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Gifted Education

The West Jefferson Hills School District complies with the standards and regulations set forth in Chapter 16 of the Pennsylvania School Code for identified gifted students by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Gifted support services are provided to mentally gifted students in kindergarten through twelfth grade that are consistent with their individual needs, outstanding abilities, and potential for performing at high levels of achievement. Student GIEPs are written based on the noted strengths by GIEP members through information gathered during the initial GMDE process and through information collected for the annual GIEPs. The student's strengths drive GIEP goals for enrichment activities aligned to the specified content area they are deemed gifted in. Enrichment begins at the classroom level and progresses through to acceleration as part of the continuum of services, as warranted. Pull-out and push-on models are offered at the elementary and middle school levels and students are offered the opportunity to utilize a variety of means to demonstrate their proficiency including projects, literature opportunities, math and history challenges, and writing opportunities. At the secondary level, students are provided opportunities to participate in AP and Honors courses, dual enrollment, competitions, workshops, career lectures.

Defining Giftedness in Pennsylvania:

Mentally gifted is defined as “outstanding intellectual and creative ability the development of which requires specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education program.”

The term mentally gifted includes a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher or other factors (listed below) that indicate gifted ability. Gifted ability cannot be based on IQ scores alone. If the IQ score is lower than 130, a child may be admitted to gifted programs when other conditions "strongly" indicate gifted ability.

The other factors to be considered include:

  • Achievement test scores that are a year or more above grade level
  • Observed or measured acquisition/retention rates that reflect gifted ability (i.e. how quickly your child learns new concepts or information, and how long he or she remembers it)
  • Achievement, performance, or expertise in one or more academic areas that demonstrate a high level of accomplishment
  • Higher level thinking skills
  • Documented evidence that intervening factors are masking gifted ability