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Gifted Services Overview
Arlington Public Schools is dedicated to maximizing the strengths and potential of all students so they may become self-confident, well-rounded, responsible and productive citizens. The Office of Gifted Services follows the APS Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted which complies with Virginia Regulations Governing Educational Services for Gifted Students based on the following concepts:
- Giftedness is developmental; it is potential which must be nourished.
- Gifted students share some characteristics with all other children; and there is variability among the gifted.
The gifted services eligibility process identifies students in the following areas:
- Specific Academic Aptitude: students with specific aptitudes in the academic areas of mathematics, science, English, social studies
- Visual/Performing Arts Aptitude: students with specific aptitudes in visual art and/or instrumental or vocal music areas the plan and provide detailed feedback on the plan’s goals.
APS evaluates and provides gifted services for students in grades K-12. The fine arts evaluation process begins in 3rd grade.
At Claremont, school based services are delivered in the regular classroom setting with identified students cluster-grouped with other children with teachers who are specifically trained in elements of gifted education including best practices in differentiated instruction through curriculum, which is differentiated or extended from concepts in the prescribed curriculum and, when appropriate, opportunities for acceleration and advanced studies are provided according to a collaborative resource model in which the classroom teacher works with the resource teacher for the gifted to develop and present appropriately differentiated learning experiences for gifted students within the regular classroom. The bulk of instruction for gifted students is delivered in a differentiated manner by the classroom teacher with the support of the resource teacher of the gifted. There can be a pull-out “enrichment” component of the delivery of gifted services.