Gifted and Talented Philosophy Statement
The Kuna School District strives to meet the individual needs of students with outstanding performance levels and/or potentials that may require differentiated instructional options and/or unique administrative accommodations.
Definition of Gifted and Talented
“Gifted and talented children” mean those students who are identified as possessing demonstrated or potential abilities that give evidence of high performing capabilities in intellectual, creative, specific academic or leadership areas, or ability in the performing or visual arts and who require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop such capabilities. (Idaho Code 33-2001) (1993)
Gifted refers to unusually high natural innate abilities and potentials. Talented refers to unusually high-developed skills and/or performances.
Although children differ from each other, generally, gifted learners think with more complexity and abstraction, possess advanced reasoning capacities, ability to handle abstract ideas; flexibility in thinking and considering problems from a number of viewpoints; heightened level of curiosity; a fascination with seeking out and acquiring new knowledge; a wide variety of interests; power of concentration; and an unique sense of humor.
Specific Academic – as evidenced by outstanding potential or performance in mastering skills and concepts in one or more curriculum areas
Intellectual – as evidence by a wide-range of general information, high levels of vocabulary, memory, understanding, abstract word knowledge, and abstract reasoning
Creativity – as evidenced by superior ability to produce new or original ideas by bringing together elements usually thought of as independent or dissimilar, aptitude for developing new meanings, preference for complexity, tolerance for ambiguity and the ability to become absorbed in a task.
Leadership – as evidenced by the advanced ability to direct individuals or groups to a common decision or action, negotiate effectively in difficult situations, self confident, responsible, cooperative, and he ability to adapt readily to new situations.
Visual and Performing Arts –Superior aptitude in visual arts, theatre, and music
Program Goals
Services for children who are gifted must be part of the overall educational program supporting high expectations and excellence for all students. It is essential that high ability students of all ages have access to appropriately stimulating and challenging education to help ensure that they have opportunities to develop their potential.
Program Objectives
The Kuna School District strives to:
Foster a climate that values and promotes advanced intellectual ability, enhances self-concept, and encourages self-direction and evaluation.
Insure a continuum of higher level thinking skills and appropriate academic advancement opportunities that enhances and develops students’ exceptional potentials, abilities, interests, and talents.
Provide appropriate levels, pace, and depth appropriate learning experiences and support student social and emotional growth.
More information or questions Contact Sherrie Bosserman, sbosserman@kunaschools.org