The district is committed to an educational program that recognizes, identifies and serves the unique needs of talented and gifted students. Talented and gifted students are those who have been identified as academically talented and/or intellectually gifted.

The Board directs the superintendent to develop a written identification process for identifying academically talented and intellectually gifted students in grades K-12. A written plan that identifies programs or services needed to address the assessed levels of learning and accelerated rates of learning of identified students shall be similarly developed. The district may also identify and provide programs for students who demonstrate creative abilities, leadership abilities or unusual abilities in visual or performing arts.

In order to serve academically talented and intellectually gifted students in grades K-12, the District directs the Superintendent to establish a written identification process. This process of identification shall include as a minimum:

1. Use of research based best practices to identify talented and gifted students from under-represented populations such as ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, students who are culturally and/or linguistically diverse or economically disadvantaged.
2. Behavioral, learning and/or performance information.
3. A nationally standardized mental ability test in the identification of intellectually gifted students. or,
4. A nationally standardized academic achievement test of reading or mathematics or a test of total English Language Arts/Literacy or total mathematics on the Smarter Balanced Assessment for assistance in identifying academically talented students.

Identified students shall score at or above the 97th percentile on these tests. Other students who demonstrate the potential to perform at the eligibility criteria, as well as additional students who are talented and gifted may be identified.

The district shall notify parents in writing that their student has been nominated for service options available. The district shall provide them an opportunity to participate in selecting those programs or options most appropriate for their student. The Board directs the superintendent to develop written procedures for parent notification and participation.

A district written plan shall be developed for programs and services beyond those normally offered by the regular school program. All required written course statements shall identify the academic instructional programs and services to be provided which accommodate the assessed levels and accelerated rates of learning in identified talented and gifted students. The superintendent shall remove any administrative barriers that may exist which restrict students’ access to appropriate services and will develop program and service options.

If parents are dissatisfied with the identification process or placement of their student, they may appeal the decision through Board policy KL - Public Complaints. After exhausting the district’s appeal procedure and receiving a final decision, parents may appeal the decision to the State Department of Education.