 1st grade report card.  

  • Second Marking Period: Reading and Literacy 

  • Third Marking Period: Science 

    • Teacher Recommendation

    • Earn an E in science on their 1st and 2nd trimester report card.

Third Grade:

  • Third Grade students may be selected for participation in one or more of the G&T programs for the following units if they receive a score of 95% on the OLSAT8 (a universal screener) or:

  • First Marking Period: Mathematics

    • Into Math Growth Measure score of 381 or higher (Exceeds Expectations) 

    • Earn an E in mathematics on their most recent report card.

  • Second Marking Period: Reading and Literacy 

  • Third Marking Period: Science

    • Teacher Recommendation

    • Earn an E in science on their 1st and 2nd trimester report card.

Fourth Grade:

  • Fourth Grade students may be selected for participation in one or more of the G&T programs for the following units:

  • First Marking Period: Mathematics

    • Into Math Growth Measure score of 481 or higher

    • Earn an E in mathematics during each previous year’s trimester.

  • Second Marking Period: Reading and Literacy G&T Requirements

  • Third Marking Period: Science G&T Requirements

    • Teacher Recommendation

    • Earn an E in science during the 1st and 2nd trimester report cards.

Fifth Grade:

  • Fifth Grade students may be selected for participation in one or more of the G&T programs for the following units:

  • First Marking Period: Mathematics 

    • Into Math Growth Measure score of 581 or higher

    • Earn an E in mathematics during each previous year’s trimester. 

  • Second Marking Period: Reading and Literacy

  • Third Marking Period: Science 

    • Teacher Recommendation

    • Earn an E in science during the 1st and 2nd trimester report cards. 

Sixth Grade Students

For the 2023-2024 school year,  6th grade students will be eligible for enrollment in the 6th Grade Accelerated Mathematics course if they attain three of the four categories below:

  • Enrollment in a 5th grade gifted program

  • 4th Grade NJSLA Mathematics: Exceeds Expectations

  • 5th Grade Start Strong: Needs Less Support

  • Into Mathematics End of Year Assessment: Exceeding Expectations

 

If a student does not meet three of the four listed categories and a family wishes to have their child considered for this course, an appeals process will be followed.  The primary source of appeal will be the results of the 5th grade New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) Mathematics.  The scores for this assessment will be received during the summer months.

Transfer Students

  • Students who transfer into the Collingswood Public Schools will be screened for eligibility for participation in the Gifted & Talented Program. In order to be eligible for the program, transfer students must meet the established criteria.

  • The data used to determine eligibility will be taken from the cumulative records of the student as well as from the current testing results using the district or state standardized tests.

  • If teacher recommendations are needed, the student will not be eligible for the program until one full marking period has been completed, at which time recommendations must be provided by the classroom teacher.

Acceptance into the Program:

  • Parental Permission - Written parental permission for the student to participate in the program must be provided.

Admission to the Program through Re-evaluation:

  • Students who have demonstrated unusually high performance but have not successfully met the requirements may qualify for further screenings if requested by the administration or the parent.

Procedures for Removal:

  • A formal conference will be held with the student, parent(s), and all involved personnel to discuss the student’s progress in both the classroom and the Gifted & Talented Program.

  • Following the formal conference, immediate withdrawal may be recommended, or a conditional period may be determined. 

    • If it is determined that a conditional period would benefit the student, a contract will be written establishing the expectations to be achieved during the conditional period.

    • At the conclusion of the conditional period, a second formal conference will be held to determine whether the student will continue in the program or be dismissed.

Appeal Procedure:

  • A legal guardian may appeal a decision by requesting in writing that the student be re-evaluated for the program.

  • Upon receipt of the appeal, a meeting will be scheduled with the parent, the program teacher, the homeroom teacher, other teachers, as applicable, and the principal.

  • The parent shall receive written notification of the outcome of the appeal. The Appeal Committee shall make such notification.

Complaint Procedure:

An individual who believes that the Collingswood Public School District has not complied with the provisions of BOE Policy 2464: Gifted and Talented Students may file a complaint with the Board of Education.  In that complaint, please include the following:

  1. The full name of the parent/guardian;

  2. The full name, school, and grade level of the student;

  3. The nature of the complaint, including the specific area or areas of Policy 2464 that have not been followed; and

  4. An explanation of the steps taken to remedy those concerns prior to filing the complaint.

The board shall issue a decision, in writing, to affirm, reject, or modify the district's action in the matter. The individual may then file a petition of the appeal of the Board's written decision to the Commissioner of Education through the Office of Controversies and Disputes in accordance with N.J.S.18A:6-9 and the procedures set forth in State Board of Education regulations.


Gifted and Talented Program Supervisor

Supervisor K-12
Dr. Karen Principato
kprincipato@collsk12.org